His work transgresses the line between scholarship and community, as evidenced by his involvement in urban education and community organizing. He was a public school teacher in Oakland, California, for over 15 years, and also served in the Office of School Reform within the Superintendent’s cabinet. He co-founded the Avenues Project, a youth development non-profit organization, as well as East Oakland Community High School, which were inspired by the Survival Programs of the Black Panther Party. Currently, he is collaborating with Roses In Concrete to create a K-12 school center in Oakland.