Oakland Planning & Development Corporation

I recently ended my time with OPDC as an intern. This was by far the best internship I have experienced in all my years in the field. The staff and board are professional, knowlegdable, and dedicated to Oakland. Because I was there I have learned so much that will be helpfull to my career. Beyond that they are deeply invested in the Develoment of their vital and wonderful community. I look forward to working with them in the future and seeing how they will improve Oakland. Thank you for the experience.

This non-profit organization is out there doing what is best for the community as well as the environment. I was amazed how organized and quickly the counselors in charge responded to any questions i had. I am extremely pleased to be working for this organization that really is doing a greater good for the community.

OPDC certainly has the ambitious intentions of making Oakland into a much more clean, environmentally sound, and ultimately a more livable community for its inhabitants. The town itself, although being a school community, is very much a continuation of the city of Pittsburgh, and this is made apparent by the architecture, as well as the urban environment in which the students and homeowners dwell. To make the town cleaner and to permanently do so would be to give Oakland less of a "downtown" feeling and to give it more of a college community feeling. The predisposition of the area certainly adds to its litter problem. In fact, being a student, and having stayed a weekend at the Penn State in State College PA, it became quite apparent to me that another (even larger) college campus did not have near the problem that faces Oakland. To me, this indicates that the urban setting is a major problem and to erase this schema about the campus itself would be to ultimately reduce the destruction being done to its environment. That's what OPDC is doing in one way or another: making the town less of a city slum and more of an environmentally conscientious community via projects such as Adopt-A-Block, in which a mass cleanup is conducted via the distribution of groups to different sectors of Oakland, as well as their participation in tree-planting events throughout the community. OPDC is always innovating to improve itself in order to improve the welfare of the people of Oakland. This winter a project called "Snow Angels" will be launched with the intention of clearing snow off of the walkways for the elderly. Projects like these are just another step toward an improved and more livable Oakland. Certainly is effective and will only become more prominent in the cleanup of Oakland with increased recognition.

OPDC is a non-profit organization. It allows members of the community to come together to benefit society. It creates a stronger bond between the people in the community. It's a great way to get out and do something for society. In terms of volunteer work the impact one has on the community is not inconsequential, because their are many ones that make up the volunteer workers. Together, these combined efforts create an effect. The effect is somewhat like a ripple effect; the bigger the stone thrown in the pond the larger the effect, and the more people who sign up to volunteer the bigger the stone that causes the ripple.

OPDC is a great non-profit organization for anyone who wants to help out. From cleaning out the streets to painting the building of another non-profit, there's work for anyone! My fondest memory would have to be planting trees with another non-profit to make Oakland look nicer. Everyone at OPDC is always warm and welcoming.

Oakland Planning and Development Corporation is a fantastic nonprofit! They do so much great volunteer work and I have found their staff to be fun, welcoming and generous! You should volunteer with OPDC today!!!

OPDC is a great organization, providing top quality service to the many individuals and organizations represented in Oakland. I had an opportunity to participate in a community clean up through their KICO program. The organization was effective at coordinating a large number of volunteers and providing a meaningful experience.

OPDC never operates in a silo. The excellent work done in real estate development, job development and training, and community organizing is a true partnership with residents, employers, and educational institutions. OPDC continues to partner with other community based organizations including Community Human Services and Oakland Transportation Management Association to reach common community goals. The staff of OPDC are qualified and dedicated, consistently delivering a very high quality end product.

This organization provides exceptional services to Oakland residents. They provide resources to those in need and trainings that are especially helpful. They also have very helpful staff.

I have been involved as a community volunteer and board member of OPDC for nearly a decade. It is hard to imagine Oakland without OPDC. They have rehabilitated and built scores of owner occupied homes throughout Oakland's diverse neighborhoods. They manage a portfolio of well maintained and affordable apartments. They have helped hundreds of neighbors in Oakland and nearby communities to help themselves by providing real world job training and career placement services through JobLInks. Through their community organizing program, they have made Oakland a better place with programs such as Keep it Clean Oakland and the Dumpster Program. They work hand in hand with other community based non-profits such as the Oakland Community Council, Oakland Transportation Management Association, Oakland Business Improvement District, and Community Human Services. Most importantly, OPDC cares about our community and its residents and they work hard every day to make Oakland a great place to live.

Community Human Services has been partnering with OPDC to provide housing to folks in need for ten years. I became a board member because of that incredible service partnership.

I think OPDC is a perfect example of how Community Development Corporations should be working in neighborhoods. The organization understands the critical interplay of housing, community coalitions and service provision. I regularly work with service providers that have no relationship with their CDC and in some cases talk about an environment of conflict with them. Oakland is lucky to have a visionary CDC that values partnership.