Nearly 200 advocates, community leaders and organizers gathered in the heart of Oakland last Thursday for Rise Economy’s 2025 Northern California Equitable Futures Awards — an evening of celebration, reflection and resilience.

Held at Oeste Bar and Kitchen, the annual event brought together a vibrant cross-section of housing, economic and racial justice leaders to honor those whose work exemplifies what it means to fight for equity. This year’s honorees included youth financial empowerment nonprofit MyPath, housing justice leader Nikki A. Beasley, and Rise Economy’s own Kevin Stein, who was recognized for 25 years of fearless advocacy and policy innovation.

In her opening remarks, Paulina Gonzalez-Brito, CEO of Rise Economy, reminded attendees that the Equitable Futures Awards are more than just a ceremony; they’re a reflection of shared values and a collective commitment to creating equity.

“This event is a reflection of who we are, of the history we carry, and the future we are determined to shape,” said Gonzalez-Brito. “And there is no better place to carry that vision forward than Oakland.”

Rooted in Oakland’s rich legacy of activism — from the Black Panthers to today’s housing and climate justice organizers — the evening echoed with the spirit of community organizing.

“When we come together, we win. And here’s how we win this time: We dig deeper. We get bolder,” Gonzalez-Brito said.

An image of MyPath Founder and CEO Margaret Libby and youth accepting their 2025 NorCal Equitable Futures Awards.

This year’s honorees embodied the spirit of bold, community-driven action, showcasing what’s possible when advocacy aligns with real impact.

MyPath, the recipient of this year’s Equitable Futures Award, was recognized for its long-standing commitment to fostering financial inclusion for youth. Originally founded as a youth-run credit union in San Francisco’s Mission District, MyPath has transformed into a national nonprofit organization. It now provides young people with the tools they need to build credit, save money, and achieve long-term economic stability.

“Now this is something that has become a national idea,” said MyPath Founder and CEO Margaret Libby in accepting the award. “A lot of the time, people say, ‘the youth are our future.’ Well, they’re not. They’re the present. They have the ideas, the boldness and the courage to take on the systems in a way that sometimes, as adults, we’re only trying to match.”

Beasley, Executive Director of Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. and former Rise Economy board member, received Rise Economy’s highest honor: the Alan Fisher Economic Justice Award. Beasley was recognized for her tireless work addressing redlining and expanding access to affordable housing across Contra Costa, Alameda and Solano counties.

In a heartfelt speech, Beasley emphasized the effort required to tackle systemic inequities. She also expressed gratitude to Gonzalez-Brito and Stein for their years of collaboration.

Rise Economy Board Chair Chancella Al-Mansour introduced Stein, saying, “Kevin has been at the heart of so many of our biggest victories. His work has not only made policy stronger and banks more accountable; it has made people’s lives better. And for that, we are so deeply grateful.”

Stein, the longest-tenured staff member of Rise Economy, took the stage as the crowd chanted his name.

“It feels a bit like a glitch to be at CRC/Rise Economy for all of these years. There are so many good things about the job. But probably the number one thing about the job is the people,” Stein said. “There’s a role for everyone to play [in this fight for an equitable future]. Everyone can do something.”