Topic: Community
Once known as the “Harlem of the West,” West Oakland’s Seventh Street harbored a vibrant Black music and commercial scene. While the neighborhood is still recovering from the impacts of post-war urbanization, it has begun to bounce back, turning to local blues and jazz artists to revive the sounds of a long-forgotten era.
Oakland is known for hosting many vibrant festivals, but few can match the continued popularity of Oakland First Fridays, which celebrate the city's vibrant community and culture.
There are an estimated 700 unhoused, “transition-aged youth” between the ages of 18–24 who live in Alameda County. Youth Spirit Artworks (YSA) is a Berkeley-based non-profit organization that has taken groundbreaking steps to help these individuals as they enter adulthood.
With summer well underway, bringing with it a plethora of fresh fruits and vegetables in season, read on for some recipes to reduce food waste—including crunchy veggie chips, leftover fruit crumble, Persian tahdig, and more!
While neighborhoods are not static, maintaining an area’s historical and cultural character can help create a sense of place. Such is the case with the California Hotel in West Oakland–recent renovations have maintained the building’s historic exterior while giving it a new role in its community.
Clothing is a way for many to express their identity, whether that be a cultural influence, favorite sports team, or lifestyle choice. Oaklandish, the Oakland-based clothing brand, has become a way for residents and visitors to represent their connection to the city.
In San Giovanni a Teduccio, a coastal suburb in Naples, a new people-driven project has become Italy’s first renewable “solidarity energy community.”
During the 1960s and 70s, Fruitvale was a hotspot for widespread activism. The Chicano Movement, born from frustrations of socio-economic and racial inequity, was one call to action.
The art industry can be difficult to break into without connections, resources, and a lot of luck. A group of Oakland-based organizations and volunteers are working to support local artists by sharing their work and exposing a wider audience to the power of art.
EcoBlock Project Manager Therese Peffer discusses the project as a pathway to scalable, equitable energy at the 2022 MIT A+B Applied Energy Symposium.