The Unity Council

The Unity Council, located along Fruitvale Ave., is a non-profit Social Equity Development Corporation. Latino community leaders founded The Unity Council in 1967 as they sought to increase representation and opportunities for the less fortunate in their community. The most pressing tasks facing Founding Executive Director Arabella Martinez were access to quality education, jobs and services. The Unity Council has been successful in creating the Fruitvale Village, a transit-oriented development created in the early 2000s that has served as a model for transit villages around the country.

The Unity Council is also a driving force of community support in the lower Fruitvale area: offering services and programs in over five languages to thousands of individuals, investing in affordable housing, and helping local businesses. Some of their programs include youth mentorship, employment services, cultural events and early-childhood education. The Fruitvale community has been able to thrive thanks to the work of the Unity Council, which continues to push for community equity and stability.