For 65 years OCCUR has focused on supporting
the Economic Development of Low Income-People of Color
OCCUR serves as a facilitator and catalyst…
…bringing together neighborhood residents, merchants and government to strengthen and stimulate the economic development potential of emerging communities.
Our History
OCCUR is a community organizing and direct service non-profit organization founded in 1954.
Originally founded by white business and political leaders in the city to address problems of disinvestment in Oakland’s core urban area. Kaiser Industries provided staffing for the group with Norris Nash, customer relations director for Kaiser Industries.
In 1954, amendments to the Housing Act gave cities the option to use federal money for redevelopment. To take part in the program, cities needed to provide a “workable program,” part of which was demonstrating citizen participation in determining priorities for community development. Due to its focus on urban development and its political/economic ties to the city, OCCUR became the citizen group that acted as the citizen advisory group to the City.
In 1969, created a committee to review its membership and dues process. Paul Cobb and other members of the Black Caucus sat on the committee. As a response, OCCUR set up a 21-person Board of Directors (which included Cobb, Elijah Turner, and other members of the Black Caucus) and eliminated the small membership dues. This was a successful program that turned OCCUR into an organization led by a population that was more representative of Oakland’s diversity. By 1976, Paul Cobb was appointed as Executive Director of OCCUR.
Current Role and Services