Responsible AI Activation Zones Initiative

Responsible AI Activation Zones Initiative is sponsored by The Oakland Fund (in partnership with the City of Oakland). This initiative aims to position Oakland as a national leader in community-centered AI innovation by investing in education, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and civic innovation.

Responsible AI — The Oakland Fund Responsible AI Activation Zone (RAIZ) Fund The future of AI should be built with communities, not for them. The RAIZ Fund provides grants to Oakland's three designated RAIZ Leads to support community-driven AI programming, education, and activations within their assigned Hub areas.

Responsible AI Activation Zones Artificial Intelligence is rapidly changing how people work, learn, access services, build businesses, and participate in the economy. The question is no longer whether AI will shape our future—it's whether communities will have a meaningful voice in shaping AI. Oakland has always been a city that leads with innovation, creativity, identity, resilience, and community.

Responsible AI Activation Zones build on that legacy by ensuring emerging technologies expand opportunity rather than deepen inequality. Established through the visionary leadership and legislation of Oakland City Councilmember Rowena Brown, Responsible AI Activation Zones position Oakland as a national leader in community-centered AI innovation.

In partnership with the City of Oakland, The Oakland Fund serves as the initiative's implementation partner, bringing together residents, educators, entrepreneurs, workers, community organizations, businesses, research institutes, philanthropic partners, and technology leaders to help shape an AI future grounded in Oakland's values. We believe technology should strengthen communities, not happen to them.

Rather than asking communities to adapt to AI, Responsible AI Activation Zones create opportunities for communities to influence how AI is understood, adopted, governed, and used. By investing in education, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and civic innovation, we are helping ensure Oaklanders are not simply prepared for the future—they have the opportunity to help define it.

Community-Centered AI Literacy AI should not be accessible only to those working in the technology sector.

We expand access to practical, hands-on AI learning so residents, workers, students, educators, nonprofits, and small businesses can understand emerging technologies, build human-centered skills (critical thinking, communication, collaboration, adaptability) to navigate them, make informed decisions, and confidently use and govern AI in responsible ways that support their goals and communities.

Workforce & Economic Opportunity The future of work is changing. We help prepare Oakland residents for emerging careers while supporting entrepreneurs, small businesses, and workers in using AI to strengthen local businesses, increase productivity, and create new pathways to economic opportunity. Responsible Civic Innovation Government has an important role to play in ensuring technology serves the public good.

We partner with public agencies, community organizations, and technology leaders to explore thoughtful, transparent, and community-informed applications of AI that improve public services while protecting privacy, accountability, and public trust. Community Voice & Leadership The people most affected by technological change should help shape it.

We create opportunities for residents, community organizations, educators, and local leaders to participate in conversations about AI's opportunities, risks, and future—ensuring community voices remain central to innovation. We believe responsible AI should be: Technology should expand human potential, strengthen communities, and improve quality of life—not replace the relationships and judgment that make communities strong.

The people most impacted by emerging technologies deserve meaningful opportunities to help shape how those technologies are adopted and used. Every Oaklander should have the opportunity to benefit from technological innovation regardless of neighborhood, income, race, age, or prior experience with technology. Transparent & Accountable Innovation should be guided by openness, ethical leadership, and public trust.

Focused on Real Community Needs Technology is a tool, not the goal; it should supplement, not supplant. We prioritize practical applications that help residents, workers, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and public institutions solve real-world challenges. Create Societal Resilience Provide access and resources for communities to resist, absorb, recover from, and adapt to shocks, including those introduced by AI.

Oakland has never been content to simply respond to change. Time and again, our city has helped define what comes next, through movements for justice, civic innovation, entrepreneurship, arts and culture, and community leadership. Responsible AI Activation Zones continue that tradition.

Together with Councilmember Rowena Brown, the City of Oakland, community organizations, philanthropic partners, businesses, and residents, we're building a model for community-centered AI innovation that other cities can learn from—one where technology strengthens communities, expands opportunity, and reflects the values of the people it serves.

Because the future of AI should be built with communities, on their own terms, in a responsible way. Responsible AI Activation Zone (RAIZ) Fund Bring Responsible AI to your Hub! The RAIZ Fund provides grants to Oakland's three designated RAIZ Leads to support community-driven AI programming, education, and activations within their assigned Hub areas.

The RAIZ Fund is available only to the three designated RAIZ Leads under the Town Alive legislation: Laney College, the Unity Council, and Northeastern University Oakland. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Can organizations that do not serve the City of Oakland apply?

No. The RAIZ Fund request for application (RFA) is available only to the three designated RAIZ Leads under the Town Alive legislation, each activating their assigned Hub area within the City of Oakland: Laney College, the Unity Council, and Northeastern University Oakland. Am I able to save my application and return to it at a later date?

You can safely save and resume your proposal and upload your budget documents any time before the proposal deadline. You will also be able to check the status of your proposal once it has been successfully submitted. Please be sure that your proposal is complete prior to submission.

Upon submission, you will receive an email confirming receipt. Please let us know if you did not get a confirmation email by emailing us at irving@oaklandfund. org with the subject line "Missing Email Confirmation."

What are the budget guidelines? What documentation do I need to submit? To make decisions about financial sustainability, we ask that you provide a clear and current budget for your organization and valid tax-exempt documentation (501(c)(3) status, public educational institution status, or a fiscal sponsor letter).

Please see the budget application for further information. Is the RAIZ Fund the only funding available to RAIZ Leads to launch their programming? Yes, and this is strictly for the three designated RAIZ Leads activating programming within their assigned Hub areas in the City of Oakland.

Why is the RAIZ Fund structured this way? This is based on legislation approved by the Oakland City Council in December 2025. Click here to read the full report.

If you have specific questions about your eligibility, please reach out to us at irving@oaklandfund. org . If you have additional questions about the RAIZ Fund, please email Irving Torres, Program Manager, Economic Innovation at irving@oaklandfund.

org .