With the high prices of fresh fruits and vegetables at the local farmers’ market or grocery store, having access to quality food can be hard. Folks living in areas of East Oakland have an even harder time buying and accessing good veggies and fruits because there are no grocery stores. Several months ago I saw a talk by a community gardener named Ron Finley who has been growing food on the patches of soil between the sidewalk and streets of South Central Los Angeles. I found his talk to be entertaining because he could be my friend or neighbor,, and eye opening because I have seen many of the same conditions on the streets of East Oakland.... Read more »

“We are an oak tree with deep roots, we do not move with the breeze even when the earth quakes; we still stand strong with battle scars,” said James, a 14-year-old East Oakland resident leader to Mayor Libby Schaaf. On May 19th in the old Eastmont Mall, resident leaders met with Mayor Libby Schaaf to express years of frustrations and negative impacts they have personally experienced while living in East Oakland. Each resident leader began their statements to Mayor Schaaf with “I am Oakland Community Neighborhood Voices.” They were in full force, donning black t-shirts with a hashtag on the front that read: #Health4all.... Read more »