Commendation BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY OF , STATE OF

SISTER ROSEMARY DELANEY Next Step Learning Center

WHEREAS, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors recognizes SISTER ROSEMARY DELANEY for her 21 years of service at the Next Step Learning Center (NSLC). Sister Rosemary was one of the co-founders of the Center in October of 1994, along with Sister Cynthia Canning and Sister Margaret Kennedy. Sister Rosemary served as co-director since its inception through 2015; and

WHEREAS, SISTER ROSEMARY DELANEY fostered the organization’s mission to strengthen Oakland families and communities through intensive, personalized tutoring in basic literacy, which is defined as the tools of reading, writing, and computation needed for urban life in the 21st century; and

WHEREAS, SISTER ROSEMARY DELANEY provided insight, dedication, caring and academic excellence and was instrumental in raising more than two million dollars in grants and donations to buy their West Oakland center; and

WHEREAS, SISTER ROSEMARY DELANEY was a central part of the NSLC’s mission focusing on building bridges to the business, civic, and educational community, and has created a strong support and follow-up system. As a result of her efforts, more than 730 youths and adults have achieved full High School Equivalency (HSE) certification; close to 100 of the HSE graduates have transitioned to a community college; hundreds of others have gained important academic and life skills, while over 300 volunteers have served as weekly tutors or technical support providers; and

WHEREAS, SISTER ROSEMARY DELANEY was responsible and instrumental in working with people to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods by addressing issues in an organized, proactive way. She served as a catalyst in bringing neighborhood people together, developing leadership potential, building community, and planning strategy to address their needs. She also organized parishioners to provide direct service for people with limited resources and to help address other social justice issues through various types of action; and

WHEREAS, in the 1970’s, SISTER ROSEMARY DELANEY taught junior high school for 13 years, including 3 years at St. Francis de Sales School in Oakland, across from the Greyhound Bus Station. In collaboration with adult leaders in West Oakland and Holy Names College, Sister Rosemary became the first Director of the then new program of adult leadership development called the West Oakland Community Leadership Consortium. The Consortium provided continuing education for adults in community organizing, parenting, and senior citizen interests and concerns; and

WHEREAS, SISTER ROSEMARY DELANEY is a role model and her enduring legacy will remain in the lives of whom she touched. Her extraordinary contributions will continue to be valued by all of those at Next Step Learning Center.

THEREFORE, this Board of Supervisors, County of Alameda, State of California does hereby extend its sincere and heartfelt thanks to SISTER ROSEMARY DELANEY for her 21 years of dedicated service, and wishes her continued success in all of her future endeavors.

SCOTT HAGGERTY, PRESIDENT WILMA CHAN, VICE-PRESIDENT SUPERVISOR, FIRST DISTRICT SUPERVISOR, THIRD DISTRICT

RICHARD VALLE SUPERVISOR, SECOND DISTRICT

NATE MILLEY SUPERVISOR, FOURTH DISTRICT

KEITH CARSON SUPERVISOR, FIFTH DISTRICT

Commendation BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY OF ALAMEDA, STATE OF CALIFORNIA

SISTER CYNTHIA CANNING Next Step Learning Center

WHEREAS, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors recognizes SISTER CYNTHIA CANNING for her 21 years of service at the Next Step Learning Center (NSLC). Sister Cynthia was one of the co-founders of the Center in October of 1994, along with Sister Rosemary Delaney and Sister Margaret Kennedy. Sister Cynthia served as co-director since its inception through 2015, where she carried primary responsibility for fundraising and development to keep all of its services free of charge. Sister Cynthia provided insight, dedication, caring and academic excellence and was instrumental in raising more than two million dollars in grants and donations to buy the organization’s West Oakland center; and

WHEREAS, SISTER CYNTHIA CANNING fostered the NSLC’s mission to strengthen Oakland families and communities through intensive, personalized tutoring in basic literacy, defined as the tools of reading, writing, and computation needed for urban life in the 21st century. Sister Cynthia also exemplified her passion for education through teaching for two years at St. Mary’s Elementary School and seven years as a teacher and principal of Holy Names High School. In addition, Sister Rosemary served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Holy Names University; and

