Hundreds of students and their parents from Life Academy marched to Peralta Hacienda in honor of Cesar Chavez Day and ending their fast for peace.  More photos from the event make up the banner above.

   This has been a hard week, leaving us much to think about.  There were two events over the weekend before the OIKOS event that gave me real hope; that deserved more coverage than they got.   About 200 students and supporters of Life Academy have been fasting one day each since MLK Day in January in the tradition of Cesar Chavez.  At the rally students talked about the school's discussions and listened to parents and relatives of young victims of violence.  They organized petitions to ask their friends and communities to pledge peaceful behavior.  Their thoughtful and well-organized work left me inspired.

Anthony Chavez, grandson of Cesar, address the students.

   On Saturday almost 300 members of the Cambodian community came together to discuss recent violence in their community.  See the article on the right.  They are concerned about disputes within their community that have recently resulted in violence.  Recently promoted Oakland Police Sgt. Sen will be working with the community.  Led by several monks, Cambodians of all ages marched calling for peace in their community.


   On Monday we were at my weekly staff meeting talking about a new trend in the City.  While the homicide rate was about the same as last year,  8 of 25 were the result of family violence.  Street homicides were trending down.  In a typical year we have 3-5 family or domestic violence related homicides.  We have had 8 in three months this year.  Ironically, we were talking about how we could get more mental health resources, family counseling assistance and awareness when we received a call about the shootings at OIKOS.

   This tragedy that left seven dead and three injured continues to weigh heavy on our hearts. Our police and fire teams, along with other agencies that provided mutual aide, responded quickly to a very tense situation and apprehended the suspect within an hour and a half.

      I want to thank our law enforcement officers who risked their safety to retrieve and rescue students in the school.  We also thank the many community agencies--especially the Alameda County Mental Health Services and the American Red Cross of the Bay Area--for quickly organizing counseling and support services to the families, friends and greater community.  When the Korean Churches asked for assistance in locating a larger location for a memorial service, Rev. J. Alfred Smith, Sr. stepped forward immediately  and offered Allen Temple in East Oakland. Ministers from Pastors of Oakland, the Baptist Alliance, and Oakland Community Organizations stood side by side with Korean American ministers from all over Northern California.  The hundreds of friends and families who attended the memorial service thanked the city for coming together in support. The generosity of community has been overwhelming. 

The victims were immigrants from Korea, India, the Philippines, Nigeria, Guyana, and Tibet.  Many of the victims leave behind young families. Memorial funds have been set up as follows: 

Sunday, April 15, 2-4pm  

EastSide Cultural Center, 2277 International Blvd 

The City's Park and Recreation Department in partnership with community groups and business sponsors offer many Easter Egg Hunts throughout the city.  They start promptly.  (A smart parent will keep a few eggs in their pockets for the smaller, slower children! )

Saturday, April 7           Lake Chabot Golf Course, green garden projects and free golf clinics  

9:30 am over 6 years; 

9:45 am under 6 years

11450 Golf Links Rd

 

25th Annual Lakeshore Easter Parade & Derby, 10 am 

Decorating Contest/4th Annual Lakeshore Baptist Church Spring Children's Festival, 3534 Lakeshore

     

Bushrod Recreation Center, 11 am-1 pm  

560 59th Street

     

Carmen Flores at Josie De La Cruz Park, 11 am-2 pm   

       1637 Fruitvale Avenue  

 

 

Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate 

Arts & crafts, snacks and more (left)

Noon-3 pm   

2960 Peralta Oaks Court

                                      

 

Mosswood Recreation Center, 11:30-4 pm 

3612 Webster Street   

 

 

 

                                      

 

     Arroyo Viejo Recreation Center, 10 am-2 pm

                     7701 Krause Avenue  

 

     Willie Wilkins Park, Noon-3 pm  

     98th Avenue between B & C Streets  

 

Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church, Noon- 3 pm

1188 12th Street, West Oakland 

 

 

 

 

Easter Sunday, April 8        

 

Lincoln Recreation Center Pancake Breakfast, Egg Hunts, Performances in partnership with WaSung Service Club  

8:30 - 11:30 am  

250 E 10th Street

 

 

 Franklin Recreation Center 

 Egg hunt and crafts 

12 pm - 4pm

1010 E. 15th Street  

 

 

 

 Montclair Recreation Center, 8:30 am - 10 am

 (in partnership with the Montclair Lions Club)

 Easter Egg Hunt separated by ages

 6300 Moraga Avenue 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ALTERNATIVE TO AN EGG HUNT? FAIRYLAND BUNNY WEEKEND, APRIL 7-8:  Tap Dancing Easter Bunnies on April 7 at 11am.  See the new puppet show, "Peter and the Wolf."  The music of Serge Prokofiev comes to life in this classic tale that teaches children about safety as well as the instruments of the orchestra. Peter wishes for adventure and sets out into the Russian forest to capture a troublesome wolf with his toy popgun. Thank goodness he also has his good friends Sasha the bird, Ivan the cat and Sonia the duck.

