February 15, 2014
Vol 4, Issue 5 
BETTER NEW MJQ logo

Take A Fresh Look 

at Oakland

 

News from 

Mayor Jean Quan 

& Friends

 


Change Is Coming to the Newsletter

 

under constructionWe asked for your opinion. You spoke; we listened. The e-newsletter  survey results are in. Over 500 readers responded to the short (3 min) and long (10 min) versions and we carefully reviewed the results. Based on your suggestions, we will be revamping the look and the content of my weekly e-newsletter. It will contain the kinds of information you said you wanted to receive--and it will be streamlined for easier reading. So for the next few weeks, expect to see an evolution of the e-newsletter while we are under construction. I hope you will be pleased by the new format.

 


Legislation Requiring "Kill Switches" on Cellphones by 2015 Introduced by Oakland-SF Legislators

Last week, Council member Dan Kalb and I joined Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner and Senator Mark Leno who introduced legislation which we hope will end the epidemic rise of robberies in the Bay Area and  nationally.  Also joining us were SF City Attorney and former Police Chief George Gascon who helped lead the campaign to get phone companies to develop the "kill switch," the software that allows owners to make cell phones useless if stolen.  We estimate that about 80% of robberies in Oakland involve electronics, mostly cell phones; SF authorities say at least two-thirds.  Australia has had this requirement for over a decade and phone thefts are rare.

  

Apple provides the technology for its newest iPhones and has an application for the 5 series that can be downloaded. The problem has been that phone companies have resisted the kill switch technology in Samsung and other phones. Phone carriers make over $7 billion in cell phone theft and insurance products and are a formidable lobby.  SB 962 faces a tough road in the legislature, but it can save lives and is one of the city's legislative priorities. We will ask other cities to sign on.

  

 

Police Oversight Changes  

 

This week the Federal Judge overseeing the civil rights reforms in the Oakland Police Department made a decision to streamline the process.  Last year, the City and the lawyers representing original plaintiffs agreed to add a compliance officer who would be on site on a weekly basis to oversee the reforms. The judge chose Tom Frazier, the former Baltimore Chief, who conducted the independent report of the October 2011 Occupy incidents which led to retraining of all OPD officers on crowd control and to the discipline of 42 officers.

 

This week Judge Thelton Henderson ordered that Federal Monitor Bob Warshaw assume the compliance director's duties in addition to his long- standing quarterly monitoring reports. This means he will be here more frequently and will be working more directly with the department in addition to conducting the quarterly reports that sometimes reflect data over 6 months old.  For the City, this reduces the cost of monitoring significantly and may lead to a quicker resolution of the remaining issues which have been reduced from 22 to 6 or 7 remaining tasks since I became Mayor.

 

I have spent much time talking with all involved this week.  Both Frazier and Warshaw feel that the Department has made important improvements in the last months.  Both the Chief and I hope that the remaining tasks focused on the use of force and racial profiling monitoring can be resolved this year.      

 

 

 

Grateful Community Remembers Morrie Turner

 

We will be reading the Rainbow Kids comic strip into the summer because their creator Morrie Turner was months ahead in his work. But last week the community gathered to remember Morrie Turner (1923-2014), Oakland Native and amazing human being. The son of a Pullman porter and former Oakland Police Department clerk, Turner was the first African American to have a syndicated comic strip. "Wee Pals" gently pricked our consciences and patiently educated us about the accomplishments of African Americans and others for decades. With his Rainbow Kids he wanted "to portray a world without prejudice, a world in which people's differences - race, religion, gender and physical and mental ability - are cherished, not scorned."    


Speaking about his childhood in West Oakland:  "White, Filipino, Japanese, Chinese, black - it was a rainbow. I didn't know that wasn't the way it was other places. Oakland was that way before the war. We were all equal. Nobody had any money."

I met him as a school board member at many events where he always delighted the children. I remember growing up when few people of color were on television or in the comic pages that I loved to read. I thought how lucky we were to have him.  This Washington Post article tells more of his story.

The Mayor with Morrie Turner Jr. (left) and a cartoon by grandson Nathan with Nipper. 

   

   

Another Oakland School Kid Honored...

 

OK, I admit it ...Our family was cheering for Seattle in the Super Bowl. I was honored last weekend to declare last Saturday, Marshawn Lynch Day in Oakland, and to thank him and his mother for the work of his Foundation including his summer Football Camp, annual Turkey Give Aways, and his video for Oakland School Kids on Attendance. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcH6kBNH2FQ


I remember watching Marshawn when he was an Oakland Tech Bulldog when I was on the School Board. We followed him at Cal.  We remember that his Mom (above, right) never missed a game and the first thing he did when he went Pro was to buy her a home. A really good Oakland School Kid!
  

 

More On School Attendance  

 

Marshawn's video  was part of a citywide campaign to improve school attendance.  Kids who miss school for any reason are more likely to drop out of school and be involved with law enforcement.

 

 

 

As Mayor I helped resurrect the Oakland Education Cabinet, a coalition of agencies and community groups supporting public schools. http://www.oaklandeducates.com/  Our School Attendance Committee met at Mills College this week to honor 5 principals who have made the best improvement in student attendance (above). Those honored included Cliff Hong of Roosevelt Middle School, Lucinda Taylor at Madison Middle School, Ron Smith of West Oakland Middle School, Carolyn Howard at Howard School, Jamie Lopez at Garfield, and Enomwoyi Booker at Prescott.  Congratulations and thank you to all of them! 

