On Saturday, August 1st, I went to Neighbor Day at the Rainbow Recreation Center. The block party featured local artists displaying their crafts, nonprofits doing great work, local musicians, and delicious fried chicken. Over 150 community members from East Oakland were there. I met people like Saul Daniel Silva who described himself as “Oakland-raised with Mexican roots.” Saul is an artist, entrepreneur, and organizer in East Oakland. He showed me some original Oakland t-shirts with the emblematic Oakland tree logo made of Mexican motifs like Nopales (cacti) and Aztec symbols. He also talked to me about several community-changing activities he’s involved in, like the production of a documentary with local hip-hop artist Young Chop that seeks to show a different, more positive side of Oakland.... Read more »

Congrats to the recipients of this year’s Youth Mini Grants! Each summer, our Youth Leadership Board awards grants of up to $2,000 to youth-led projects sponsored by East Oakland schools, churches and nonprofits. The 2015 grantees and projects are: Alternatives in Action – Fremont First Mentors Summer Bridge, a program to help incoming freshman to acclimate to high school. East Oakland Youth Development Center (EOYDC) – Summer enrichment program, healing classes for youth in collaboration with UC Berkeley.   LIFE Academy – MSA project, a multicultural student club to create cultural understanding and bridge divides between African American, Arab, Asian, and Latino students.... Read more »