Collective Resilience features Lincoln Resilience Hub
Author Sophia Thompson recently featured our new Resilience Hub in a case study published by Collective Resilience.
Collective Resilience was founded in 2022 by Susan Silber, who co-created and directed its predecessor the NorCal Resilience Network from 2014-2021.
Representatives from the City of Oakland, Friends of Lincoln Square Park and APEN participated in Resilience Hubs Leadership Training, a 6-month initiative which prepared community centers and neighborhoods with the guidance to become resilience hubs and spaces.
By Sophia Thompson (Excerpt)
Lincoln Square Park has been a fixture in Oakland’s Chinatown community for generations. Developed as one of Oakland’s seven original public squares, the beloved park and neighborhood center have been an activated space for community gathering since 1850. On any given day the site hosts fitness classes, sports teams, cultural programming, children playing on the iconic junk play structure, and community members of all ages enjoying watching all these activities.
“Providing activities that allow folks to interact and connect with each other is important,” said Lincoln Recreation Center’s Director, Gilbert Gong.
The Lincoln Square Park neighborhood is also characterized by a low income elderly population with predominantly Asian residents, many of whom do not speak English. Like many frontline communities, residents are disproportionately affected by factors like traffic, industrial activities, and substandard housing conditions; leading to pollution, poor air quality and other environmental injustice impacts. The Census tract around Lincoln Square Park has 34.4% of the population living in poverty, and high rates of asthma (U.S. Census). Overall, the community is among the most adversely impacted in California, ranking in the 10% most pollution burdened census tracts (Cal EnviroScreen).
It is no surprise that this iconic site will be host to the first Municipal Resilience Hub in the City of Oakland, thanks to $40 million dollars raised from federal, state, and local city-bonds in funding; as well as the tireless advocacy and support from Friends of Lincoln Square Park (FLSP), Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) and 30 plus other partner organizations, which have been instrumental in moving the project forward.
“If I had to make a recommendation for anyone else looking to build a collaborative resiliency center, [it’s] definitely to network and bring in all your community groups.” – Gilbert Gong, Lincoln Center Recreation Director
The construction of the new Municipal Resilience Hub, with construction starting in late 2024, will be a part of a new Recreation Center that will replace an aging building in need of costly repairs, while also aligning with the City of Oakland’s resiliency goals and efforts. —Read the rest of the case study
In essence, this resilience hub will serve as a beacon of city resilience, empowering residents and setting a precedent for equitable and climate-resilient development nationwide.