Leonard McNeil

Leonard McNeil currently works for the Neighborhood House of North Richmond as Project Director for the West County Healthy Eating Active Living project. The five-year community health initiative focuses on obesity and diabetes in the Latino and African-American populations. Leonard brings new ideas for participatory democracy that emanate from a lifetime of social change activism. Throughout his social change activism he has been a journalist, peace activist, trade union activist, defender of political prisoners, supporter of affirmative action and a staunch advocate for digital democracy. He was elected to the San Pablo City Council in November 2004. He also serves on the League of California Cities’ Transportation, Communications and Public Works Policy Committee. He chairs an ad hoc information and communications technology committee to consider a municipal broadband wireless network in San Pablo.

Empowering Youth In Richmond

Leonard has been involved with the West Contra Costa Unified School District on several levels stemming from a long-standing commitment to youth development. He has worked with a pre-apprenticeship program in construction, coordinated a mentoring program and spearheaded a city-school district partnership for after-school programs.

He has continued the relationship with the mentorship that was established in his final year as a ZFellow. His cohort, Carl Alexander is the Technology Coordinator at Leadership High School in Richmond (LPS). Mr. Alexander established the “Tech Saturdays” project where low-income Black and Latino students learn a unique combination of high-tech and real-world skills. Leonard helped build two onsite computer labs. The innovative, extra-curricular and academic enrichment project demonstrates how technology can used for personal, career or community development. The students are presently learning how to build and repair computers, install software, build web sites and install Wi-Fi networks and sophisticated surveillance equipment in addition to learning leadership, team-building, time management and entrepreneurial skills.

These students have the ability to change the image of Richmond youth and present a more positive outlook as they are highly motivated by the success of their tech projects and their involvement in technological community service. The benefit derived from participating in the program extends to everyone in the community.

Links

Contra Costa Times article on Leonard McNeil

Davis Park - WiFi in Little Tokyo

Micheline Wilcoxen - Building Community Capacity for Civic Engagement