Oakland & the World Enterprises
OAW Businesses
Let a thousand businesses bloom!
In 2015, we launched our first business, West Oakland Farms, at 7th & Campbell in West Oakland. In September 2021, we launched our food truck business, Soul on a Roll. Upon completion of the 7th & Campbell development, the commercial spaces on the ground floor will house our four new OAW businesses, including the neighborhood market, the restaurant, the fitness center, the tech center, and our new installation of West Oakland Farms. Once OAW businesses are profitable, they will become independent and cooperatively owned.
The 7th & Campbell businesses
Michael and Reuben Buckley
The Technology Business Center
Brothers Michael and Reuben Buckley, raised on the streets of West Oakland, who were incarcerated, and now are both tech developers heading up OAW’s Tech Business Center: Power B.I.T. ("Blacks In Tech"). Our OAW Tech Business Center will be an incubation hub for innovative technological products and services, including 3-D printer products and app design.
Joli Zahra Drevitch
The Fitness Center
Joli Zahra Drevitch is a formerly incarcerated fitness trainer who is organizing our Body & Soul Fitness Center. The fitness center will be equipped with the finest workout equipment for members and residents. Fitness center classes will include yoga, boxing, cardio, strength training and health and wellness programs.
Michael Lewis
The Neighborhood Market & Urban Farm
Seventh and Campbell is a food desert. The OAW Neighborhood Market will bring high quality, affordable, fresh food, produce and household products to the West Oakland community and will be accepting food stamps. Michael Lewis, who was incarcerated for 27 years starting at 13 years old, is organizing this business, along with Tolani King co-founder of Moms4Housing.
Maury McFadden & Tashara Newton
Farm to Restaurant
The restaurant A Taste of Power, being organized by Maury McFadden and Tashara Newton, will resurrect the spirit and vitality of 7th Street back in the day, before racist gentrification destroyed it, when it was known all over the country as “Harlem West”. It will make West Oakland a destination for great food and live entertainment.
Kelly Carlisle
West Oakland Farms
Kelly Carlisle is leading the development of the West Oakland Farms, launched in 2015 as OAW's first business. West Oakland Farms was operated by a group of formerly incarcerated people. Crops on the farm were produced through sustainable organic growing methods and were sold to local grocers and restaurants. West Oakland Farms was dismantled upon the start of construction and is now being incorporated into our new Black Panther building.
Oakland and The World
OAW Food Truck
In September 2021, OAW launched Soul on a Roll, a food truck business cooperatively owned by formerly incarcerated people. The Oakland A's made a significant contribution to the launch of Soul on a Roll. Look for our truck on the streets of Oakland.