OCCUR proudly announces the appointment of Dr. David B. Franklin as its new President & CEO. A skilled non-profit strategist and minister, Dr. Franklin has dedicated 19 years to founding, building, and accelerating growth for community-based organizations.

Dr. Franklin is an esteemed leader in community engagement and impact, regularly consulting and conducting training sessions on organization development, with a special focus on nurturing the health of non-profit organizations. Dr. Franklin's wealth of experience, coupled with his inspirational leadership style, has been instrumental in establishing initiatives that empower communities and secure funds to enhance programmatic impact for those in need of support. His steadfast dedication to transformation has not only positively impacted lives worldwide but also successfully raised millions of dollars for grassroots safety-net organizations.

Sis. Marie de Porres Taylor, OCCUR Board Chair, and Sondra Alexander, the previous Executive Director for OCCUR, eagerly anticipate Dr. Franklin's leadership:

“Born and raised in the Bay Area, Dr. Franklin is intimately familiar with Oakland, its challenges, values, and potential. His impressive work spans foundations, schools, relief organizations, and churches. Driven by the conviction that organizational culture shapes outcomes, Dr. Franklin has concentrated his efforts on assisting organizations in developing and refining the systems that underpin a robust organizational culture. We are confident that Dr. Franklin's knowledge, history, and spirit are precisely what OCCUR needs to thrive during this crucial time."

Dr. Franklin expresses his gratitude for this opportunity:

“I am honored to collaborate with community members and agencies in our pursuit of significantly expanding our impact, grounded in the transformative values of equity, justice, and inclusion. We will dedicate ourselves to championing economic and educational opportunities as we strive to bridge the gaps faced by current and future generations."

Dr. Franklin holds a B.A. in Business Administration, a Master of Divinity in Theological Studies, and a Ph.D. in Organization Development.