Resident bunny and Dori, the pony, with visitors at Fairyland. 

Next Community Compstat Meeting for Beats 6,7,8,10. 11 & 12X, Thursday, April 19, 6:30 pm, North Oakland Senior Center, 5714 Martin Luther King Way: On March 22, approximately 100 community members attended the Police Department's first Community Compstat Meeting at Acts Full Gospel Church in East Oakland. Compstat is a multidimensional approach to crime reduction and resource management. This technique maps and analyzes crime trends in areas for the specific purpose of developing crime reduction strategies through a wide array of methods and involvement. During the meeting, a variety of issues were examined in the Police Department's Bureau of Field Operations. In addition, the meeting provided an opportunity for community members to observe the analytical and detailed approach Commanders and Officers take to address crime citywide. For additional information, contact the OPD Media Relations Office at (510) 238-7230.

Oakland Police Administration Building Open House, Friday, May 4, 5-7:30 pm, 455 7th Street:  During the first ever Open House event at the Oakland Police Administration Building, you will have an opportunity to meet members of the organization, learn all about the different services we have to offer, get to know other members of the community, and meet the Chief of Police and his executive team.

CORE Boot Camp--July 21, 28 and 29: Too busy during the week to take part in the typical five-week series? CORE basic training is now available in a condensed three-day weekend format.CORE classes educate and empower citizens through lessons on personal preparedness, neighborhood organization and by providing hands-on tools for emergency response. CORE Boot Camp participants receive a certificate of completion, CORE ID card, hardhat and vest. Each session takes place at the Oakland Fire Department Training Division at 250 Victory Court. Saturday, July 21, 9 am-2:30 pm, CORE I and CORE II; Saturday, July 28 9 am-5 pm; CORE III (Emergency Response Hands-on Training- Day 1); Sunday, July 29, 9 am-5 pm, Emergency Response Hands-on Training - Day 2). Advance registration is required. Sign up early--class size is limited. Contact core@oaklandnet.com or call (510) 238-6351.

Take a Survey: Chief Howard Jordan has invited the community to take part in a survey designed to gain feedback on what the Police Department can dot o improve its service to the community. The community is asked to provide suggestions, recommendations, and ideas that will grow into something that other cities will look to model. You can view the video here or take the online survey at www.oaklandpolice.com.    

 

 

City Launches Gun Tip Hotline (510) 517-8739.  All Calls Considered Confidential if Caller Wishes to Remain Anonymous: In collaboration with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Oakland Police Department has established a gun tip line. Citizens are asked to place calls to address the illegal possession and use of firearms within our community.  Calls made to the tip line will be considered confidential if the caller wishes to remain anonymous. ATF will make available up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for firearm related homicides or other violence.

Oakland Running Festival Generates $3.5 Million in Economic Impact; More Than $300,000 Raised for Charities: The third annual Oakland Running Festival (ORF) contributed an estimated $3.5 million to the city's and state's economy according to a recent study by the Regional Economic Studies Institute (RESI), an economic research and consulting firm located at Towson University in Towson, MD. Despite gloomy forecasted weather conditions for race day this year's event attracted a record 8,211 runners, marking the second consecutive year of at least 10% growth. ORF also generated more than $300,000 for local charities including the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Running for a Better Oakland, Oakland Rising, the Child Abuse Listening, Interviewing and Coordination Center, the Asian Pacific Environmental Network, and Team in Training. Close to $800,000 has been raised for charities since the event's inaugural year.

 

Oakland Public Library's E-Government Literacy Program, Main Branch, 125 14th Street,  Friday, April 20, 10-11:30 am :Have you been wondering where to look for help when starting a business or searching for a job? Do you need more information about funding your education? Whether you're searching for job, education, or health information or had a dispute with your landlord and need help finding resources, this hands-on course will provide you with the tools you need. The course provides an overview of the many e-government resources available on a variety of topics and will teach you how to navigate government websites. Meet in the computer lab of the Oakland Public Library's Main Branch. Please contact Rebekah Eppley to RSVP or call (510) 238-3138 for more information.   

 

Parents: Download the 2012-2013 OUSD Calendar for future reference. It is available on the OUSD website.  

