A new job and new mindset are just two of several big highlights from the past 12 months in the life of Alisha—an Oakland native and active grandmother living in the Bay Area. Since our previous update on Alisha, she has been hired by a security company that supports the Emergency Room at a local hospital.
“When you come in I’m the first person that you get to see,” said Alisha. “I screen you to come in and whether you're a visitor or a patient, I try to calm your fears, comfort you, and just hopefully make it a great experience.”
Alisha credits her experience in the Oakland Resilient Families Guaranteed Income Pilot, where she was one of 600 individuals who received monthly cash investments for 18 months, as a catalyst for the progress she’s made.
“You guys really put me in a whole different mindset. Limited income doesn’t mean limited goals and limited drive and determination,” she said. “I received the money and it helped me understand that there are some people out there that do care about us and want to see us succeed versus the naysayers.”
Alisha says participating in the pilot helped her prioritize opportunities to want more for herself, and her “grandbaby” Jeremiah who lives with her, and her Oakland community.
“Started the nonprofit [LoveLois.org] and it opened up a different platform for me where I was meeting different type of people,” shared Alisha. “It helped me come out confident so that I can do the things that I really need to do for my community, for my family and then for myself.”
Alisha’s journey from homelessness and addiction to sobriety, adoption, and full-time employment includes the kind of lived experiences that instantly make her a valuable resource to others going through a wide range of circumstances.
"I understand how it is to navigate the streets, how to stay safe, especially as a woman," she shared. “I had to have a network of places to go, and know how to get my food for the morning. I understand the intricacies of how it is to be unhoused, so this is very dear to me.”
Alisha continues to build momentum for her community through her nonprofit, LoveLois.org.
“I started it because I come from a legacy of women who loved their community, love their children in the neighborhood. My grandmother used to volunteer at St. Vincent’s—which is a dining room here in Oakland—for 20 plus years, not to mention that she also worked for the Oakland Unified School District as a cook for 20 years,” explained Alisha. “When you would come to her house, she would feed you and then give you the word. She was always about education and then as she got older, my mom followed that same legacy. My mom would sit outside and talk to people to find out what their need was. She [later] succumbed to leukemia and I said we got to keep this legacy going.”
The nonprofit is in its fourth year of existence and its second full year with 501c3 status. Some of her outreach efforts include preparing goody bag giveaways where she fills backpacks with hygiene supplies to distribute to people experiencing homelessness, leading a church scholarship fundraiser for kids in her neighborhood, and planning a summertime community feed where she hopes to have a friendly officer from the Oakland Police Department connect with the community.
“He’s on board. He’s going to come out and let the community see that there is a good side of the Oakland Police Department,” shared Alisha. “And he’s going to bring resources and stickers and all that kind of stuff for the children.”
If she ever needed more motivation, she doesn’t have to look further than her middle school-age grandson whom she adopted and currently raises.
“I’m very active in his school. I volunteer when I can to buy candy, sell t-shirts. Whatever it takes,” Alisha shared. “He’s a great inspiration. He keeps me on my toes.”
And apparently, Alisha’s drive to help the community around her is rubbing off on her grandson and some of his friends.
“They always help me. They’re very supportive,” said Alisha. “A friend of mine has a nonprofit called Bill by Faith, and she gave me like a hundred thick blankets. I put inside [each blanket] a pair of socks and we rolled them up like little sleeping bags and went out in the Oakland community and passed out our blankets.”
Alisha’s empathy seems to cover everyone regardless of their challenges.
“You’d be surprised. Some of the people out there [unhoused] have good jobs but they’re just not given the proper break to get back on their feet,” she said. “I’ve even met a doctor out there.”
She feels she can uplift others one day by creating a community resource network leveraged by the wealth of insight and expertise she gained through her life experiences whether it be with housing choice vouchers, food pantries, local parks and recreation events, access to community leaders, and awareness of first-time homeowner programs and educational pathways.
“Those are some of the things that I have resources on and know how to do,” explained Alisha. “Somebody took a chance with me and helped me get back on my feet. So why not give back?”
Alisha’s drive to advocate for her community has made her curious beyond the fundraisers and back-to-school giveaways. She’s now learning how current policies impact her hometown.
"My heart right now is learning these policies," she said, emphasizing the importance of understanding and engaging with the political system to effect change. "If you don't know, then how can you have your voice? Be involved. Let them know that you’re there. Make your place known.”
When asked why people should invest in communities like Oakland, Alisha's response was clear and heartfelt.
"Oakland is a very resilient city. It has its ups and downs, but it's full of good people who just need the opportunity to grow," she said.
Alisha sees unrestricted cash solutions like the Oakland Resilient Families GI Pilot that she participated in as a big player in unlocking social and economic mobility for often overlooked communities.
"Look at the data. Data doesn't lie," stated Alisha, wanting to urge policymakers to consider the tangible benefits of such programs nationwide. "This thing has taken off like wildfire."