Neighborhoods
On November 17 in downtown Oakland, the city’s first Real Black Friday was hosted by BetterBlack.
The festival’s theme wove through the 26 altars assembled by local artists as well as artwork created by this year’s poster contest winner Eduardo Chaidez. The poster features an illustrated image of a little girl with Día de los Muertos-inspired face paint and an Oakland T-Shirt, holding a sign that reads “DREAM FOR ALL.”
More than 120 kids participated in a 5k race around Lake Merritt that raised more than $38,000 to support Running For a Better Oakland’s youth running programs.
Peralta Hacienda Historical Park unveiled a new art exhibit in early October called “Undocumented Heart: Oakland Day Laborers Tell Their Stories,” that features the creations of undocumented day laborers through paintings, quilts, graphic art, song and dance.
Members of the organization set floating lanterns on Lake Merrit in hope of fostering peace through art.
Guardian Gym is a free, non-profit sports facility for boys and girls ages 10 to 24. Its founders opened the gym in Oakland after they realized the profound effect that having a safe recreational space and healthy goals had brought to their own lives. They want to bring those same opportunities to young men and women and help them learn that you can be successful on and off the mat by showing up every day.
In late April, in a formerly empty lot at the corner of Northgate Avenue and 27th Street in Oakland, the city installed 20 sheds that will house up to 40 people who are currently living on the street. This area, being referred to by the city as the “Northgate Cabins,” is supposed to serve as the first step toward transitional, and eventually permanent, housing for homeless folks who live in nearby encampments. According to officials in the City Administrator’s Office,…
For the elderly, staying active can be difficult. But that’s not the case at the Lincoln Square Recreation Center in Oakland’s Chinatown.
The Shoong Family Chinese Cultural Center provides after-school programs that teach Chinese language skills and culture for children