Appointed Rent Board

As Chair of the HRRR Board, Denard works with his fellow Board members and RAP staff to continue expanding our outreach; to ensure that enforcement of the Board’s duties authorized in OMC 8.22, including the Rent Adjustment Ordinance, is fair for both tenants and property owners; and to advise City Council on rent protections and housing policies that are centered in equity. Chair Ingram encourages ALL Oakland residents to attend our meetings, and voice their concerns regarding the City’s Rent Ordinance, and Housing laws.

Denard received his B.A. in Psychology from Rollins College, and his M.A. in Child & Adolescent Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology; both of which he has utilized for over a decade of public service. As an Oakland resident, and Social Worker for the City and County of San Francisco, he knows how vital significant investments into housing are to many Californians. Working with individuals that are 65 and older, blind, and/or disabled, he sees first-hand the harmful impact of housing insecurity. This is further supplemented by Denard’s own experience with housing insecurity in his childhood and adult lives.

Denard is passionate about advocating for his tribes and manifests this through work as a member of the East Bay Young Democrats; the Black, LGBT, and Disability caucuses of the California Democratic Party; and volunteering with The Trevor Project. As part of his own mental health journey, Denard promotes the importance of physical, mental, and emotional self-care. He manages his work-life balance by reading, watching anime, adding to his vinyl collection, and making craft cocktails for friends. He also enjoys being surrounded by nature; one day he hopes to have a sunflower garden of his own.

Undesignated Representative

Undesignated Representative

Landlord Representative

Rodney K. Nickens Jr. is the Program Officer for Policy and Innovation at the San Francisco Foundation, one of the nation’s largest community foundations — a grantmaking public charity dedicated to mobilizing resources and acting as a catalyst for change to build strong communities, foster civic leadership, and promote philanthropy in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mr. Nickens is also the Founder of R&N Strategies, LLC and is the Tenant Representative on the Oakland Housing, Residential Rent and Relocation Board.

Ms. DéSeana Williams is a dedicated servant leader who has spent over 25 years working and advocating for those most in need. Currently, Ms. Williams is the Executive Director of the Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board and is passionate about ensuring access to affordable housing for all citizens. Born and raised in New York, Ms. Williams has spent the last 15 years living in Detroit, Michigan, before relocating to Oakland, California. Ms. Williams’s commitment to community and service has also extended to serving on the board of numerous non-profit organizations that address critical social issues like homelessness, mental health, substance use disorders, aging services, and inequality. She has provided valuable insight and guidance to these organizations, ensuring their efforts are sustainable and effective. With DéSeana’s help, these organizations have continued providing much-needed services and positive impacts to the communities they serve. These efforts continue today through her leadership of the Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board as a strong voice for tenant protections and rent stabilization. She is the proud mother of a daughter attending Wayne State University in Detroit. DéSeana enjoys playing tennis and spending time as a new puppy parent. She holds a degree in Public Administration, a two-time Hall of Fame athlete and is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

John deBoer is a tailor and artist who has been an Oakland resident since 2014. Born in Middletown, Connecticut, he graduated from Bard College and has lived in New York City, Chicago, rural Indiana, and Tokyo before coming to Oakland, and has always been a tenant. For several years he has been active in the Oakland Tenants Union, where he served as chair of the Education and Counselling Committee, helping tenants understand their rights and helping them find resources to advocate for themselves.

Tenant Representative (Alternate)