Community
Underground Runway presented “Blaq Beauty,” a grassroots fashion show, at Parliament bar and night space in Old Oakland on Friday night.
Carlos Mendoza, a high school student, comes every Monday night at Liberating Ourselves Locally for Hack Night. Sitting in the back of the room next to his mentor, Mendoza takes out his laptop and starts typing. At 18 he is one of the group’s youngest members. He also has a big project underway: Mendoza is creating his own video game.
On Monday, Wells Fargo launched a partnership with OBDC in an effort to support small businesses in the Bay Area. Through the Wells Fargo Works for Small Business: Diverse Community Capital program the bank will be partnering with CDFIs, including OBDC and later other local groups, to lend out $75 million to small businesses nationwide over the next three years.
The board approved the Central Kitchen project, KIPP Bridge Charter School presented materials for a proposed elementary school, and, after some discussion, the board approved a facilities use agreement with Lazear Charter Academy.
Now, thanks to the efforts of the East Bay Astronomical Society, the Zeiss might illuminate Chabot’s planetarium again. The volunteer-run astronomy group recently launched the first phase of a fundraising campaign to save the Zeiss. They hope to collect $25,000 in donations via YouCaring, a crowd-funding site designed to help charitable projects raise money.
The Oakland Police Department’s proposed purchase of shotguns and transfer vehicles were the most hotly contested items discussed at the concurrent Oakland City Council and Oakland Redevelopment Successor meeting Tuesday night. Other business included a year-end presentation by State Assemblymember Rob Bonta (District 18), a presentation of the AC Transit service expansion plan, and an adjustment to parking fees.
Now, a controversial development deal could mean that up to 9.5 to 10.5 millions tons of Utah’s coal will be hauled to Oakland’s port, where it would be shipped westward to countries across the Pacific.
Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf delivered her first State of the City address on October 28th, outlining the four key issues she aims to address: improving community safety, providing equitable jobs and housing, creating a sustainable infrastructure, and ensuring responsive, trustworthy government.
The event was what the library called a “spooktacular” event, co-sponsored with We Tell Our Stories Sister Film Collective, Pan-African Network and PeoplesWorld.Org. The purpose was to build confidence, self-esteem, solidarity and good mental health by encouraging kids to come dressed as people or characters they admire.