We’re new, and we’re getting a lot of questions. Empower Oakland embraces transparency — here are 10 things you should know about us.

1. We’re volunteer led. No, really. We are. We’re 150+ Oakland residents working in education, technology, non-profits, media, development, and government. For many of us, this is our first foray into politics — and it’s none of our full-time jobs. We’re juggling kids and work; squeezing in Empower Oakland during naps and after bedtime. We are simply united by a love for Oakland and a desire to see Oakland thrive.
2. We have no full-time or paid campaign staff. We’ve spent hundreds of hours creating Empower Oakland — drafting content, reviewing endorsement questionnaires, interviewing candidates, combing copy for grammar mistakes, developing ads, and building our website — all as volunteers. Everyone who is part of Empower does it for the love of Oakland. Donations go to promote our voter guide and modest legal costs, and that’s it. 
3. The median donation is $100. We’ve received donations from hundreds of Oaklanders who care and are willing to step up and support a vision for a thriving, safer, vibrant Oakland. We aren’t shy about our funding – you can see our financing disclosures here.
4. We believe in practical, evidence-based solutions that address the real issues facing Oakland. Empower Oakland volunteers have diverse opinions just as Oakland’s voters are far from a monolith. What brings us all together is a desire to advance practical, pragmatic solutions to the challenges facing The Town. Empower aims to be a voice for Oaklanders who want safe and clean streets, thriving families and businesses, and effective local government.
5. Donors have no input into our endorsement process. Our endorsement committee is 12 diverse volunteers with experience in areas like school board, transportation, urban development, and housing. They’ve lived in Oakland for years, have kids in Oakland schools, and some of their families have been in Oakland for generations.
6. It’s cool if you don’t agree with our endorsements. We spent 250+ hours researching candidates and measures to identify those who we feel align with our vision for Oakland. What’s most important is that folks are informed and vote. You can read the endorsement questionnaires, watch the interviews, and go deep into the measures. It’s there for you to help you make the choice that best aligns with YOUR values and vision for Oakland.
7. Loren Taylor founded Empower Oakland, but Empower Oakland is a lot bigger than one person. Loren founded Empower Oakland in 2023 to focus on voter education and outreach. In the March 2024 primary, Empower Oakland ran a slate of candidates for the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee and won 4 Oakland seats. Loren is one of the 12 members of our endorsement committee. Loren actually held differing opinions from the majority of the committee on multiple races. His opinion was one of 12 and the Voter Guide was decided by the Endorsement Committee, not any single individual. If Loren ends up running for office again, he has already committed to stepping down from Empower Oakland so our group can remain objective.
8. We’re laser-focused on Oakland’s biggest issues. Homelessness, housing, transportation, blight, the economy, good government and public safety —these are the defining issues for Oakland. We’ve developed a straightforward, practical agenda for solving Oakland’s biggest challenges.  But implementing this agenda requires leaders who can deliver results — which is why electing Empower Oakland’s endorsed candidates this November is so crucial for our city’s future.
9. We champion evidence-based solutions to our public safety crisis. Oakland has the fewest police officers per crime of any major city in America. Our vision includes a coordinated strategy between a fully staffed police force and 911 dispatch, as well as coordination between the Department of Violence Prevention, MACRO, and an expanded Ceasefire program. We also know modern technology solutions  can help police catch criminals and fight crime while making efficient use of a finite budget. Lastly, we must hold accountable police officers who betray the public’s trust through misconduct.
10. We’re pumped and we’re glad you’re here. November 5th could be the most consequential election in Oakland’s history. It’s in part why Empower Oakland has galvanized so many everyday Oaklanders who aren’t normally active in politics to do something about it. Our goal is to educate and empower voters with facts and information. We’re proud to be building this organization for Oakland. Check out our voter guide and sign up for our newsletter to go deeper into what’s happening in Oakland.