 

 

Mayor Jean Quan

 

 

TAX SEASON
 

Free Tax Help Available at the
Oakland Public Library

 

OO public library logoPL, in partnership with AARP, offers free tax assistance from February 1 through April 15, 2014. Trained volunteers will help residents fill out their forms on certain days at selected library locations (see below).

 

The Library's Tax Assistance program is very popular, and not everyone is guaranteed a time slot. Seniors, ages 60 and up, will be given preference for walk-in appointments.

 

Bring copies of last year's federal and state tax returns and all materials pertaining to your 2013 tax forms for you and your spouse (if filing jointly).

 

Walk-in appointments (no need to call ahead) will be available at the Main Library and Eastmont Branch. Be sure to arrive in time for the beginning of the day's session in order to receive a time slot. All

other library locations offering this service require that appointments be made in advance by calling the branch ahead of time.

 

The Tax Assistance Program will not take place on official City holidays. This free service is being brought to you by the Oakland Public Library and AARP. All library facilities are wheelchair accessible.

                                                                               

Oakland Main Library, Bradley Walters Community Room, 

125 14th Street

238-3134

Mondays, 10am-3pm

Wednesdays, 12- 4pm

Saturdays, 10am-3pm

No advance appointments; arrive early to sign up for a time slot.

 

C�sar E. Ch�vez Branch, 3301 East 12th St., Suite 271

535-5620

Thursdays, 10am-3:30pm

Fridays, 12-3:30pm

Bilingual Spanish/English

Call for an appointment. Some walk-ins may be accepted; call for information.

 

Dimond Branch, 3565 Fruitvale Avenue

482-7844

Tuesdays, 12:30- 4:30pm

Thursdays, 10:30am-2:30pm

Call for an appointment.

 

Eastmont Branch, 7200 Bancroft Avenue

615-5726

Fridays, 12- 4pm

No advance appointments; arrive early to sign up for a time slot.

 

Golden Gate Branch, 5606 San Pablo Avenue, 

597-5023

Wednesdays, 10am- 4:45pm

Call for an appointment.

 

For more info, call 238-3134, or click here

 

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VOLUNTEER
 

Help Celebrate Dr. Seuss's Birthday!  

-- Read Across America Day 

 

Monday, March 3

Various Oakland elementary school classrooms

  

dr seuss 2012 03

The Oakland Literacy Coalition and 2B Book Buddies are recruiting volunteers for Read Across America Day on Dr. Seuss's birthday, Monday March 3rd. 

 

Volunteers are asked to read a fun book to an eager Oakland elementary school classroom.

 

Each Volunteer will leave behind 2-3 books for the classroom, courtesy of the Oakland Literacy Coalition!

 

Volunteers are needed for all TK-3rd classrooms at Brookfield, New Highland, Rise, REACH and Emerson. Other opportunities are open for those who would prefer to volunteer as photographers or greeters who will help volunteers sign in and find their classrooms. 

 

We will open this opportunity to other schools if anyone can support preparations and logistics at a new location

 

For more info/to volunteer: Christina at

(Please indicate if you have a preferred school site, volunteer role, or Spanish language skills.)

 

BACK TO TOP 

This publication is not produced at public expense.

Want to follow events as they happen? 

During the week, I also post to my Facebook page:  Facebook.com/mayorjeanquan.


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In This Issue
1. Discover Oakland This Week
2. Black History Month Events
3. Community Policing
4. CITY NEWS
5. The TECH SIde of Oakland
6. VOLUNTEER Opportunities
7. SAFE & HEALTHY Oakland
8. GREENING Oakland
9. KIDS & SCHOOLS
10. UPCOMING Events
11. RECURRING Events
Quick Links
  • Submit items for the newsletter 
  • Official Mayor's Website  
  • Official Oakland Website 
  • Mayor's YouTube Library 
  • Constituent Problem Solving 
  • Follow the Mayor

    Like us on Facebook

        

      
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    View our press briefings,  meetings & community events   

     

     

    Listen to the Mayor Tuesday mornings at 8:05 am on KGO 810 AM radio 

    IN THE NEWS

    CITY NEWS 

     

    Bicycle Coalition Plans Controversial Cycling Lane for Telegraph Avenue 

    Jan. 10

    Oakland North


    Groundwork starting to pay off in Oakland 

    Feb. 7

    San Francisco Chronicle


    Oakland, S.F. mayors pitch cities' strengths 

    Feb. 7

    San Francisco Business Times


    11 arrested in raid on warehouse 

    Feb. 5

    Oakland Tribune


    Save Oakland Sports Hosts Summit on Coliseum City With Raiders, Mayor Jean Quan 

    Feb. 4

    East Bay Express blog

     

     

    GENERAL INTEREST

     

    Billboards target child sex trafficking 

    Jan. 9

    San Francisco Chronicle blog


    Artist makes tiny homes on wheels for homeless 

    Jan. 10

    Las Crusces Sun-News 

     

     

     

    TECH & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

       

    Get Fast, Oakland: East Bay Broadband Summit gets ready to ramp up internet speeds 

    Feb. 6

    Oakland Local


    Senior housing co-op breaks ground in Oakland  

    Jan. 9

    Oakland Tribune


    BART to Build New Station Entrance Canopy at 19th Street Station 

    Jan. 9

    BART email



    ART

     

    Sheila E. Performs With Students To Promote Music Education 

    Feb. 6

    KPIX


    Photos: Super hero project brightens Oakland neighborhood with mural 

    Feb. 6

    Oakland Tribune


     

    FOOD

     

    Activist at vanguard of restaurant workers' rights 

    Jan. 11

    San Francisco Chronicle


    Blue Bottle Coffee opens gorgeous cafe in Oakland's historic W.C. Morse building 

    Feb. 6

    Inside Scoop


    Why an urban winery in the greater Bay Area? 

