Jennifer Glenfield

Oakland at Work: The Crucible

The Crucible is a nondescript warehouse in West Oakland. Except for a few brightly colored metal signs and a large wooden crucible outside the building, the nonprofit industrial arts school could be any other structure in the freeway wrapped landscape. A swinging door in the lobby opens to a large, high-ceilinged workspace with bare cement floors. The constant hum of machinery vibrates throughout the space. In various nooks carved out throughout the expansive warehouse, people work. And they work mostly…