Port of Oakland takes home a community partnership award

The Port of Oakland was honored with the Community Partner Award last Friday evening by the local non-profit, BRIDGEGOOD. The Port is proud to have BRIDGEGOOD as a tenant headquartered in Jack London Square. The non-profit provides design education, equitable tech access, mentorship with working professionals and career-building resources to more than 1,300 students and women of color in Oakland and the broader Bay Area.

“We are honored to receive this award,” said Port of Oakland Chief Operating Officer (COO) Kristi McKenney. She accepted the award on behalf of the Port from BRIDGEGOOD’S Executive Director, Shaun Tai. COO McKenney added, “The Port of Oakland is deeply committed to local hiring and supporting local youth as they prepare for meaningful careers and entrepreneurship. BRIDGEGOOD and the Port share a common goal of helping local jobseekers lay the groundwork for worthwhile careers that already exist in our community."

The “Power of We” event took place Dec. 8, 2023, and highlighted BRIDGEGOOD’s graduates. It also spotlighted supporters of their organization and programs, which equip Black and Indigenous people and Women of Color with career skills to acquire jobs in the technology field.

BRIDGEGOOD is also a recipient of the Port's Community Investment grant for workforce development and education programing within the Port's footprint of diverse communities. The grant supports BRIDGEGOOD’s apprenticeship program that trains local students in User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), Product Design, and Visual Design careers.

The Port is one of the larger employers in Oakland. It works with business partners and other organizations that prepare local residents for Port-related jobs. The Port of Oakland is a powerhouse for job creation in the region. The Port and its partners support more than 98,000 jobs.