    Jan. 14

    Oakland Tribune


    Oakland's Longfellow neighborhood to get first farm-to-table restaurant with Salsipuedes 

    Jan. 10

    SFGate blog


    Centouno Brings Hundred and One Delicious Things to Oakland 

    Jan. 14

    Art and Entertain Me blog

      
    SPOTLIGHT

     

    O Running Festival logo

     

    2013 Oakland Marathon Named "Best Marathon"

     

    In December, Competitor Magazine named the 2013 Oakland Marathon as the "Best Marathon" in the Pacific West Region. That same month, The Huffington Post named Oakland the 6th Best Rising Star Destination. For these and other accolades bestowed on Oakland, click here.

     

    Next Oakland Running Fesitval is in March

    The next marathon and half-marathon sponsored by the Oakland Running Festival is March 23rd.

     

    Mark your calendars, get in shape, and click here for more info:

    www.oaklandmarathon.com

      

    BACK TO TOP 

    PET SPOTLIGHT
    oas logo
       

      

    Cute, Cuddly and Calico: Meet Trixie!

       

     

    OAS cat Trixie

     

     

    For those who love Calicos or for just anyone who would love a friendly, confident cat, Trixie is your girl. She's a social butterfly and loves to be around people. And while she's a top-notch snuggler, she's super playful too so she'll need daily play sessions. Trixie would do best in a home with no young children.  So, if your heart and house are ready for this beautiful two-year-old colorful love bug, please come by and check her out!

     
     

    BACK TO TOP 

    1. DISCOVER OAKLAND -- This Week

     

    Editor's Note: Remember to check both the UPCOMING and the RECURRING sections, way down at the bottom, for additional events.

      

      

    SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE 

    fameOSA does Fame -- tickets on sale now!,
     February 14, 7pm,

    February 15, 2 & 7pm, February 16, 2pm, Scottish Rite Auditorium, 1547 Lakeside Drive.

    Set during the last years of New York City's celebrated High School for the Performing Arts on 46th Street (1980-1984), Fame, the Musical is the bittersweet but ultimately inspiring story of a diverse group of students as they commit to four years of grueling artistic and academic work. With candor, humor and insight, the show explores the issues that confront many young people today: issues of prejudice, identity, self-worth, literacy, sexuality, substance abuse and perseverance. 

    Buy tickets here or go to www.oakarts.org 

     

     

      

     

    Public Tours & Sails Aboard Tall Ships, Thursday thru Sunday, February 20-23, various hours, Jack London Square, foot of Broadway.
    Visit the Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain when they visit Oakland. The ships will be open for walk-on tours and will host guests for ticketed sails on Saturday and Sunday. 

    For more info: www.histroicalseaport.org or 800-200-5239


    peralta house  

    Movies at the Peralta Hacienda Museum: Strong Love / S.O.S., Saturday, February 22, 3:30-4:30pm, Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, 2465 43th Ave. 

    Drop-in to view two short films "Strong Love" by Bonnie Burt, retired film maker/ Friends of the PHHP Board Member and "S.O.S (Surviving Oakland Streets)" by Cristen M.  

    For more info: www.peraltahacienda.org , 532-9142

     

     

      
     
    museum Fri nite Friday Nights at the Oakland Museum with Off the Grid Food Trucks
    Every Friday, 5-9pm, Oakland Museum, 1000 Oak St.  

    Join OMCA and Off the Grid Food trucks on 10th Street every Friday for a family-friendly take on a festive night market. Savor California beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages around the Koi Pond at the Blue Oak caf� pop-up. Bring the whole family to OMCA for a sampling of the best in Bay Area curbside cuisine! 

    COST: Half-price gallery admission for adults; ages 18 and under are free. Admission for Members is always free. Cash bar. Prices vary for Off the Grid food trucks. Event parking is available at the Museum for a $5 flat fee after 5 pm. For more info, click here.  

       

    Oakland City Hall Centennial Exhibition, Now thru Friday, February 28, Various Hours, Oakland History Room, Main Library, 125 14th Street. 

    Learn the history of our current, and Oakland's fifth, City Hall at the "Oakland City Hall Centennial, 1914-2014" Exhibit. The exhibit relates the story of how City Hall was built and the major events that have occurred in and around our chief administrative building. The display includes photographs of the four previous city halls, as well as photos and floor plans of the current building and news articles, building statistics and vintage postcards. 

    For more info: www.oaklandlibrary.org 

     

     

    FOR SENIORS 

     

    seniors 2
    Board Game Days,
    Every Wednesday, 11am-4:30pm, Hall 2, Downtown Oakland Senior Center, 200 Grand Ave.  

    Join others in rousing board games including Monopoly, Scrabble, Boggle and many more. 

    For more info: Jennifer King, Senior Center Director, [email protected] or 238-3284 

     

     


    senior nutrition

    Healthy Living For Seniors, 1st Tuesdays of the month starting January 7 (thru June), 10:30am, North Oakland Senior Center, located at 5714 Martin Luther King Jr. Way.

    The UC Cooperative Extension will provide information about nutrition, exercise and health at the monthly event. There will be healthy cooking demonstrations, low cost recipes and gifts including measuring spoons and reusable grocery bags. 

