Twelve Oakland residents compete to serve on school board

Twelve people including former teachers, a scientist, youth advocates and the mayor’s chief of staff, have applied to fill the Oakland school board seat vacated by Dr. Gary Yee when he was asked to become acting superintendent, a district official said. In the year ahead, the Oakland Unified School District board will have a very [...]

MetWest News: events & studies (Community Voices)

We want to share some great news from MetWest and invite you and any friends who should learn about MetWest to join us for three upcoming events! First, the events, then the news… This Weds. 5/22, 8:45 – 10:45 AM: Senior Thesis Project Showcase Our seniors have spent much of the past year researching and [...]

Oakland City Council to Vote on Microlending Initiative Partnership with Microlending Organization Kiva to Provide Capital to Small Local Businesses

Just in from the City of Oakland: OAKLAND, CA – On Tuesday, May 21, the Oakland City Council will vote on a proposal to partner with an international microlending organization to support local entrepreneurs and promote economic development in Oakland. The proposal sponsored by City Attorney Barbara Parker and City Councilmember Libby Schaaf will create [...]

Swarm Gallery Closing Down on June 9 After Seven Years in Oakland

“This past month of April, I was given a 60 day notice to leave and make way for a restaurant,” said Svea Lin Soll, sole proprietor and director at Swarm Gallery. According to Soll, the gallery is closing this June and the current exhibition will be her last show. Swarm opened in February of 2006 [...]

Cinnamongirls support young women in Oakland

By Uilani A. Gray – Tower Staff Writer The community of Cinnamongirl Inc., a nonprofit mentoring program, held a meet and greet on May 9 at the MetroCenter Auditorium in Oakland for new mentors, volunteers and additional young girls wanting to become Cinnamongirls. The CGI is an Oakland-based program with a mission of empowering and [...]

Oakland youth speak truth to power – NAACP forum has kids asking tough questions

By Aubrie Johnson – Tower Staff Writer African-American youth filled the first two rows of chairs lining the congregation room of the Acts Full Gospel Church in Oakland on April 27, clad in white T-shirts reading “OAKLAND NAACP Youth Leadership Conference.” Some held slips of paper from an earlier exercise in their hands, with their [...]

Get ready: June 1st is “Silence The Violence Day!” (Community Voices)

On June 1, Urban Peace Movement’s Youth Peace Ambassadors will host a youth summit and peace festival in East Oakland for annual Silence The Violence Day. In preparation for the festival, our youth leaders are planning to do “Street Theater” to raise awareness, and to call for an end to the violence that has plagued [...]

St. Mary’s College provides parents with career counseling at local elementary school

Patty Bishop couldn’t escape the news of the unemployment problem in Oakland. “Just read the headlines about jobs,” she said. “Joblessness is a reality, and the jobs aren’t coming quick enough.” Bishop, however, is in a place to do something about it. As the director of St. Mary’s College Career Center, she has 16 years of experience, [...]

Are you planning to go see ‘Fruitvale Station?’ Let us know!

East Bay native Ryan Coogler’s feature film on Oscar Grant, “Fruitvale Station” – which is opening in the U.S. July 12 and getting broader national distribution July 26 – continues to get rave reviews around the world. According to Jamilah King at Colorlines, “Fruitvale Station” got a two-minute standing ovation after its premiere at the [...]

The things about Fairyland you didn’t know, and a June 6 Gala! (Community Voices)

Do you really know Fairyland? Last Thursday, Children’s Fairyland sponsored the luncheon of Oakland Rotary 3, the city’s most active service organization. The presentation was well received, and I’m proud and delighted to share it with you. Here are 10 things you probably don’t know about Fairyland. • We’ve been designated a Certified Wildlife Habitat [...]