WHEREAS, SISTER CYNTHIA CANNING served on the Leadership Team of the Sisters of Holy Names in the California Province from 1982 to 1994, serving 6 years as Director of Ministries and 6 as Provincial. Sister Cynthia was former President of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious in the California region. In 1993, she helped initiate a process of exploring potential new ways that the Sisters might use their experience in education to help meet the current needs of Oakland residents; and

WHEREAS, SISTER CYNTHIA CANNING was a central part of NSLC’s mission focusing on building bridges to the business, civic, and educational community, and created a strong support and follow-up system. As a result of her efforts, more than 730 youths and adults have achieved full High School Equivalency (HSE) certification; close to 100 of the HSE graduates have transitioned to a community college; hundreds of others have gained important academic and life skills, while over 300 volunteers have served as weekly tutors or technical support providers; and

WHEREAS, SISTER CYNTHIA CANNING was instrumental in addressing the high school dropout rate in Oakland with energy and innovation, providing programs for participants to achieve their educational and life goals. She was responsible for working with people to improve their quality of life in their neighborhoods by addressing issues in an organized and pro-active way. Sister Cynthia served as a catalyst in bringing neighborhood people together, developing leadership potential, building community and planning strategies to address issues within the community. She also organized parishioners to provide direct service for people with limited resources and worked to address other social justice issues through various types of action; and

WHEREAS, SISTER CYNTHIA CANNING is a role model and her enduring legacy will remain in the lives of all she touched. Her extraordinary contributions will continue to be valued by all of those at Next Step Learning Center and beyond.

THEREFORE, this Board of Supervisors, County of Alameda, State of California does hereby extend its sincere and heartfelt thanks to SISTER CYNTHIA CANNING for her 21 years of dedicated service, and wishes her continued success in all of her future endeavors.

SCOTT HAGGERTY, PRESIDENT WILMA CHAN, VICE-PRESIDENT SUPERVISOR, FIRST DISTRICT SUPERVISOR, THIRD DISTRICT

RICHARD VALLE SUPERVISOR, SECOND DISTRICT

NATE MILLEY SUPERVISOR, FOURTH DISTRICT

KEITH CARSON SUPERVISOR, FIFTH DISTRICT

Commendation BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY OF ALAMEDA, STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Lynn m. Sherrell

Alameda County assessment appeals board member

WHEREAS, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors commends Lynn M. Sherrell for her over 21 years of dedicated service to the Alameda County Assessment Appeals Board as Supervisor Keith Carson’s appointee for District Five; and

WHEREAS, Lynn M. Sherrell faithfully attended meetings of the Assessment Appeals Board for the past 21 years. Ms. Sherrell provided persuasive, effective leadership to the Board; and

WHEREAS, Lynn M. Sherrell is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, and earned her Law Degree at University School of Law where she earned honors in civil litigation. Ms. Sherrell is admitted to practice in all California, United States federal courts and the United States Tax Court.

WHEREAS, Lynn M. Sherrell was an effective member of the Assessment Appeals Board who did her homework. Ms. Sherrell was always well-informed about the issues before the Board and brought her extensive background and knowledge as an attorney, all of which helped guide the Board to make sound decisions; and

WHEREAS, Lynn M. Sherrell was always prepared for and well-informed about the process as well as the challenging applications, identified the true issues and considered each application on its individual merits without prejudging the issues; and

WHEREAS, Lynn M. Sherrell was able to strike a balance between the amount of information necessary to make a rational decision and the need to reach resolution on a matter; and

WHEREAS, Lynn M. Sherrell has provided other community service for over 21 years in the Area community having represented clients in a wide variety of civil law matters and have litigated many other cases in the Bay Area Superior Courts.

THEREFORE, that the Board of Supervisors does hereby extend its sincere and heartfelt thanks to Lynn M. Sherrell for the many years and great amount of effort which she put into her position on the Assessment Appeals Board, wishes her the best of luck in all her future endeavors.

SCOTT HAGGERTY, PRESIDENT WILMA CHAN, VICE-PRESIDENT SUPERVISOR, FIRST DISTRICT SUPERVISOR, THIRD DISTRICT

RICHARD VALLE SUPERVISOR, SECOND DISTRICT

NATE MILLEY SUPERVISOR, FOURTH DISTRICT

KEITH CARSON SUPERVISOR, FIFTH DISTRICT