    For more info: Mary Norton, Center Director, at [email protected] or 597-5085


     

     

    FOR ADULTS

      

    Oakland Bowling League, Wednesdays thru February 19, 8-10pm, South Shore Lanes, 300 Park Street, Alameda.
    Teams are invited to "Come out and Play the OPR Way."

    For more info: Renee Tucker, Recreation Specialist, at [email protected] or 238-2952.

     

     

    FOR KIDS

    jrbasketball  

    Junior Warriors Basketball League, Saturdays, February 8 thru March 22, various times and locations (see below).
    Every year the Golden State Warriors and OPR come together to form a youth basketball league for kids, ages 4 to 14. The league provides youth with the opportunity to develop their basketball fundamentals. The partnership with the Golden State Warriors allows youth to attend basketball games and to participate in basketball clinics with Warrior players at the Oracle Arena. 

      jr warriors

    Pee Wee League co-ed games for ages 4 to 6:

    10am-1:30pm, Bushrod Recreation Center, 560 59th Street

     

    1st through 5th grade boys' games:

    8am-12pm, Tassafaronga Recreation Center, 975 85th Avenue

    9am-4pm, West Oakland Middle School, 991 14th Street

    9am-4pm, Willie Keys Recreation Center, 3131 Union Street

     

    6th and 7th grade boys' games:

    9am-4pm, Foster Elementary School, 2850 West Street

     

    8th grade boys' games:

    9am-4pm, International High School, 4521 Webster Street

     

    1st through 5th grade girl's games:

    9am-5pm, Oakland Tech High School, 4351 Broadway

     

    For more info: Armond Gray, Youth Sports Coordinator, [email protected] or 867-0670




    Peralta kid camp

    Free Saturday Youth Club for Kids 5-15, every Saturday beginning February 1, thru May 31, 2:30-5:30pm, Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, 2465 34th Ave. 

     

    Games, sports, and team-building activities that your child will enjoy, led by our caring staff:

                • Hands-on History!--Start a fire from flint and cook over an open campfire!  Learn about Ohlone Native American life through games of skill and crafts. Make adobe bricks, corn husk dolls, practice roping and other Peralta rancho skills.
                • Arts and Crafts!--Learn to use native plants for dyes and paint. Learn to weave, embroider, make mosaics and more. 
                • Organic Gardening & Cooking!--Discover nature in the garden, including insects and plants. Learn to compost, plant, tend, water, and harvest.  Learn how to cook, and taste the fruits of your labor. 
                • Environmental Education!--Play by Peralta Creek, while learning about native plants. Watch and identify birds and bugs, and play by the creekside. 

    For more info: www.peraltahacienda.org or 532-9142

      


     

    AT FAIRYLAND      F trolley

    fairyland.org  

      

    These are some of the standard weekend events. Click here for all the specifics. 

     

    Saturday & Sunday, February 15 & 16 

    11am, 2pm & 4pm: 

    Puppet Show: The City Mouse & The Country Mouse. 

    Annie, the Country Mouse, is terribly excited that Markie Mouse, her cousin from the City, is going to visit. Come enjoy one of Aesop's most famous tales, about two mice who visit each other's worlds, only to find out that home is where the heart is. Puppets and Scenery by Lewis Mahlmann. Script by David C. Jones.

     

    12-2pm: 

    The Marilynn O'Hare Arts & Crafts Center is open with activities geared toward children and their families

     

    1-1:20pm: 

    Animal of the Day!  Come up close and learn about one of our animal friends. Which one of Fairyland's feathered, furry or wooly creatures will it be today? Find out at the Humpty Dumpty wall.

     

    1:30pm & 2:30pm: 

    Storyteller Kirk Waller will present a series of classic tales with an original flair.

     

     
        
    AT THE ZOO
    9777 Golf Links Rd
    For more info: www.oaklandzoo.org

     
    Animal Encounters, 
    Sundays, 11:30am and 12:15pm (for about 20 minutes)

    Docent led live animal presentation: Wild animals need your help, come find out what you can do. 

    Learn about and meet some of our amazing animals close up. Our Program Animals are presented with fun facts and important messages; spend 20 minutes with us in the WildLife Theater!  This program is free with regular Zoo Admission. 

     

     

     


    CSSC logo AT CHABOT SPACE & SCIENCE CENTER 

    10000 Skyline Blvd.  

    For more info, click here.

     

      

    Cosmos 360, Chabot's live planetarium show series,
    Friday & Saturdays, 6:45pm.
    Your ticket to the Universe in all directions! An expert guides and entertains you with an engaging tour through the stars, planets, and galaxies of outer space. Blasting off twice a night on Friday and Saturday evenings, these live shows reveal the workings of the Universe from new perspectives. A new show launches every three months, so see the new one before it departs at warp speed.

      

     

     

    Telescope Viewing, Friday & Saturdays, 7:30-9:30 pm, FREE

    Experience spectacular night sky viewing. It's the best kept secret in the Bay Area. See the magnificence of our telescopes in action! You'll be tempted to come inside to see the exhibits and planetarium shows, but if you just want to use the telescopes there is no charge thanks to the volunteers of the East Astronomical Society. Use the outside gate around the back of the Center. Follow the signs to the observatory entrance gate.  

     

     

     

     

    Tyke Explorers Workshop, Tuesdays, 10am, 12:30pm, or 3pm.

    For ages 2.5-5 years. Expand your preschooler's universe by enrolling in our Tyke Explorers Program. Kids get to bring a special grown-up to share in the excitement of science and space. Classes are a combination of instructor-led lessons and self-guided, hands-on experimentation and exploration. For more info, click here. 

