Unity Council

What is their story?

The Spanish Speaking Unity Council of Alameda County—known today as The Unity Council—was founded in 1967 as a commitment by local community leaders who wanted to advance a substantive representation of Latinos in political and policy decisions in Oakland and the surrounding communities. Operating the first Spanish-language focused employment center in Oakland, The Unity Council grew to address the most challenging needs of the Fruitvale and East Oakland community: access to high-quality education, jobs, and services that tackled the chronic poverty and unemployment in the neighborhood. The goal was to build an economically vibrant, physically attractive, and livable neighborhood where all people— regardless of race or national origin—could thrive.

The Council took on a significant business endeavor to attain and build community assets via real estate acquisition and management between the 1980s and 1990s. These business investments catapulted the organization to develop and build the nationally recognized transit-oriented development known as The Fruitvale Village. Today, it remains a vibrant public space in which people live and shop and connects the Fruitvale to critical services and access to the greater Bay Area.

The programs and services of the Unity Council reach more than 8,000 individuals and families annually in five languages. Programs include: early childhood education, youth mentorship and leadership development, employment services, career readiness training, housing and financial stability, senior citizen services, affordable housing and neighborhood development, and arts and cultural events.