I grew up on the border of San Leandro in Sobrante Park, deep East Oakland. I am a student at Laney College but I am in the process of transferring to Mills College, the all women’s university in Oakland. There, I will be majoring in Ethnic Studies with a minor in Women’s Leadership. At Laney, my major was English.
I am an avid reader and lover of all things poetic. I enjoy music of all kinds, art, great food and spirits, traveling across the country and abroad and having unique experiences and sharing them with anyone willing to listen.
This project sparked my interest because the city of Oakland is so misunderstood. Oakland is a large and diverse city and because of the racial and economic makeup, I believe that it is easy for people to prejudge it.
http://cpa.ds.npr.org/kalw/audio/2016/04/WEB.EastSideArts.mp3 Turning down 23rd Avenue towards International Boulevard, I see the words “Culture is a weapon” painted the side of a building wall. Painted below[Read more]
In 2001, celebrated artist Favianna Rodriguez co-founded the EastSide Arts Alliance (EAA) and Visual Element in Oakland, CA, to train young artists in the tradition[Read more]
On November 10, while the Oakland city council public safety committee held its bi-monthly meeting, hundreds of fast food workers and organizations in support of[Read more]
Slender brown legs stretch over a velvety cushioned pew knobby knees and shiny black shoes click keeping the beat of drums my tiny head bobs[Read more]
Brooding bodies surging onto cracked streets stained with drops of ripened watermelon slices sold from a corner stand where two Mexican women chismes (gossip) after they hand[Read more]
