Toward the Billion Dollar Trust Fund
for the Black Arts Movement Business District
The
BAMBD is part of the City of Oakland’s downtown plan for the next 25 to
50 years. If it is to survive and thrive, the must be an independent
endowment trust fund established to avoid city politics and budget
crises that may cause defunding of the BAMB. So while we are not averse
to receiving grant funds from city, state and governmental agencies, the
BAMBD Billion Trust Fund would insure an independent repository of
funds for the life blood of the BAMBD. We want the trust fund to be
primary supported by the North American African people of Oakland and
elsewhere throughout the nation. It will be a symbol of
self-determination of the people. While we would not turn down funding
from government and corporate entities, The BAMBD Billion Dollar Trust
Fund should symbolize and express the spirit of cultural and economic
independence of the Black Arts Movement. As citizens, we have every
right to receive funds from governmental and corporate agencies but the
primary contributors to the fund should be North American Africans. In
the past, too many of our organizations have been funded by persons and
agencies not in harmony with the true aspirations of North American
Africans. It must be clear that we will not compromise our principles
and values for financial assistance. We stand on the shoulders of our
ancestors who called for cultural and economic independence.
Priorities of BAMBD Billion Dollar Trust Fund
As
indicated in the BAMBD pillars, housing is a priority. There must be
market rate and affordable housing for workers, artists and common
people in the BAMBD. We propose all properties in the BAMBD should be
placed under the land trust to preserve land and properties for future
generations, especially to stem the tide of gentrification. To help end
homelessness, we seek to acquire SRO hotels for the homeless and grant
them life estate titles to their dwellings. This will end a certain
degree of homelessness overnight. Housing would assist those recently
released from incarceration and those suffering from drug abuse, mental
illness and partner abuse.
The
BAMBD trust fund would acquire commercial properties for the district
that would include office space, retail space, performance and exhibit
space. In certain cases, we may need to re-gentrify properties for the
benefit of the BAMBD community, placing such properties under the land
trust.
We
propose the establishment of the Dr.David Blackwell Institute of Math,
Science, Technology and Art as an anchor educational institution in the
BAMBD. The institute is in honor of the great North American
mathematician who taught at the University of California, Berkeley. We
invite UC Berkeley to partner with BAMBD in the establishment of the
Blackwell STEM and Art institute. Silicon Valley corporations should
also support the Blackwell Institute.
Again,
the BAMBD trust should rely on the primary support of North American
Africans who do indeed have the wealth to fund their cultural and
economic endeavors.
The BAMBD Billion Dollar Trust Fund would be under the direction of a community board with a vision for the future.
We
invite non-profit groups in the BAMBD area and vicinity to partner with
us to make the BAMBD a reality. We would especially appreciate such
groups partnering with us to apply to the MacArthur Foundation's 100
Million RFP for long range projects with broad community support.
Marvin X,
BAMBD Planner
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