Author

Iris Crawford

Iris M. Crawford, is a poet and social justice advocate. Hailing from New York City, she is a first-generation Guyanese- American. Her journey has allowed her to empower communities through health care advocacy, education and environmental justice. In 2018, Iris was selected as a semi-finalist Fulbright Scholar for an English Teaching Assistantship in South Africa. She also just became a resident of the 2020 Shuffle Collective Literary Arts Residency where she will be working to strengthen her creative work, gain skills to continue growing professionally and build community. She earned her BA in Political Philosophy and African American Studies from Syracuse University.

Iris's Latest Articles

image of columns next to greenish lake and some trees
Oakland is developing its first urban forest master plan 
screenshot of zoom screen with "what is adultism" and image of young woman on side and "your voice matters"
Oakland City Council, Youth Commission Highlight Unhoused Youth Voices and Issues
Two African American women talk about what being outdoors meant for their health during the pandemic.
Two Black Outdoor Enthusiasts Share Experiences of ‘Making Space’ During a Pandemic

Two African American women talk about what being outdoors meant for their well-being during the pandemic.

Remembering Dirk Tillotson
Iris Crawford on the left in the Zoom screen with Dr. Gerard Jenkins on the right also on Zoom.
Questions About the Delta Variant? Dr. Jenkins of Native American Health Center Answers Them
An Asian American mom is in the middle between her two grownup sons
Oakland Community Activist Shirley Gee in The Try Guys YouTube Video, “We Need to Talk About Anti-Asian Hate”
the back of a trailer is filled with beautiful plants and a green grassy rooftop
Planterday Focuses on Bringing Mental Health Awareness, One Mobile Plant Sale at a Time
Scrabble tiles against a white background that say "Speak Truth"
2021’s Wednesdays: Georgia’s win, Black women organizers, and Poetry

"[Organizing] is something people dedicate hours of their lives to training to do, and then more importantly, leaders sacrifice their lives to doing it right.” - Cat Brooks

An open small refrigerator door with "Cheetah" in orange logo. The fridge has bread, juice, and eggs.
Local Artists Beautify Community Fridges as COVID-19 Continues
cellular image of novel coronavirus with the word Oakland above
COVID-19 cases rise in Oakland’s Fruitvale

Amid coronavirus, teachers reach tentative deal and police say crime on the rise.