Last Wednesday at the Oakland general strike, I along with thousands of demonstrators chanted, “We are the 99%! We are the 99%! We are the 99%!” I honestly felt proud, powerful and conflicted all at the same time. In one sense, I’m thrilled that there is a movement… Read more
During my sophomore year of college at UC Berkeley I had a poster pinned up on my dorm room wall that said Legalizacion Ahora! (Legalization Now). It was the first time in my life as a young wide-eyed activist that I began organizing around Ethnic Studies and immigrant… Read more
Congratulations to Urban Releaf, this years Throw Down for the Town photo winner! They were able to plant 25 trees in North Oakland on August 13th, 2011 thanks, in part, to dozens of girl scout volunteers from Troop 30017. Their winning photo includes one super fabulous girl… Read more
The High Street Area in Oakland has been plagued by violence and media perception of an inactive community. These perceptions are not balanced by the actuality of the community. The neighborhood is home to vast diversity in culture, natural beauty, and rich history.
Parallel to High Street is… Read more
Ever since I was a child, Father’s Day has always left an unsettling feeling in my stomach. Call it daddy issues or whatever the heck you want to call it, but the one thing I don’t lack is honesty. I almost forgot this weekend is the “special” day… Read more
I’ve been having nightmares about the budget cuts and they’re seeping into my daily life (no joke). And it’s not just because I’m an organizer who talks about tax reform. The reality and impact is real! From my close teacher friends who received pink slips last week, to… Read more
May Day—also known as International Workers Day—has been a very sacred day for me. It means workers rights, immigrant rights, human rights, hand made protest signs, paletas, solidarity, chants, strollers, grandmas, marchas, community and a renewed sense of spiritual and political strength! It is historically rooted… Read more
Today marks the last day of Women’s History Month and the birthday of civil rights activist César Chávez, co-founder of the United Farm Workers. As I pay my respects to the many freedom fighters that came before me, I can’t help… Read more
This may sound ridiculous to many of you but running and activism saved my life. At the age of 11, I hated everything about myself: my skin, my hair, my body. I was sucked into violent perceptions of beauty, wondering why women in my family looked nothing like… Read more
Where were you at 18 years old? Did you have a safe home and food to eat?
While many of us have the privilege of answering yes, millions of our youth today experience homelessness everyday. Instead of enjoying the beauties of childhood, homeless youth must face the life-or-death… Read more
