East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative Story
We buy and preserve real estate to keep tenants of color in our community, to remove housing from the speculative market, and to address the root problems associated with poverty concentration and neighborhood disinvestment.
We recruit real estate investors to divest from Wall St., to invest in our communities, and to help us accumulate collective wealth. Our model empowers existing residents to build equity and assert control over neighborhood change, while mobilizing the resources of newer residents that want to live in inclusive and equitable communities (most of us want this!).
We foster a culture of democracy and Cooperation by giving everyone (tenants and investors, alike) an opportunity to co-own and co-manage real estate property.
EB PREC was born out of a collaboration between the People of Color Sustainable Housing Network (POCSHN) and the Sustainable Economies Law Center (SELC).
To learn more, check out our member meeting Juneteenth event video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC7D_boDd2Q
The Founders
Noni Session
Executive Director
Noni is a 3rd generation West Oaklander, Cultural Anthropologist and Grassroots Organizer. After a 2016 run for Oakland City Council in which she garnered more than 43% of the vote, Noni came to believe her community’s clearest pathway to economic justice and to the halt of rapid displacement was a cooperative economy. You can reach Noni at noni@ebprec.org
Gregory Jackson
Board President
Greg is a native of Oakland with deep family roots who feels fortunate to live within blocks of his family that now spans three generations. He is deeply committed to achieving economic equity in the East Bay through collective ownership and democratic decision-making. Recognizing the many social problems rooted in the unequal distribution of wealth and decision-making power, Greg focused his law school research on international cooperatives.
Greg aims to increase collective decision-making and cooperative-ownership in East Oakland. He holds a B.A. in Philosophy from San Diego State University, and a J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law.
Greg envisions a cooperative corridor in East Oakland where the historically disadvantaged are given autonomy to self-determine the development of their neighborhoods. Greg knows that youth are the future, and believes the stewards of today must learn to co-create with the inheritants of tomorrow. Greg also serves on the Steering Committee of the East Oakland Grocery Cooperative and mentors at Youth Impact Hub. Greg enjoys art, travel, and meaningful conversation in his free time.
Shira Shaham
New Projects Director
Shira has nearly 10 years experience leading teams and managing custom design projects and businesses. She played a key role in the growth of a food cooperative start-up in New York from the initial meeting of some 20-odd people to a successful business open six days/week. Returning to the Bay Area where she was raised, Shira works to give back to the communities that have nurtured her. You can reach Shira at shira@ebprec.org
Ojan Mobedshahi
Finance Director
Ojan is a 2nd generation Iranian American, born and raised in the Bay Area. Before working at EB PREC Ojan worked in sustainable land use, real estate brokerage, and property development. Outside of EB PREC Ojan is a permaculture designer and certified landscape contractor, and runs his own landscape design/build company, Happy Planet Landscaping. With a background in economics, Ojan strives to bring the financial and strategic know-how to help visionary organizations build their capacity and long term sustainability, to create just transition to a regenerative and just economy for all.
The Team
Annie McShiras
Investment and Fundraising Director
Annie works to actualize her bold vision of an economy where all people have enough to thrive through her work as a fundraiser, storyteller, and business development strategist. She has worked across fields including student organizing, worker cooperative development, popular education, impact investing, and transforming our financial system. A white queer organizer, Annie is dedicated to justice, abundance, and equity, and is committed to learning and growing as a lifelong practice. She remains steadfast in her approach to create parallel, democratic institutions that provide a more just alternative to corporate capitalism. Annie’s tenet belief is that there are enough resources for everyone to thrive as long as those resources are distributed equitably. You can reach Annie at annie@ebprec.org.
Chi Chi Okonmah
Director of Member Relations
Chi Chi is an active, licensed Real Estate Broker serving residential buyers and sellers in the Bay Area since 2013. With years of experience as an educator, Chi Chi is committed to supporting her community in building a legacy of sustainable wealth through home ownership.