On this Thanksgiving Day...

I wish everyone a happy, safe holiday! Despite bad news (the Oakland election results, and the shooting of our friend Vincent Williams [see below]), we can always find plenty to be thankful for.

Vincent, the recipient of our 2021 Person of the Year award, was on his way home from San Francisco, where he’d been helping a client, when an unknown assailant fired a bullet into his car, fracturing his skull and causing brain bleeding. Fortunately, Vincent survived, but his rehabilitation will be long. He has started a GoFundMe account, and I’m urging you all to please donate what you can.

Vincent is one of the treasures of our Oakland community. The founder of the Urban Compassion Project,

https://urbancompassionproject.org/

Vincent has dedicated his life to helping the homeless. The work he and his team do is truly extraordinary. Vincent has very little money; his hospital bills alone are likely to be in the six figures. Again, please give what you can to help this remarkable young man recover and resume his vital work.

Thank you.

Steve Heimoff