Help 44 Frick 8th Graders Tour LA-area Colleges: For 44 8th-graders, visiting UCLA, USC, Loyola Marymount, and CSU Los Angeles will be the real-world culmination of a school year spent immersed in Frick Middle School's college-prep AVID program.  They have secured all of their transportation funding, but remain $6,000 shy of what they need to cover lodging and other costs.  Donate online here to help them reach their $7,000 goal by April 15th!  When donating online, be sure to choose "Frick Middle School" in the Pick Your School drop-down list. You can also send a check to: "OSF/Frick," PO Box 20238, Oakland, CA 94620. All donations are tax-deductible.

First Annual Youth Poet Laureate Competitions: The Oakland Public Library and San Francisco Public Library, i partnership with Youth Speaks (the country's leading nonprofit presenter of spoken word performance, education and youth development programs based in Oakland) are staging competitions that will result in two Youth Poet Laureates, one from each city. The winners will each be honored with $5,000 in scholarships and the opportunity to officially represent their communities through poetry, media and public appearances. The search for talented young writers (age 13-18) begins Sunday, April 1--just in time for National Poetry Month-- when judges will begin accepting submissions. The deadline for all submissions is May 15. Finalists will be announced in early July and the winners will be announced in September. For rules and to apply online, go to  www.youthspeaks.org/2012poetlaurete.

Get Ready for SuperSATurday 2012 at Laney College, Saturday, April 28, 1-5:  Choose College Educational Foundation, Inc. sponsors the SAT/College Rally and Resource Fair with Rap, Art and Spoken Word contests for Contest participants eligible for scholarships, prizes. Their goal is to increase the number of Oakland high school students who take and prepare for the SAT exams. They are currently seeking volunteers to assist with outreach. For details, call (510) 614-3000.  

 

 

Free Tax Preparation to Qualified Residents:  If your household income is less than $50,000, you are eligible for FREE tax preparation at a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance site near you in Oakland. People's Credit Union has been doing taxes for 10 years, and invites families and individuals to make an appointment TODAY for daytime, evening, or weekend hours. Please call (510) 267-0450, ext. 305. People's will electronically file (e-file) your return and direct deposit your refund so that you get ALL of your refund within 7-10 days.  Last year they helped 600 people get about $775,000 in refunds. Se habla espanol.    

 

  

5th Annual We Love Old Oakland Community Fundraiser & Mixer,  Wednesday, April 18, 6 pm, Caffe 817 & Ratto's:  Founded in 2006, Old Oakland Neighbors (OON) is a volunteer-based community group comprised of folks who live and/or work in Old Oakland. We invite area residents, businesses, and Old Oakland neighbors to join our grassroots community group.

 

Alameda Labor Council, Unionist of the Year Dinner 2012, Friday, April 20, 6 pm, Oakland Marriott City Center, 1001 Broadway, Oakland: Save the date for the annual  Unionist of the Year Dinner, honoring Dave Connolly, Sailors Union of the Pacific; Tony Alexander, UFCW, 5; Bob Britton, IFPTE 21; Marty Freitas, IBT 70; Bill Sokol of Weinberg Rosenfield; California Nurses Association; SEIU 1021; East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy, and Congresswoman Barbara Lee. Contact Elizabeth Ortega at (510) 632-4242x 224 for more information. 

 

Celebrate the Cambodian New Year at Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, Saturday, April 21, 10 am-3 pm, 2465 34th Avenue: Dancing, Food/BBQ for sale, live music, entertainment, kid friendly, safety training, Cambodian Exhibit, Classical Dance, Traditional Khmer Music, Youth Performances, Hip Hop Performances, Spoken Word. Bring your picnic blanket, family and enjoy this free event! 

 

Pedals, Pipes & Pizza: Peter and the Wolf at the Cathedral of Christ the Light, 2121 Harrison Street,  Saturday, April 21, 10:30 am -12:30 pm:  A thrilling opportunity for children of all ages to experience the wonderful sounds of the pipe organ at the Cathedral. This performance will feature Sergei Prokoviev's version of the children's story Peter and the Wolf  transcribed for organ, percussion and narrator.  Enjoy pizza outside on the Cathedral Plaza after the performance. Parents will enjoy this as much as their children! $5 donation. Tickets available at www.ctlcathedral.org. 

