Founder and CEO/Executive Director
Candice Elder, an East Oakland native who currently resides in City of Oakland District 7, is the Founder and Executive Director of The East Oakland Collective (EOC). Candice went to Oakland public schools and for high school attended The Head Royce School. Candice has a background in law, philanthropy and nonprofit management. Candice was a legal professional for 10 years and has worked in plaintiff class action law firms in employment and antitrust law fields. Candice previously worked as the Executive Coordinator and Membership Manager for the Women's Funding Network, the largest philanthropy network of women's funds and foundations in the country.
Candice founded EOC in 2016 to drive racial and economic equity in East Oakland. It was the long stemming disinvestment and lack of resources in East Oakland that compelled Candice to start this grassroots membership based organization harnessing the collective power of millennials. Candice brings her wealth of experience serving on community focused committees, boards and more to her leadership role in EOC and the community. Candice served on the advisory committee for Breaking the Silence Town Hall on Women and Girls of Color in Oakland from 2015-2016, an annual town hall creating space to amplify, educate, and advocate in support of girls and women of color in Oakland. It is Candice’s passion for Black arts and culture that led her to serve as the President of the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) Vanguard from 2014-2016, where she increased membership, visibility and funding. MoAD Vanguard is the young professional and membership group committed to supporting the museum through distinctive art, social, education, and philanthropic initiatives. As an influencer, she also served on the Vanguard board for five years. Candice currently serves on the Board of Directors for East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative (EBPREC).
Candice has received numerous awards and recognition. In 2019, she was selected as one of The Root's Top 100 Most Influential African Americans. Candice is the 2018 runner up for Rotary Oakland’s Rising Star Award. She is a recipient of the 2017 Trailblazer Award from In the Spirit Awards. Candice is also a 2016 recipient of the Community Leader Award by Black Elected Officials of the East Bay. Also in 2016, Candice was named Top 6 Under 40 by the Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA) HerStory Empowers Award in the arts and entertainment category. Candice has been featured in Oakland Magazine, KQED, San Francisco Chronicle, DemocracyNow! for her work in advocacy, policy and organizing with unhoused populations. Candice was a special guest on Pod Save America's live tour in San Jose.
Candice has a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science and a minor in African-American Studies from the University of California, Berkeley and a Masters of Science in Criminal Justice, with a concentration on reform of the criminal justice, from the University of Cincinnati.
Candice founded EOC in 2016 to drive racial and economic equity in East Oakland. It was the long stemming disinvestment and lack of resources in East Oakland that compelled Candice to start this grassroots membership based organization harnessing the collective power of millennials. Candice brings her wealth of experience serving on community focused committees, boards and more to her leadership role in EOC and the community. Candice served on the advisory committee for Breaking the Silence Town Hall on Women and Girls of Color in Oakland from 2015-2016, an annual town hall creating space to amplify, educate, and advocate in support of girls and women of color in Oakland. It is Candice’s passion for Black arts and culture that led her to serve as the President of the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) Vanguard from 2014-2016, where she increased membership, visibility and funding. MoAD Vanguard is the young professional and membership group committed to supporting the museum through distinctive art, social, education, and philanthropic initiatives. As an influencer, she also served on the Vanguard board for five years. Candice currently serves on the Board of Directors for East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative (EBPREC).
Candice has received numerous awards and recognition. In 2019, she was selected as one of The Root's Top 100 Most Influential African Americans. Candice is the 2018 runner up for Rotary Oakland’s Rising Star Award. She is a recipient of the 2017 Trailblazer Award from In the Spirit Awards. Candice is also a 2016 recipient of the Community Leader Award by Black Elected Officials of the East Bay. Also in 2016, Candice was named Top 6 Under 40 by the Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA) HerStory Empowers Award in the arts and entertainment category. Candice has been featured in Oakland Magazine, KQED, San Francisco Chronicle, DemocracyNow! for her work in advocacy, policy and organizing with unhoused populations. Candice was a special guest on Pod Save America's live tour in San Jose.
Candice has a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science and a minor in African-American Studies from the University of California, Berkeley and a Masters of Science in Criminal Justice, with a concentration on reform of the criminal justice, from the University of Cincinnati.
