My story starts back about five years ago. I lived at my last address for 18 years, but lived in Oakland for 36. While living there, I paid my taxes and sent my children to school. As of recently, I am unable to find affordable housing. With that said, I have been essentially living …Read more…
About Mustafa Solomon
I have been a professional photographer for over 30 years. I am also a videographer, a lover of jazz, sports (boxing, basketball, and football), and fashion. I am a native of Newark, New Jersey. I am one of 13 children who were raised to always try to achieve our best and to give back to others in the process. Currently, I am a grassroots community activist and a member of many organizations such as Causa Justa/Just Cause, Black Lives Matter, and the East Oakland Building Healthy Communities initiative. My activism is centered on social justice issues, especially in the communities that are supposed to represent Black and Brown people.
Gun Tracing Pilot Program Approved by Public Safety Committee
The Oakland City Council’s Public Safety Committee on November 10 accepted a $1 million gun tracing proposal as a pilot program to be funded for two years, with a review and assessment scheduled thereaafter. Following discussion of the Oakland Police Department’s (OPD) quarterly informational report on crime trends and the department’s response to recommendations from …Read more…
A Cultural Divide – Not the Oakland I Know
What I’d like to talk about is the attitude that has changed in the city of Oakland. In our neighborhoods—East Oakland, West Oakland, North Oakland—in all of our neighborhoods there seems to be a new attitude. It appears that this city is less friendly than the one I used to know—since I’ve lived here over …Read more…
From East Oakland to Tunis, Tunisia, Part I
I have a very interesting story I want to tell my readers. I was blessed to participate in the 2015 World Social Forum, held in Tunis, Tunisia. The Forum is an annual gathering of civil organizations from around the world. For those who don’t know where Tunisia is, it is in Northern Africa. It was …Read more…
A True Trailblazer in Oakland
Stan Dodson is the executive producer of the film, “Trailhead.” He is also the manager of La Farine Bakery in the Dimond District and past board member of the Dimond Improvement Association and Friends of Joaquin Miller Park. “Trailhead: Discovering Oakland’s gateway to the Redwoods” was screened October 7 at the Chabot Space and Science Center …Read more…
Hope Collaborative
Hope Collaborative is a collective of Bay Area organizations and community residents that works to help families and youth work towards healthy living in East and West Oakland. Officially, it has been around for 7 years, but the community had begun the planning process for the organization before then. The Collaborative focuses on three major programs: …Read more…
The Dimond – We Have it All
I want to start out by saying that I live in the Dimond District of East Oakland. I’ve been a very fortunate person to live in this neighborhood. It has everything. As a grassroots activist, I sometimes run into my comrades from Black Lives Matter and Causa Justa Just Cause members. Like me, they are shopping, …Read more…
My Mother, My Best Friend
I want to tell you a story about my best friend who just happens to be my mother. Her name was Marjorie Anne Solomon, but everyone called her Midge. Midge was a feisty woman, but she only stood 4’11”tall. As a child I had health issues. I had a bad heart. My mother worked at …Read more…