      

    February 11, 18, 25 -- Five Senses

    Let's explore using all five of our senses! We'll look, listen, touch, smell, and even taste our way through the world around us!



     

    laserium Laserium - The Cosmic Laser Concert 40th Anniversary 

    Various days and times. 

    Experience this classic laser light show set to the beats of such rock icons as Pink Floyd and The Beatles. Immersed in the darkness of the planetarium, this stunning light show is music for your eyes. Whether you are a fan from the past or new to the show, LASERIUM draws you into the light. Click here for more info. 

      

     

      

    Dinner, a Movie, and the Universe, Friday & Saturday evenings.

    CSSC dinner movie universe The perfect date night experience is back! By popular demand, our unique after-dark offering has returned. Join us for a full-course dinner in our Skyline Bistro, enjoy our live-narrated Planetarium show Cosmos 360, and view the night sky through our telescopes (weather permitting). Reservations are not required, but strongly encouraged. 

    Costs (includes Admission, Dinner, and Planetarium Show)

    Guests: $23 Adults / $16 Children

    Members: $15 Adults / $11 Children

    *Dinner only walk-ins welcome: $17 Adults / $13 Children

    *Price does not include admission to the Center

    For more info, click here.

     

    OAKLAND MUSEUM


    O MUseum logo hi res
     
     
    At the Oakland Museum, 1000 Oak Street 

    For more info: museumca.org 

     

     

    A Cinematic Study of Fog in San Francisco

    Now through June 29, 2014

    Acclaimed filmmaker Sam Green and cinematographer Andy Black present a video work in OMCA's Gallery of California Art based on their ongoing investigation of fog - a remarkable weather phenomenon that profoundly characterizes the San Francisco Bay. Known for their work together on the Academy Award-nominated film The Weather Underground, and other pioneering, experimental documentary features, Green and Black showcase a visually compelling experience of fog and the rich feelings it evokes.  At once sublime, quirky, and deeply existential, A Cinematic Study of Fog in San Francisco heightens our awareness of our environment and highlights how the complex systems of wind, air, and water around us engage the life of our minds and stir emotions. A Cinematic Study of Fog in San Francisco is presented in partnership with the Exploratorium's Bay Observatory and Cinema Arts Program. Click here for more info. 

     

     

     
    ART
    Local Photographer Diallo Mwathi Jeffrey on Display at Oakland City Hall,
    Month of February, business hours, City Hall, 3rd Floor.
    Award winning documentary cinematographer and fine art photographer Diallo Mwathi Jeffrey will make an appearance at the opening house reception for his photography exhibit on Wednesday, February 5, 2-14 at 4:30pm.  Jeffrey's work will be on display February 5, 2014-February 29, 2014 on the 3rd floor of City Hall at Oakland City Hall, 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, CA.  The exhibit offers spectacular panoramic images of the Oakland-San Francisco skyline and architecture, picturing Oakland in a new light. 
     
     
     
     
     

    Oakland City Hall Centennial Exhibition, Now thru Friday, February 28, Various Hours, Oakland History Room, Main Library, 125 14th Street. 

    Learn the history of our current, and Oakland's fifth, City Hall at the "Oakland City Hall Centennial, 1914-2014" Exhibit. The exhibit relates the story of how City Hall was built and the major events that have occurred in and around our chief administrative building. The display includes photographs of the four previous city hall as well as photos and floor plans of the current building plus news articles, building statistics and vintage postcards. 

    For more info: www.oaklandlibrary.org

     
     

     

    ART Exhibits at Oakland Public Libraries

     

    ARiSE High School Student Art, through May 30, 2014, C�sar E. Ch�vez Branch, 3301 East 12th St.
    Art teacher Nils Heymann has curated a show by his students. Works include scratchboards, textural pieces, and other media. Pieces will be rotating in and out of the exhibit all school year in the TeenZone and the meeting room. 

     


     

    O public library logo AT OUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES

    Many library events are recurring. Some are highlighted here temporarily, but be sure to check the last section (RECURRING EVENTS) for items no longer listed in this section and click here for a link to all library events.

     

    Library events page: www.oaklandlibrary.org/events

      

     

     

    Chabot Space & Science Center is Bringing the Stars to the Libraryfirst glance

    Thursday, February 27, 10am, Melrose Branch, 4805 Foothill Blvd.

     

    The Chabot Space & Science Center's StarLab - a traveling planetarium - will visit the Oakland Public Library in January and February. This educational and entertaining program will feature representations of the Milky Way as it was observed by the Greeks and Chinese in ancient times. Participants will be treated to stories that were historically told to explain the movements of the heavens and will also learn how astronomers are discovering answers to some of the age-old mysteries. 

    For more info: Laurie Wilhalm, Librarian II, [email protected] or 238-3848

     

     

     

    A SAMPLE OF THIS WEEK's EVENTS 

    Editor's Note: In the interest of space, we're removing the regular, recurring items we usually have in this section. The Libraries offer so many events -- best that you just check out their website for all the details:  www.oaklandlibrary.org/events.


     
    Tutoring Help at Asian Public Library! Tuesdays, 6-7:30pm, Asian Branch, 388 9th Street Suite 190.
    FREE tutoring every Tuesday night at Asian Branch Library!  All subjects accepted.  Space is limited! 

    Call 238-3400 to be placed on a waiting list.

    Click here for more info. 