Chief of Staff
Darbi Howard, has a B.S. in Social Work from Georgia State University. Darbi is a resident of West Oakland. Darbi has decades of experience in Senior Leadership in the SF Bay Area nonprofit sector and has worked for longstanding organizations such as Rubicon and Bay Area Community Services. She has primarily worked with adults and families experiencing behavioral health crises, as well as social and environmental injustices such as lack of food, employment and inadequate housing. She has resided on a variety of boards such as Oakland Youth Choir, Oakland Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Alameda County IHSS Registry and PEERS to name a few.
Prior to joining EOC in an official capacity, Darbi and her family were faithful volunteers of the Feed the Hood program. Darbi’s personal commitment to community activism and engagement has been lifelong. She currently is raising her two adopted children in her footsteps as social justice leaders. In their free time her family loves hiking and on the river with their dog Mars and traveling to tropical beaches for ocean adventures.
Prior to joining EOC in an official capacity, Darbi and her family were faithful volunteers of the Feed the Hood program. Darbi’s personal commitment to community activism and engagement has been lifelong. She currently is raising her two adopted children in her footsteps as social justice leaders. In their free time her family loves hiking and on the river with their dog Mars and traveling to tropical beaches for ocean adventures.
Programs Manager
Ttori Johnson is a Bay Area native who spent her early childhood years living abroad with her parents in the military before settling in Oakland and San Francisco. Ttori has a Bachelors of Arts in business management from California State University, Hayward. Ttori spent 17 years in the medical field honing her operations management and leadership skills.
Ttori was a long time volunteer with EOC before joining in an official capacity as Executive Administrator in fall 2020. Ttori has been instrumental in coordinating EOC’s Feed The Hood program, which to date has served tens of thousands of meals and supplies to unhoused populations across Oakland. Ttori has a great sense of pride in serving her community and compassion for Oakland’s most vulnerable populations.
When she isn’t working and serving the community, she is spending time with her son, partner, family and friends. She also loves to travel the world and host social gatherings.
Ttori was a long time volunteer with EOC before joining in an official capacity as Executive Administrator in fall 2020. Ttori has been instrumental in coordinating EOC’s Feed The Hood program, which to date has served tens of thousands of meals and supplies to unhoused populations across Oakland. Ttori has a great sense of pride in serving her community and compassion for Oakland’s most vulnerable populations.
When she isn’t working and serving the community, she is spending time with her son, partner, family and friends. She also loves to travel the world and host social gatherings.
Community Planning Manager
Danielle "Dani" Dynes is a dedicated community planner who was born in East Oakland and raised in West Oakland. As a planner they focus on the needs of residents today, while creating strategies to deal with the challenges of tomorrow. Dani works to bring more resources and infrastructure to Oakland and ensure we have safer, healthier, and well-connected communities moving forward.
Dani has a B.A. in Urban Studies and Planning from San Francisco State University. They have previously worked at the Oakland Department of Transportation (OakDOT) in their Planning and Project Development section. Several of Dani's projects at OakDOT prioritized equitable and culturally relevant change in the East Oakland community. They facilitated events around the 90th Avenue Scraper Bike Way and conducted community outreach for the East Oakland Mobility Action Plan. They also helped manage Sustainable Transportation Planning grants while interning at the California Department of Transportation. Before they studied planning, Dani taught website design and visual communication to students in Oakland and Richmond.
Dani has served on the community council of City Slicker Farms since 2021. They were selected as a frontline community leader in the Partners Advancing Climate Equity program by the California Strategic Growth Council in 2021. In 2016 they were honored as a Youth Development Fellow by Coro, a civic leadership training organization. In their leisure, Dani enjoys photography, crafting, hiking, and gardening.
Dani has a B.A. in Urban Studies and Planning from San Francisco State University. They have previously worked at the Oakland Department of Transportation (OakDOT) in their Planning and Project Development section. Several of Dani's projects at OakDOT prioritized equitable and culturally relevant change in the East Oakland community. They facilitated events around the 90th Avenue Scraper Bike Way and conducted community outreach for the East Oakland Mobility Action Plan. They also helped manage Sustainable Transportation Planning grants while interning at the California Department of Transportation. Before they studied planning, Dani taught website design and visual communication to students in Oakland and Richmond.
Dani has served on the community council of City Slicker Farms since 2021. They were selected as a frontline community leader in the Partners Advancing Climate Equity program by the California Strategic Growth Council in 2021. In 2016 they were honored as a Youth Development Fellow by Coro, a civic leadership training organization. In their leisure, Dani enjoys photography, crafting, hiking, and gardening.
