A conversation about race is a difficult sell for many Americans. Being faced with our mistakes over race and racism throughout the years brings shame and pain. Careful use of language and a few generations brought up to believe in a “color blind” mentality have landed us in… Read more
This post is part of our Silence the Violence series in commemoration of National Silence the Violence Day on July 24th, 2010.
On Thursday July 8, I stood at the corner of 14th and Clay in downtown Oakland as lines of police officers marched through Read more
By Dana Tymown
This post is part of our Silence the Violence series in commemoration of National Silence the Violence Day on July 24th, 2010.
It does not take much common sense to want to Silence the Violence. Violence takes 1.6 million lives every… Read more
As I headed to downtown Oakland with members of the Ella Baker Center family, I really did not know what to expect. Almost every business was closed. Some of the big ones had posted security guards outside. The streets were almost empty.
I had to laugh as we passed a… Read more
By Tammy Murphy, Heal the Streets volunteer
As a former High School teacher in Philadelphia, I know too well the challenges facing urban youth. Connecting with the fellows of Heal the Streets has been a reassurance that the solutions to those challenges are in good hands when youth voices are… Read more
Oakland is gearing up for its 10th annual The 10th All Oakland Youth Talent Showcase:”Oakland State of Mind”
May 14, 2010
Scottish Rite Center, Oakland
Ella Baker Center’s Heal the Streets fellows are co-hosts of the event and few of them will be taking the stage to… Read more
Check out this video from our Heal the Streets campaign with Christina Gomez who lives in the neighborhood covered by the proposed injunction. Saying No the Gang Injunction – A new Video Blog about the impacts of the proposed gang injunction on folks of color in… Read more
Next week, Oakland could become the first city in the country to stop a proposed gang injunction from being put in place. City Attorney John Russo filed the proposed gang injunction in February which covers over 100 blocks of North Oakland, where I live. The injunction would make… Read more
Last Saturday a young woman lost her ability to trust in her community. At least 20 of her peers, all young men, watched as she was brutally raped and beat after her high school homecoming dance. Some present even used their cameras phones to document their savage attempt to steal… Read more