     

     

    All Knit, Thursdays, 3:30-5pm, Lakeview Branch, 550 El Embarcadero.
    Join our friendly volunteer facilitator to learn how to knit or improve your skills. For adults and children age 8 and up. Beginners through experts are welcome!

    For more info: 238-7344

     

     

    eBook Help, Thursdays, 5:30-7:30pm, Main Library Computer Lab, 125 14th Street. 

    Get help downloading eBooks to your Kindle, Nook, smartphone, or laptop! We will help you get started with our rich collection of digital resources.  Click here for more info. 

       

     

    Zumba!, Saturdays, 2:15-3:15pm, 81st Ave Branch Classroom, 1021 81st Avenue (at Rudsdale). 

    Join the library for Zumba, dance, and other exercises!  Each class is led by an instructor and a video, making it easy to follow along.  Classes are for Teens and Adults, or join for Family Dance Classes at 1pm. Click here for more info.  

     

     

    3
    2. Black History Month Events

     

    Creations Of The Creators: Healthwise Inventions by African Americans, Now thru Friday, February 28, various hours, Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, 1428 Alice St.
    This engaging exhibit is about the inventions by 12 African Americans that changed human health for the better. 

    For more info: Tomye Neal-Madison, 238-2786

     

     

    In Search of Sheba: Black Women Artists 2014, now thru March 22, Warehouse 416, 416 26th Street.
    A multimedia art exhibition featuring the work of 12 talented Bay Area Black women artists, dedicated to the legendary Queen of Sheba, an African Queen from ancient times. There will be a reception on the next First Friday (March 7).

    For more info: www.warehouse416.com 

     

     

    The Fabric Of Our Culture: A Group Quilt Show, through Sunday, March 2, various hours, Joyce Gordon Gallery, 406 14th St. A celebration of African American culture in the US through a group of five Bay Area quilt makers and their narrative account of Black history and its present day culture. Participating artists are Alice Beasley, Marion Coleman, Khristel Johnson, Jackie Bryant Smith and Katie Wishom.  

     

    You're invited to this special event: Black History Celebration Event and Lecture, hosted by Barbara Howard, from 7-9pm, February 21. 

    For more info: www.joycegordongallery.com  or 465-8928

     

     

       

     Black History Weekend, Saturday & Sunday, February 15 & 16, 10am-4pm, Children's Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Avenue. Enjoy puppet shows, arts & crafts, storytelling and more at this storybook theme park. 

    For more info: www.fairyland.org or 452-2259

     

     

    Black Family History Day 2014, Sunday, February 16, 1-5pm, Oakland Family Search Library, 4766 Lincoln Ave. 
    Celebrate Black History Month by creating a family tree of your own!
    • Learn about Black History from your ancestors' perspective
    • Receive one-on-one assistance for FREE
    • Bring a family member to share the experience
    • Bring a USB Flash Drive to take home discovered treasures 
    • Make it possible for future generations to know where they came from

    To reserve a spot for workshops, and one on one consultation featuring a four-generation ancestry chart, please register.

    For questions and more info: 877-884-2843, or click here.

     

     

    Black History Month Celebration at Chabot, Tuesday February 18, 11am-5pm, Chabot Space & Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd.

    Visit the "Out of this World" lab where recorded biographical interviews of African American pioneers from the early days of the space program will be shown throughout the day. Free with general admission.

    Click here for more info. 

     

     

    African American Heritage through Storytelling, Friday February 21, 2pm, OPL Main Library, Children's Room, 125 14th St. 
    Kirk Waller brings stories of African American culture to Oakland Public Library branches in February. His musical voice and enthralling stories will take us far and away and deep inside. 

    Click here for more info.  

     

     

    Black Minus Afrika, Friday & Saturday, February 21 & 22, 7pm-12midnight, Blackball Universe, 230 Madison St.
    This February, Blackball is hosting Black Minus Afrika, an exhibition that places a critical eye on global perceptions of Blackness in the twenty-first century. 

     

     

    Black Vines 2014, Saturday February 22, 1-4pm, Betti Ono Gallery, 1427 Broadway

    Wine tasting featuring Black owned wineries.

    Click here for more info. 

     

     

    Black History Month Tour, Saturday, February 22, 10am, Mountain View Cemetery,

    5000 Piedmont Avenue. Free docent-led tour by Gaye Lenahan and Sara Calhoun highlights African Americans who are buried in this historic cemetery. 

    For more info: www.mountainviewcemetery.org/calendar.html 

     

     

    Black History Month Walking Tour, Saturday, February 22, 10am-12pm, African American Museum and Library, 659 14th St. 
    Free downtown walking tours highlighting African-American leaders who helped shape present-day Oakland. Learn how Lionel Wilson, Delilah Beasley and Marcus Foster changed the city and the Bay Area. 

    Click here for more info. 

     

      

    African American Quilt Guild of Oakland, Saturday, February 22, 12-3pm, West Oakland Branch Library, 1801 Adeline Street. The public is invited to this annual demonstration and workshop. Supplies will be provided so you can make your own quilt. 

    For more info: 238-7352

     

     

    Community Building & Healing Through Mindful Drumming, Saturday, February 22, 3-6pm, Attitudinal Healing Connection, Inc., 3278 West Street.
    Mindful Drumming is a transformative learning process that offers individuals opportunities to experience diversity through rhythm and sound. This art form facilitates building relationships and synergisticly builds community while addressing issues in a communal manner. Participants will utilize the twin concepts of rhythm and sound as a way of raising awareness and consciousness for a rich experience of healing ancient wounds, as well as increased joy and peace. There will be drums available. Author Kokomon Clottey will facilitate this gathering. 

