Local Graduate Inspires Youth
Alameda Sun
Thursday, June 30, 2005
By Valerie Creque
Aries are said to be independent, pioneers and natural leaders. For one 23-year-old College of Alameda (COA) graduate, these characteristics ring true. Through adversity, this young man became a voice for the voiceless.
Reggie James leads by example and reaches out to the community through his activism. May 27 James received Associate of Arts degrees in sociology and psychology — two of six A.A.s he plans to earn.
James was born in Oakland, grew up in Alameda and attended Encinal High School. Along with his single mother, Deborah, James briefly stayed in a shelter on Constitution Way before moving to the Buena Vistas, now known as the Harbor Island apartment complex. In November 2004, James, his mother and more than 1,000 other residents received eviction notices. James and his mother moved out right away. Some residents felt the
evictions were unjust. James spoke out.
“I tried to re
"To educate a man is to unfit him to be a slave." - Frederick Douglass