Author

Katharine Davies Samway

Katharine Davies Samway has lived in Oakland for over 35 years. She is a long-term educator — a teacher, a researcher, a teacher educator, a professor of education.

Katharine Davies's Latest Articles

Oakland vigil honors Palestinian children killed in Gaza

Oakland residents read children’s names and gathered across faiths

At Oakland church, Palestinian attorney calls for solidarity

Huwaida Arraf connected decades of activism to action for Gaza.

East Bay activists cautiously hopeful about Gaza ceasefire

Some East Bay activists expressed hope at the Gaza ceasefire. Others said pressure must continue to end U.S. military for Israel.

East Bay organizations address racial wealth gap, promote Black homeownership

Some racial justice advocates promote Black homeownership as a form of reparations, seeking to address the longstanding effects of slavery.

a brown wooden board with pieces of a white banner left
Bay Area Churches’ “Ceasefire” Banners Vandalized

Several churches in the Bay Area have had their ceasefire banners vandalized.

How Has COVID and the Pandemic Impacted Your Life?

Oakland Voices alum reflect on four years since the beginning of the pandemic. Some found new hobbies – mushroom foraging, for example – while others were at turning points in their careers.

Over 1,000 People Join 22-Mile Interfaith Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage

People from all faiths and backgrounds joined in on a 22 mile interfaith walk to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

a diverse group of people holding protest signs about Israel's attack on Gaza
Christian Organizations’ Responses to Israel’s Destruction of Gaza

Demonstrations in support of Palestinians have highlighted the limited visibility of a strong Christian presence, attributed to historical antisemitism and fear of being labeled antisemitic, despite the Holy Land's significance to Christianity.

An elder African American woman with short hair and a dress smiles for camera inside a church with colorful windows
Oakland’s Plymouth United Church is Promoting Jazz and Justice

The 120-year old church now embraces social justice and inclusion.

A collage of four diverse people, mostly Latinx
Undocumented Immigrants in Oakland: “We Live in a Country that Hates Us, but Benefits from Our Labor. We Belong Here.”