giving back

Since 1992, when Jay Anast took ownership of Alliance Recycling, the company has been committed to giving back to the community. Our goal is to contribute to the advancement and well being of West Oakland residents through programs that promote health, safety, education and environmental awareness. Following are some of the key programs Alliance Recycling sponsors that contribute to the advancement of the community.

The West Oakland Middle School is the only middle school in West Oakland serving 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grade children of local residents. Its students are unusually challenged by the stressors of community violence, family breakdown and poverty – all factors that negatively impact their development and education.

Child education is at the core of community programs Alliance Recycling sponsors. Recognizing that middle school children are at an age that is a tipping point in their development, and their future, we sought to introduce and sponsor life-enrichment programs that offer support, raise self-awareness and promote non-violent communication. To this end Alliance is providing the following two programs for the entire student body of West Oakland Middle School:

• Mindfulness classes: Starting with this Fall 2009, Alliance Recycling is sponsoring the entire student body of West Oakland Middle School to participate in mindfulness training classes for the duration of the school year. The goal of the classes is to raise student self-confidence and empower them to help themselves. These classes have been proven to effectively raise student GPA, reduce violence and ultimately create a safe and respectful school environment.
• Mindfulness drumming classes: As a complement to the Mindfulness Classes, Alliance Recycling is also sponsoring Mindfulness Drumming classes (provided by Attitudinal Healing Center of Oakland) for the entire student body of West Oakland Middle School for the 2009/2010 school year.
• Maximum Potential Project: A select number of the most gifted students at WOMS will be selected to participate in the Maximum Potential Project. This program was designed to teach young people – especially young people who have talent but are not fully using it – how to maximize their talent and potential and live intrinsically rewarding lives. For more information on the program, visit www.maxpotential.com

The Moten Model Car Program teaches children 8-14 years of age how to build model cars. The experiential learning the program offers develops kids’ problem solving, design and organizational proficiency, enhancing their reading and math skills. The program’s founder, Warren G. Moten II, one of Oakland's native sons, is a winner of several IMDRA's West Coast national awards for radio control (RC) model car drag racing, and has been the subject of three articles in Radio Control Model Car magazine. He is committed to his community and has contributed his time and experience for more than 10 years running through Mr. Moten's Model Car Class. Alliance Recycling is proud to support this program, beginning the Fall 2009. Classes are limited to 10-15 kids per class. To enroll, please email Mr. Moten at: fordlover22@hotmail.com, or call: 510-867-1914.

Programs to be announced soon.

Alliance aims to support environmental interests and raise environmental awareness not only through recycling incentive programs, like Green West Oakland, but through programs that connect West Oakland’s youth, and the community at large, to the environment. We’re partnering with such programs, about which we’ll be announcing in the coming months.

Green West Oakland Program: each year Alliance Recycling will donate 100 trees to be planted in 10 West Oakland neighborhoods. Click here for more details about this program.