Women

Women Build graduates its first all-female class in the construction trades

The majority of people in the room seemed to be women, and many wore proud smiles on their faces. They were attending the graduation ceremony of the first all-female Green Energy Training Services (GETS) pre-apprenticeship cohort held by Berkeley non-profit organization Rising Sun Energy Center, and the room at John F. Kennedy University’s Berkeley campus was buzzing with excitement. Dubbed “Women Build,” the program trains women for union jobs in construction and other skill-based industries traditionally employing men. It launched on March…

Oakland realtors throw baby clothing drive in honor of Mother’s Day

When Lisa Klein received the old Pampers box, she wasn’t sure what she would find. But when she opened it, she found a stack of tiny, beautiful pastel dresses that she describes as “smocked in the front and poofy at the bottom.” With the dresses was a letter. Klein remembers the sender writing something about how she had been “saving these clothes for the right place, and she’s finally found it,” she recalls. “She’s been waiting for, I think, 45…

Building the future for women in trades

The Bay Area’s first and only all-women construction and solar training program was launched last week in Berkeley. Women Build was launched in response to the low participation of women in the construction trades.

“Steep Jeep” is bringing a modern take on tea

Revamping an ice cream truck into a mobile tea business is just one part of Molly Gaylord and Karina Vlastnik’s vision for Steep Tea Company, based in West Oakland. They are renovating the “Steep Jeep,” a 1967 Jeep named Belle, so they can use it to serve hot tea, iced tea, tea lattes, tea soda, tea flavored soft-serve ice cream, as well as loose tea to take home. Fueled by a Kickstarter campaign, Gaylord and Vlastnik reached their fundraising goal…

Introducing the Tales of Two Cities Podcast, radio stories from Richmond and Oakland

Dear Readers/Listeners, The combined staff of Oakland North and Richmond Confidential is excited to announce a new bi-weekly podcast featuring radio stories from Richmond and Oakland, as well as interviews with our reporters, community leaders and other news-worthy characters. Every two weeks until June, we will bring you radio stories focused on a theme or issue affecting these two cities. You will also hear from our reporters to get a behind the scenes look at our news room. Every other Thursday, check our sites for new…