June 2021 - Oakland Voices

COVID-19 cases decline as Oakland reopens

June 28, 2021 Rasheed Shabazz

COVID-19 cases have dropped in Oakland.

Oakland Voices is Taking a Short Break

June 16, 2021 Oakland Voices

Dear Oakland Voices community, It has been quite a year during the pandemic, and Oakland Voices staff members are taking a short break to recuperate and spend more time with our families. We will be

Three Black folks stand against a bright orange background with arms round each other

Oakland Black Pride Director Olaywa Austin on Returning Pride to its Very Black and Very Queer Roots’

June 15, 2021 Brandy Collins

While San Francisco Pride events start June 11, and will be different from Oakland Pride, which occurs September 11-12, Oakland Black Pride is organizing its own events. This includes Zoom panels that provide community-centered discussions,

a dark brown wood table has a concealer pen and cloth mask with a faded American flag design

Facial Freedom: An Escape from “Mask-ne”

June 14, 2021 Ryan Barba

Editor’s Note: Oakland Voices alumnus and Editor-in-Chief of The Peralta Citizen, Ryan Barba was an essential worker during the pandemic, requiring him to wear a mask many hours out of the day. Now that California

Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions: Dana Bergen Shares an Anti-Zionist Jewish Perspective

June 10, 2021 Debora Gordon

We felt the need for it to be clear that not all Jews support or defend what Israel does and those organizations don’t speak for all of us.

A Palestinian flag with red, green, and white triangles is wrapped around a person's back, with the Port of Oakland's cranes in the background

Lara Kiswani on the Successful Blocking of the Zim Cargo Ship at the Port of Oakland

June 10, 2021 Oakland Voices and Lara Kiswani

“Palestine is an internationalist issue, and an issue that concerns all social justice movements.” – Lara Kiswani, director of the Arab Resource and Organizing Center

An African American woman with braids smiles for camera

Oakland Voices Alumna Ayodele Nzinga is City’s First Poet Laureate

June 10, 2021 Momo Chang

The City of Oakland’s Cultural Affairs Division announced today our first poet laureate: Ayodele Nzinga. Ayodele was a part of the 2019-2020 Oakland Voices cohort. She is a playwright, poet, and community advocate. She will

A 74 year-old man wearing a baseball cap and baby blue surgical mask stands in front of sign that says Census 2020 and :"six feet apart"

Unmasking

June 7, 2021 Howard Dyckoff

Editor’s Note: Oakland Voices alumnus and correspondent Howard Dyckoff is in the vulnerable age category for COVID-19. He worked inside an office during the pandemic and was able to stay COVID-free. Now that California is

a poster of MF Doom in a mask with the words doomsday vibes.

Bay Area’s hip-hop insiders say loss of artists are not isolated issues, long-term health needs to be addressed

June 2, 2021 Brandy Collins

Members of the hip-hop community are recognizing that a conversation about health and wellness for artists has become increasingly more important. As millions of people commiserate and share their remembrances online for their favorite artists,