As summer closed, families gathered in Oakland’s Fruitvale for “Fresh for School,” a back-to-school celebration hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ) on August 23. Children climbed and jumped in bounce houses, barbers offered free haircuts, music filled the air, and food sizzled on the grill on East 12th near Casa Sueños.
CURYJ hosted this “Town Nights” event, an initiative started by the Department of Violence Prevention 2021. Community organizations like CURYJ, Adamika Village, and Homies Empowerment host family-oriented activities in areas impacted by violence. In 2023, Town Nights hosted an art installation in Downtown Oakland.
Urban Peace Movement will host another “That’s Oakland, Baby!” event on Saturday, September 20, and Trybe will host the “Positive Futures Fair” on Friday, November 14.
Jesus “Frisco Lens” Coba, digital organizing manager at CURJY, shared these photos from the August event with Oakland Voices. – Rasheed Shabazz
Young Oaklander pops a wheelie on his bike at Town Nights in Fruitvale on August 23. Photo by Frisco Lens/CURYJ. Young Oaklander pops a wheelie on his bike at Town Nights in Fruitvale on August 23. Photo by Frisco Lens/CURYJ. Children played on a slide in a bouncy house at Town Nights in Fruitvale on August 23. Photo by Frisco Lens/CURYJ.CURYJ’s food justice manager Michael Little Bear on the grill at Town Nights in Fruitvale on August 23. Photo by Frisco Lens/CURYJ.CURYJ staff Mike Muscadine, community peace manager, and George Galvis, executive director, at Town Nights in Fruitvale on August 23. Photo by Frisco Lens/CURYJ.Vincent Delguidice provides a fresh haircut at Town Nights in Fruitvale on August 23. Photo by Frisco Lens/CURYJ.A talented face painter adds color to a snake on the face of a young person at Town Nights in Fruitvale on August 23. Photo by Frisco Lens/CURYJ.
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