Our Neighbors Archives - Oakland Voices

East Oakland Congress of Neighborhoods Celebrates First Year

September 26, 2018 Howard Dyckoff

Residents of East Oakland are being invited to a birthday party for an infant community organization. Its been a year since the call went out and the new East Oakland Congress of Neighborhoods formed. Now

A Shout-Out To RBA Creative

July 27, 2018 Tonya Shipp

A big shout- out to Randolph Charles Belle for hosting Oakland Voices Cohort Group #6 at his space, RBA Creative, for our twice -a- month meetings. For sometimes entrusting his keys to our coordinator so

Cruising Through The Fruitvale District

July 26, 2018 Tonya Shipp

The Fruitvale District is huge. I cruised it on three separate days. There are three business districts surrounded by residences. I rode up Fruitvale Avenue and walked along Foothill Boulevard a few blocks in each

On Volunteering

July 25, 2018 Tonya Shipp

I’ve volunteered at three East Oakland organizations: Hieroglyphics Imperium, The Alameda County Food Bank and at The Unity Council. I had learned about a music festival online, Hiero Day 2017, where the prices were too

The Fear of Living with I.C.E.

July 19, 2018 Tonya Shipp

Some persons in Oakland live in fear of being arrested and sent back to their original land although Oakland is a sanctuary city. A sanctuary city is “a city (or a county, or a state)

Food/Comida is medicine all the time everyday

July 18, 2018 Patricia Contreras-Flores

I was walking up from my house on Fruitvale towards E. 14th Street. About two blocks from my house, I found myself walking behind two womyn. One pushed a baby stroller; a baby was wrapped

My Stroll Through The Dimond District

July 13, 2018 Tonya Shipp

I’d been locked away in the house for a few weeks and remembered consistently eyeballing Dimond Slice every time I’ve gone past it on the bus. Always trying to eat in a healthy manner, I

Discover or Reacquaint Yourself With The Laurel

July 12, 2018 Tonya Shipp

The first thing that I saw of familiarity in the Laurel District was the Subway fast food restaurant across the street from the 76 Gas Station; it reminded me of my hometown, Philadelphia. Subway makes

Profile of The East Oakland Switchboard

January 22, 2018 Tonya Shipp

The East Oakland Switchboard is located right around the corner from me. For three years, I’ve walked and ridden past it and wondered what the business does. Formerly homeless, I could tell it was

Design your destiny then print BIG.

January 18, 2018 Lauren Richardson

Some people wait on life to define them and others design and define life for themselves. When you get that opportunity to show off your design, make sure you print big. Early Eighties In the