 

 

Chaos or Community-Where do we go from here? Congressman John Lewis will be the Final Speaker in the Barbara Lee & Elihu Harris Lecture Series, Saturday, April 21, 7 pm, Beebe Memorial Cathedral, 3900 Telegraph Avenue: Co-produced by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Center and Merritt College. Limited seating. Call (510) 434-3988. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Montclair Village Restaurant Walk, Tuesday, April 24, 6-8:30 pm, Montclair Village: Co-sponsored by the Lions Club, this event showcases village restaurants and food and beverage outlets.  Proceeds go to local charities. Book of tickets available from Lions Club and  local businesses. Check MontclairVillage.com for details.    

 

1st Annual "I am for the Child" Breakfast Fundraiser for CASA, Thursday, April 26, 8 - 9 am. Scott's Seafood Restaurant, 2 Broadway, Jack London Square: Since 1987,the mission of the Alameda County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program has been to promote and support quality volunteer advocates to speak for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the juvenile court and foster care system. Please support this important lifeline for some of Oakland's most vulnerable youth. Please RSVP by April 10 to Carol Trotter at (510) 618-1961.  

 

Notes & Words: Musicians & Writers on State Together For Children's Hospital & Research Center, Oakland, Saturday, April 28, Fox Theater, Oakland: Pulitzer Prize Winner Michael Chabon, bestselling authors Anne Lamott and Kelly Corrigan, Author, Actor,Humorist John Hodgman and Cake and other musical talents. For tickets and information, please visit www.notesandwords.org. 

 

League of Women Voters 21st Annual All-City Luncheon, Wednesday, May 2,  11:30-1:30, Scott's Pavilion:  Guest speaker is Alex Briscoe, Director of the Alameda County Health Care Agency. This year, the League presents Making Democracy Work awards to the Street Level Health Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of underserved urban immigrant communities, and to John Sutter, Vice President of the Board of Directors of East Bay Regional Park District, retired judge, and former Oakland City Council member.  You can buy tickets from their Web site  or call (510) 834-7640 to have an invitation mailed to you.  Proceeds support LWV Smart Voter and other voter educational efforts.

 

Friends of Oakland Parks' 9th Annual "A Taste of Spring" Fundraiser, Wednesday, May 2, 5:30-8 pm, The Rotunda Building, 300 Frank Ogawa Plaza: Swing away the evening with Lavay Smith and her Red Hot Skillet Lickers. Enjoy fine wine and gourmet fare. Support youth scholarships, grants, and other projects of the Friends of Oakland Parks and Recreation. Members $65 in advance, $75 at the door. Non members: $75 in advance, $85 at the door. Purchase tickets at www.oaklandparks.org.    

 

Old Roots/New Growth, Cultivating Communities Oakland, 37th Annual California Preservation Conference, May 3-6, Oakland Marriott City Center: The 37th Annual California Preservation Conference returns to its early roots in Oakland. Hundreds of preservationists from around the state will learn current and best practices by leading professionals and attend exclusive tours and events. Oakland is home to many firsts--including Lake Merritt, the first wildlife refuge in the country. Here's a great way to learn more about our city and what others are doing to preserve historic buildings, parks and more throughout the state. Tours are open to the public and range in price from $15 (Necklace of Lights) to $65 (Behind the Scenes tour of Oakland's Food Industries-with lunch!). Space is limited. For details, go to www.californiapreservation.org  or call (415) 495-0349. 

 

Oakland: Heart of the MegaRegion, Friday, May 4, Noon - 6 pm, Jack London Market Building, 55 Harrison Street: Now in its third year, the MegaRegion Summit will gather business leaders, labor representatives, industry experts, technology innovators, government leaders, educators, development planners, and community partners to brainstorm solutions, identify obstacles, and develop strategies to keep the Northern California region competitive. Tickets are $75. Click here for details.

 

 

Cinco de Mayo Celebration, Friday, May 4, Noon - 1 pm, Oakland City Center, Broadway at 13th: Celebrate South-of-the-Border style with a live Mariachi band.

 

KONO Beautification Celebration, Friday, May 4, 4-6 pm, Telegraph Avenue between 20th and 35th Streets: Celebrating the beautification and rebranding of the KONO district--including the planting of 83 street trees--with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, art walk to view 12 utility boxes to be painted by Oakland artists, and new district banners. Free Admission.  

 

Oakland Ballet Company Spring Gala 2012, Saturday, May 5, 7-9:30 pm, Kaiser Center Auditorium, 300 Lakeside Drive: Please join me celebrating dance in Oakland for over 45 years at this fund raiser for our Oakland Ballet Company. Gala tickets are $125 per person. Visit www.oaklandballet.org to purchase tickets securely online.    

 

Cinco de Mayo Festival & Parade, Saturday, May 6, 11 am-5 pm, International Boulevard from 35th to Fruitvale. Thousands of people from all over the Bay Area enjoy this first-rate celebration of authentic Mexican Culture through food, art and live entertainment. Free Admission.

