City of Oakland, Office of Emergency Services

Oakland Office of Emergency Services (OES), under the Oakland Fire Department, provides emergency management planning, response, recovery and mitigation services for natural, technological and man-made emergencies and disasters affecting the City of Oakland, California.

Oakland OES is home to Citizens of Oakland Responding to Emergencies (CORE), a model for community-based training and among the first community emergency response team curriculums developed in the country.

Project Background

The City of Oakland, Oakland Office of Emergency Services is seeking two energetic, motivated, driven individuals to help implement a new pilot program in community emergency preparedness. The Building Community Readiness and Resiliency (BCRR) pilot program will focus on 3 select areas within Mayor Jean Quan’s 100 Block Initiative to develop and establish community awareness, education and sustainability around emergency preparedness and disaster justice.

Based on social justice premise coined “Disaster Justice,” the BCRR pilot program has been designed to address the engagement and integration of all communities, whether affluent or poor, in emergency planning, preparedness and mitigation efforts. It is intended to act as a catalyst for change in existing community preparedness training and engagement models. The program is targeting specific areas of Oakland which experience high crime, high unemployment, high student dropout rates, and blight, an represent the most vulnerable communities within the city. The program will be the focus for greater coordination of city, school and community resources to stimulate disaster readiness and empower communities to be more self-reliant and resilient.

We are looking for two creative, communication-savvy people to help us:

1. Identify and quantify community capabilities and resources;
2. Develop multi-media blended and picture-based preparedness training materials for web-based and traditional, class-room style approaches; and
3. Leverage existing collaborative relationships to mobilize, recruit, and train residents and community members

The BCRR pilot program is expected serve as a model for regional, state and national preparedness programs to ensure that we do everything possible to mitigate disaster injustices and promote whole-community resiliency. Gain a hands-on educational and professionally enriching experience in an interesting public service setting. If you are looking for a fast-paced internship that will challenge you while you work hard to make a difference, this is for you!