East Oakland Senior Center (EOSC)

East Oakland Senior Center (EOSC) is situated at the Ira Jinkins Park in Oakland's Brookfield neighborhood. It is an essential component of a cluster of centers that collectively contribute significantly to the advancement and enrichment of the East Oakland community and the overall improvement in the residents' quality of life. EOSC offers a diverse range of activities and programs such as step exercise, karaoke, line dancing, pool, and food pantry distribution. Additionally, it organizes monthly day trips to various destinations, including eateries, bowling alleys, theaters, and casinos. The facility is open to both public and private events, providing a versatile space for gatherings and occasions.

EOSC Program Schedule

Welcome Seniors!

East Oakland Senior Center (EOSC) is open for programming Monday - Thursday, 9:00am - 1:00pm.

Membership

Membership is $12 a year - Such a Deal!

Below is our membership registration form. The membership form includes a demographics section that will help us apply for grants to benefit the Center's programs and services. Keeping in line with our standard center rules, we want to assure you that your personal information will remain confidential.

EOSC Membership Registration Form - English(PDF, 297KB)

EOSC Membership Registration Form - Spanish(PDF, 357KB)

How to Apply:

Visit EOSC, Monday - Thursday, 9:30am - 12:30pm, set up your membership registration and receive your MySeniorCenter (MSC) key tag. Payment options are: Cash, check, cashiers checks or money orders made payable to City of Oakland.

Your Membership Matters! By joining or renewing your membership, you make our programs possible.

Become an Advisory Council Member

We are looking for people to share their innovative ideas and skills in finance, event planning, health care, and more, with the senior community.

Would you like to have a voice to advise about center programming;
Can you attend the monthly Council meetings; and
Are able to volunteer at least ten (10) hours per month.

Meetings are held on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 10:30am.

Food Pantry

The EOSC Food Pantry, operated by dedicated volunteers, collaborates with the Alameda County Food Bank to provide nutritious produce, canned goods, protein, and other essential items to center members and the wider community.

Held every Wednesday
Center members received first priority from 8:00am - 9:00am.
After 9am, the pantry is open to the community until all food is distributed.

About

It was the early 1970's, when six senior citizens met for the purpose of organizing a senior service organization. The primary purpose for organizing this effort was to provide various quality life sustaining activities, recreation, and social fellowship. The members were W.E. Willis, Ray Mills, Amos N. White, Dan Van Dyke, Timothy Gardens and Dorothy A. Williams. In the ensuing years, Carl Smith, Sadie Carter-Smith and Mary Lou Oliver joined the six charter members along with others to further the cause with the goal to ultimately establish a senior center. On April 20, 1972, the dream of one woman, Dorothy A. Williams, morphed into the formation of The East Oakland Senior Citizens; Incorporated, referred to as "INC." a premier nonprofit corporation mutual benefit senior advocacy group.

During the early 1970's the group met frequently in homes throughout East Oakland including the old Brookfield Library. Their plans and activities included the recruitment of seniors to plan and engage in social fellowship events, volunteering their services to the East Oakland Community at large and utilizing retirees' work skills to offset their activity program costs. A successful collaborative program with the Oakland Unified School District (O.U.S.D.) began with Grandparents Are Involved Now (G.A.I.N) which was incorporated on April 13, 1977, as a Domestic Nonprofit Jurisdiction with Dorothy A. Williams as the registered agent name and 9710 Coral RD, Oakland, CA 94603, as the registered agent address. The establishment of this entity thereby allowed seniors to volunteer at local elementary schools and render a living history program, with eyewitness accounts of historical events, songs, poems and special anecdotes. Senior musicians played historical background music for the students. Seniors also assisted with tutorial instruction in the classroom.

The "INC." membership decided they needed an operational facility of their own and began looking for a site. A proposal was submitted to the Alameda County Department on Aging to seek funding to acquire the vacant property at the corner of Edes Avenue and 98th Avenue. Unfortunately, the initial attempt proved futile because the site was too small and it met with official governmental objections. In 1986, East Oakland Senior Citizens, Inc. was awarded $180,000 from the State Senior Center Bond Act Fund. The grant was obtained via the efforts of Dorothy A. Williams and Councilman Wilson Riles, Jr. "INC." was also awarded a $150,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) provided from the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to plan and construct the development of senior centers throughout the City of Oakland. The building plans of the East Oakland Senior Center/Brookfield Library were designed by George Matsumato, Project Architect. Mr. Matsumato and his staff collaborated with the building committee and other members of INC. in designing the details of the proposed structure which would become the East Oakland Senior Center.

In 1989, at the suggestion of Mr. Wiley Williams, a joint venture proposal for construction of a senior center and library at the Brookfield recreation center was proposed in writing to the Oakland City Council. Upon completion of the new construction the property would be administered, maintained and owned by the City of Oakland. All interested parties were in agreement and a joint venture was formed between Oakland Parks and Recreation Director Herbye White and the East Oakland Senior Citizens, Incorporated.

To "INC's" credit it is still an operationally active Non-Profit entity with East Oakland Senior Center member Ms. Ruscius Wilson serving as Chief Executive Officer. On April 27, 1991, a groundbreaking ceremony was held. The construction of the building (including the Brookfield Library) was completed in the fall of 1992. The Library was formally opened and dedicated on October 3, 1992. The East Oakland Senior Center's opening and dedication was delayed because the Department on Aging had to recruit and interview eligible seniors to serve as the twenty-one (21) members of EOSC's Advisory Council. The center was officially opened and dedicated in March 1993, as a City of Oakland owned and operated facility.

It is with great enthusiasm that the East Oakland Senior Center continues serving its seniors, constituents and the East Oakland Community at large with the highest commitment to excellence.