Experience Corps 2nd Annual Generations of Success Fund Raiser, Sunday, May 6, 1:30-4 pm, Fisk House, 700 Hayes Street, San Francisco: All proceeds support Experience Corps of the Bay Area, a unique intergenerational literacy program serving low income youth in Oakland and San Francisco. Last year, volunteers provided over 34,000 hours serving more than 2,800 underserved children in the Oakland and San Francisco public schools. Tickets are $100.
 
Support Oakland Arts at Flourish Oakland, An Evening of Fine Food, Wine, Music and Art to Support Oakland Art Murmur Gallery, Sunday, May 6, 6-9 pm, Mua Restaurant, 2442 Webster Street:  Bid in the silent auction, watch artists in action, listen to live jazz by Torch singer Tara Linda, win prizes in the raffle, enjoy fine food, wine and other entertainment. Tickets $150. Info and tickets at www.flourishoakland.org.

 

2 Performances only --You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, May 6, 10 am and 12:30 pm, Woodminster Amphitheater, Joaquin Miller Park: Preview Show to benefit Kids Come Free at Woodminster Amphitheater summer performances. This comic strip musical is a wonderful show for all ages, and we hope that the early performances will allow our youngest audience members to stay awake for the whole show! Bring the whole family, and come hungry because we're planning special breakfast and lunch concessions. But get your tickets early -- there are only 300 seats per performance.  Tickets $15 adults;Children & teens $10. If you purchase 2012 season tickets, get a special on this performance@ $10 adults, $ 5 children & Teens.  Call (510) 339-0241 or download the mail in form. <<Photo by Kathy Kahn. 

 

World Courts of Women on Poverty in the US, Thursday, May 10 - Sunday, May 13, Laney College: Women's Economic Agenda Project (WEAP) and Allies sponsor 4 days of events that will unearth viable solutions to eliminate poverty at its roots. Tribunal Sessions, Round Table Discussions, Art, Music and More.  Click here for details.  

 

Miss Representation Documents Main Stream Media's Contribution to Under-representation of Women in Positions of Power and Influence in America, Friday, May 11, 7-9 pm, St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1658 Excelsior Avenue: This important documentary, written and directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. It challenges the media's limited and often disparaging portrayals of women and girls, which make it difficult for women to achieve leadership positions and for the average woman to feel powerful herself. Donations to defray the cost of the screening. Any additional monies collected above $500 will go to A Friendly Place a women's homeless shelter.   RSVP here. For more information, check out www.misrepresentation.org. 

 

Oakland East Bay Symphony Season Finale: Do That Voodoo: Friday, May 18,  8 pm, Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway:  Daniel Bernard Roumain blends his Haitian roots with classical and techno textures. Bay Area native and musical prodigy Taylor Eigsti returns home to present the World Premier of a work he's writing for jazz piano and orchestra. And jazz vocalist Paula West will delight us with a set backed by the orchestra. Admission fee.   

 

Festival of Greece, Friday-Sunday, May 18-20, Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Ascension, 4700 Lincoln Avenue: Celebrate Greek culture through food, live entertainment and arts & crafts. Admission fee. For details, www.oaklandgreekfestival.com. 

 

Save the Date for the 7th Annual Walk to End Poverty, Saturday, May 19, 9 am-1 pm, Lake Merritt Bandstand, 666 Bellevue Avenue: Now's the time to start training for the Alameda County-Oakland Community Action Partnership's 7thn Annual Walk to End Poverty. The first 500 people will receive free lunch and a free t-shirt. Come enjoy a free community fair, children's activities and live entertainment. For more information, call (510) 238-232 or visit OaklandCAP.org.     

 

 

 

Malcolm X Jazz Arts Festival, Saturday, May 19, 11 am-7 pm, San Antonio Park, 18th Avenue and Foothill Blvd.: Celebrating Jazz with live performances, dance, food and art. Free Admission. For details, go to www.eastsideartsalliance.com. 

 

60th Anniversary Celebration for East Bay Agency for Children, Saturday, May 19, 6:30 pm. Uptown Body & Fender, 401 26th Street, Oakland: Grab a poodle skirt or James Dean leather jacket and travel back to the 1950's when EBAC began. Enjoy a fun and lively party including yummy food, delicious drinks, silent and live auction and special recognition of their special 60th Anniversary Honorees: Marlis Branaka, the Hughes Family, David La Piana, and Kaiser Permanente. VIP Reception at 5 pm across the street at Warehouse 416. Click here for ticket and sponsorship information.