    For more info: www.ahc-oakland.org or 652-5530.

     

     

    Who Are We?: Exploring Black Identities Discussion, Saturday, February 22, 6-7:30pm,

    Peralta Hacienda Center for History and Community, 2488 Coolidge Avenue. Join in a discussion of identity, connection and culture led by participants in the Peralta House Storyhorse exhibit, "What I Hear, I Keep: Stories from Oakland's Griots." 

    For more info: www.peraltahacienda.org or 532-9142

     

     

    The Art of Living Black-Open Studios Art Fair, Saturday and Sunday, February 22 and 23, 11am-5pm, Mills College Student Union, 5000 MacArthur Blvd.
    Part of "The Art Of Living Black," Bay Area Black Artists Exhibition and Art Tour 2014, sponsored by the Richmond Art Center. Featuring 15 Bay Area artists of African descent, including our very own Mills Professor Ajuan Mance's acrylic paintings! Artists represent a wide range of visual media, including: found object sculpture and collage, painting, fired clay and ceramic sculpture, jewelry making, doll making, photography, and more.

    For more info, click here. 

     

     

    OMCA Family Drop-in Workshop: HistoryMakers/ScienceMakers Series, Sunday, February 23, 12-3pm,  Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street.
    Celebrate Black History Month and explore the legacy of black pioneers in science and invention with presenters from the Museum of African American Technology Science Village. No reservations required. All ages welcome. 

    For more info: www.museumca.org or 318-8400

      

     

    Fashion Show, Tuesday, February 25, 7pm, Mills College Student Union, 5000 MacArthur Blvd.
    Join the Black Women's Collective (BWC) for a celebration of Africa and the African diaspora through fashion. The fashion show will feature clothing that represents the diverse black heritage of Mills students, modeled by members of the Mills community. Arianna Cruz-Sellu, BWC secretary and our MC for the night, will describe the many different cultures featured in the show as the models make their way down the runway. The show will culminate with Oakland fashion, courtesy of small, local black businesses. Each of these local businesses will table and sell their merchandise at the event prior to the show.

    For more info, click here. 

     

     

     

    Conversations at The Lake Merritt -- African-American Poetry, Thursday February 27, 3:30pm, The Lake Merritt Senior Living Center, 1800 Madison St.
    In honor of Black History Month, join Suzanne Fried, MA, MFA, to read and discuss YOUR favorite poems by an Africa-American poet. 

    Click here for more info. 

     

     

    The Griots of Oakland: Voices from the African American Oral History Project, Now thru March 01, African American Museum & Library, 659 14th St. 
    The Griots of Oakland is the first of a series of community preservation projects undertaken by the Center in an effort to empower families and youth, grow a community's capacity to affect change, and link health and education institutions to achieve equity. 

    Click here for more info. 

     

     

    Forty Years Strong: Dimensions Dance Theater, Friday, February 28, 7pm, Lisser Theater, Mills College, 5000 MacArthur Blvd. 
    Dimensions Dance Theater, the Bay Area's preeminent African-American dance company, proudly presents "Forty Years Strong."  This momentous occasion will celebrate Dimensions' rich cultural history of over four decades of creativity and community-building, during which the company has premiered more than 50 evening-length works, many created by company Co-Founder and Artistic Director and Mills alumna Deborah Vaughan, and others by distinguished guest choreographers.

    Click here for tickets. 

     

     

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    3.  Community Policing

     

    Fighting Graffiti & Illegal Dumping:  Clinton Park Meeting Moved to March 1st Because of Predicted Rain 
       

    Neighborhood merchants and the local Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council were planning to host a meeting with the Oakland Police Department to organize against illegal dumping and graffiti in their area this Saturday followed by a park clean-up. Because of predicted rain, the event has been moved to Saturday, March 1st.  Clinton Park is located between E. 12th and International Blvd., 6th and 7th Avenues.  

     

    >>This beautiful mural was tagged in the Clinton Park area.  This kind of disrespect for our neighborhoods is why more people are organizing to report illegal dumpers and taggers.  Photos and license plate numbers can be sent to your local area officers or submitted on our Public Works SeeClickFix application on your phone.  

     

     

     
    Protect Oakland Kids Campaign

    These posters on bus stops throughout the city are designed to reach out to sexually exploited youth in the city.  Many of the girls trapped in human slavery are from foster care or some other situation where there is little help from their families. They are often rotated from city to city, or under constant surveillance.  Measure Y has supported programs like MISSEY and we have worked with other agencies to provide safe places to live to help girls out of the life.  Click here for more info.




    Don't make it easy for car thieves

    Want to make your vehicle less attractive to car thieves? The quicker a car thief can steal your vehicle, the more attractive it is. Anything you can do to slow down professional car thieves or joy-riders will make your vehicle a less appealing target.  Most cars stolen in Oakland are in the "joy riding" category and are found within a mile of where they are stolen.  

