By Eric L. Steckel In the wake of the tragic events in Paris on November 13, 2015, Catholic Charities of the East Bay urges the community to stand in solidarity with the hundreds of thousands of Syrians and others displaced by the violence in their homeland. While...
Some might chalk it up to the Pope Francis effect. Others might contend that the issue of immigration is truly top of mind for Americans. Whatever the case, turnout at the October 17th free citizenship and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) workshops at the...
If you’ve paid attention to the news over the past several weeks, you’ve witnessed the plight of Syrian refugees flooding into Europe. In a state of limbo, families are fleeing persecution and strife, leaving behind everything that they know to embark on a dangerous...
By Diana Pascual Jason Sullivan-Halpern is not a new face to Catholic Charities of the East Bay. After completing his one-year AmeriCorps fellowship with us, which included over 1,700 hours of service, Jason has joined us as our full-time volunteer coordinator. ...
By Eric L. Steckel Imagine leaving your home, your career, everything you know, to take a job in an East Oakland fast food joint. With all due respect to the fast food industry, why would anyone choose to do that? The question should be, “What would force anyone to...
By Janiero Rodriguez I just graduated from McClymonds High School in West Oakland. Like any school, there are “good kids” and those that we consider “bad kids.” When you’re a “bad kid,” that’s most likely how they’re going to see you for life. That...
By Jason Sullivan-Halpern As the volunteer coordinator at Catholic Charities of the East Bay, I have seen our volunteers do some pretty extraordinary things to help the community. You don’t have to look any farther than our Refugee Resettlement and Employment Program...
By Eric L. Steckel As I mingled with the students in the parish hall of Saint Ignatius Church, in Antioch, I was reminded of a recurring dream most of us have. It was the one where you show up for the final exam and you realize you are dreadfully unprepared. That one...
By Jason Sullivan-Halpern In a recent conversation with Meg Bowerman of Just Faith Ministries in the East Bay, I heard her remark that, “Catholic Charities is not just Catholic and it’s not just charity.” When I look at the people at Catholic Charities of the East Bay...
By Eric L. Steckel The City Council Chambers were quiet as the boy approached the microphone. He is new to this country, unable to speak English, but he knows the importance of the democratic system we enjoy. It was this very system that was responsible for him...