Community Planning Organizer
Cynthia Citlalli Herrera, who prefers to go by Citlalli (seat-la-lee), is an emerging community advocate who was born and raised in East Oakland. Citlalli attended public schools throughout Oakland and recently graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a bachelor's in Landscape Architecture and a minor focus on City and Regional Planning. Citlalli is passionate about designing and planning a greener and sustainable community for East Oakland residents.
Citlalli has done projects that expose and involve community members, students, and partners in the Bay Area to become active in environmental and social justice. By teaching courses to young adults or hosting small volunteer events, Citlalli enjoys engaging with her community in person or virtually. Citlalli has been granted one of the Keep Oakland Beautiful 2021 grants in order to restore a small green space that will come into fruition later this year.
Outside of EOC, Citlalli enjoys participating in monthly volunteer beautification projects in Oakland. As well as hiking, gardening, trying new places to experience or eat, and hosting weekly movie nights with her pets, partner, and friends.
Citlalli has done projects that expose and involve community members, students, and partners in the Bay Area to become active in environmental and social justice. By teaching courses to young adults or hosting small volunteer events, Citlalli enjoys engaging with her community in person or virtually. Citlalli has been granted one of the Keep Oakland Beautiful 2021 grants in order to restore a small green space that will come into fruition later this year.
Outside of EOC, Citlalli enjoys participating in monthly volunteer beautification projects in Oakland. As well as hiking, gardening, trying new places to experience or eat, and hosting weekly movie nights with her pets, partner, and friends.
Wellness, Resource and Outreach Coordinator
Elisa Cecaci is a 3rd generation Oakland native, mother, wife & community activist. Elisa graduated from St. Elizabeth High School and went on to earn an Associate Teacher Certificate in Early Childhood Development from Merritt College.
Elisa was first exposed to activism in grade school when her parents were actively involved in OCO (Oakland Community Organization). In high school, Elisa got involved with Ceasar Chavez’s grape boycott, speaking out against the dangers of pesticides for immigrant farmworkers. Elisa first started volunteering with The East Oakland Collective, in 2017, shortly after experiencing a traumatic housing displacement.
As an active EOC member, Elisa was part of the Rapid Response Team, helping provide unhoused individuals with support for their urgent needs. Elisa continues to serve as a caravan ambassador for EOC, bringing volunteers into curbside communities to offer food, hygiene kits, and face-to-face engagement during bi-monthly “Feed The Hood” events. In 2020 Elisa sat on the Advisory Council for RAHEEM to help inform a police use of force policy in Oakland. In 2020 Elisa also supported Oakland’s Reimagining Public Safety process by participating in the Centering Racial Justice Working Group. Elisa remains steadfast in her commitment to serve & support those most marginalized in her East Oakland community. Elisa is excited to continue to support COVID vaccine equity efforts as a Community Navigator, a role she has held since early 2020.
As East Oakland Collective’s Wellness, Resource & Outreach Coordinator Elisa remains steadfast in her commitment to serve & support those most marginalized by providing vaccine literacy, PPE resources, and other much-needed resources to those most marginalized and impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Elisa was first exposed to activism in grade school when her parents were actively involved in OCO (Oakland Community Organization). In high school, Elisa got involved with Ceasar Chavez’s grape boycott, speaking out against the dangers of pesticides for immigrant farmworkers. Elisa first started volunteering with The East Oakland Collective, in 2017, shortly after experiencing a traumatic housing displacement.
As an active EOC member, Elisa was part of the Rapid Response Team, helping provide unhoused individuals with support for their urgent needs. Elisa continues to serve as a caravan ambassador for EOC, bringing volunteers into curbside communities to offer food, hygiene kits, and face-to-face engagement during bi-monthly “Feed The Hood” events. In 2020 Elisa sat on the Advisory Council for RAHEEM to help inform a police use of force policy in Oakland. In 2020 Elisa also supported Oakland’s Reimagining Public Safety process by participating in the Centering Racial Justice Working Group. Elisa remains steadfast in her commitment to serve & support those most marginalized in her East Oakland community. Elisa is excited to continue to support COVID vaccine equity efforts as a Community Navigator, a role she has held since early 2020.
As East Oakland Collective’s Wellness, Resource & Outreach Coordinator Elisa remains steadfast in her commitment to serve & support those most marginalized by providing vaccine literacy, PPE resources, and other much-needed resources to those most marginalized and impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
