Candidate for
Council Member; City of Oakland; District 2

PROFILE OF DAVID KAKISHIBA

David Kakishiba is an independent and experienced community leader, who has dedicated his entire life to children, youth, and families. Widely heralded for his integrity and dedication, David is a doer with a long track record of bringing ideas and people together to improve our neighborhoods.

Since January 2003, David Kakishiba has served as the District Two representative to the Oakland Board of Education. David has brought sensible leadership to our troubled school district. David has secured over $30 million to make needed renovations to our neighborhood schools, including the construction of the Bella Vista Child Development Center and La Ecuelita Elementary School; modernization of Garfield Elementary School; renovation of the Edna Brewer Middle School playgrounds; and the safety improvements at Crocker Highlands and Cleveland elementary schools.

David Kakishiba is the author of Oakland's Kids First! Initiative, which voters passed overwhelmingly in 1996. Today, Kids First! provides $9 million annually for children services throughout Oakland without raising taxes.

David Kakishiba is the co-founder of the Oak-to-Ninth Community Benefits Coalition. The Coaliton is working to establish a legally binding "community benefits agreement" with the developer of the Oak-to-Ninth waterfront development project to guarantee jobs, affordable housing, and open space for Chinatown, Eastlake, and San Antonio neighborhood residents.

David Kakishiba serves as the executive director of the East Bay Asian Youth Center. For 25 years, David has provided educational and economic opportunities to thousands of young people, many of who are active community leaders today. David's work was recently honored by the Ford Foundation with its prestigious Leadership For A Changing World Award.

David Kakishiba grew up in a Japanese immigrant working-class family. David's father and grandfather were incarcerated in a federal internment camp during World War II. Through his years of working with his father, who is a gardener, David developed a strong sense of justice and compassion for those with little means.

David Kakishiba has earned the endorsement of Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Assemblywoman Wilma Chan, Oakland Board of Education President Gary Yee, Alameda County Central Labor Council, and hundreds of neighborhood, labor, and civic leaders throughout Oakland for his candidacy for the Oakland City Council District Two seat.