    Here are some ways GEICO recommends drivers protect their vehicles:

    1. Keep your vehicle locked at all times, even while driving.
    2. When parked, never leave your keys in the car. Close all the windows and the sunroof.
    3. Never leave your car running and unattended.
    4. Avoid leaving valuables inside your vehicle where passersby can see them.
    5. Do not leave your vehicle title in the car. Too often a car thief is pulled over and gets away from the police because he or she can produce the auto registration. (If multiple drivers use the vehicle, the best suggestion would be to hide the registration in a secret location in the car that only the owners know.)
    6. Know where you're going.   
    7. Install an anti-theft system in your vehicle if it doesn't have one. Thieves are reluctant to steal vehicles if they know the cars can be recovered quickly. Many insurers offer discounts for the types of systems listed below.
    8. Thieves prefer to work in the dark. Be particularly cautious at night about where you park your car. Park it in a well-lit area if possible.
    9. Look around. Be aware of your surroundings, especially in garages, parking lots and gas stations.
    10. Have your car's vehicle identification number (VIN) etched on each of the windows. Car thieves want to get off cheap. They don't want to go to the expense of replacing all the glass.
    11. On an incline, leave your car in park or in gear with the wheels turned toward the curb or some other obstruction. This makes it harder for thieves to tow your vehicle.
    12. If confronted by a carjacker, do not resist. Cars can be replaced; you can't.
    13. Carjackers may bump your car from the rear, then steal it when you get out to look for damage. When stopped at a traffic light, leave room to maneuver around the vehicle ahead if you need to.

      If another car bumps yours and you feel threatened, drive to a populated area or, if you have a cellular phone, call the police for assistance.

    Types of anti-theft systems

    • A mechanism that locks onto the steering wheel can be a very visible sign that you've taken steps to protect your vehicle.
    • Ignition cut-off systems that prevent a car from being started.
    • Some new cars come with passive alarms that activate automatically when the key is removed from the ignition.
    • One system emits a signal that can be tracked by the police.

     

    OPD Website Now Links To Northern California Most Wanted

    OPD logo

    On January 22 the Oakland Police Department's Most Wanted Web page, www2.oaklandnet.com/Government/o/OPD/s/MostWanted/index.htm , began linking to a rotating series of photographs of wanted persons. The photos are provided by the Northern California Regional Intelligence Center (NCRIC) and the Northern California High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (NCHIDTA) in partnership with local agencies like OPD. This collaboration is an important partnership with the U.S. Marshals Services and participating Northern California local, state, federal and tribal law enforcement agencies to bring wanted criminals to justice. As a team, we can make our community safer for all of us. The community has assisted us in solving several recent important cases. 

    For more info: Sgt. Holly Joshi, OPD Chief of Staff, at [email protected] or 238-3131

     

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    COMMUNITY MEETINGS & EVENTS  

    ceasefire 

    CeaseFire Oakland/LifeLines to Healing -- Walk our neighborhoods

      

    The City of Oakland and local faith-based organizations are continuing their neighborhood Night Walks on Fridays from 6:30 to 9pm -- just one of the ways that community members can get involved in Operation Ceasefire.  

     

    Last year homicides dropped dramatically by nearly one third but there is still much more to do.  These walks are organized by residents and faith leaders in areas where Ceasefire is focused. Mayor Quan joins the walks at least once a month. (She joined last Friday's walk, which was an orientation meeting.)  Volunteers are trained in advance of the Night Walk and are accompanied by other volunteers for the EVENT this week duration of the walk. The purpose of the Night Walk is to reach out to communities affected by violence and to take back the streets.  The next walks start from these locations: 

    • February 14 - First Mt. Sinai, 1970 86th Avenue

    • February 21 - Cosmopolitan,  988 85th Avenue

    • February 28 - At Thy Word, 8915 International Blvd

    For more info: 639-1440 or [email protected] 

     

     

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    GOOD TO KNOW 
    The Alameda County District Attorney's Office publishes "Did You Know" -- a recurring email newsletter that keeps you updated on the recent verdicts and news from the their office.

     

    Subscribe at www.alcoda.org/news/newsletters 

     

    Updates from the DA on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AlamedaCountyDA 

     

    Facebook: www.facebook.com/AlamedaCountyDA 

     

     

    HOW YOU CAN HELP OPD

     

    Many Arrests Are Made Each Week Because Citizens Report Suspicious Activity

    Please remember to be alert and report suspicious activity to the police:

    777-3333 OPD non-emergency number

     

    This number should be used to report any suspicious behavior and suspicious vehicles parked or driving in your neighborhood or area of business. Callers can opt not to provide their name and number and remain anonymous. Please include any descriptive details that could be helpful. Jot down the date, time and location you saw the vehicle or suspicious person. Each time this information is reported, it is used in the investigative process. 


    911 for life threatening emergencies

    777-3211 emergency when calling from your cell phone

       

    Use Nixle Tip Watch to send an anonymous tip in 1 of 3 ways:  

    1. Text TIP OAKLANDPD to 888777 from your cell phone  
    2. Call the toll-free tip hotline at 855-TIPS-247 (855-847-7247)  
    3. Respond to OPD's Nixle messages 

    To view the Nixle message, click here

     

    Nixle -- stay informed of events, news, and announcements

    If you have not already done so, please sign up for NIXLE to receive OPD alerts, advisories, and community messages.  You can sign up for your beat to receive updates from OPD. 

     

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    4.  CITY NEWS 
     
    City Hall  
     
    City Council meetings are typically held the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month 
    (assuming no holidays interfere). The public part of the meeting starts at 6:30pm.

     

      

     
     

    STD starburst

    State of the City Address

    Thursday, March 6, 7pm

    Oakland City Hall, 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza


    Mayor Jean Quan delivers her State of the City Address in Council Chambers. The 
    address will be cablecast live on KTOP-TV10 and streamed online at  www.oaklandnet.com.  KTOP-TV 10 will replay the address at times and dates to be announced. 

    For more info: www.oaklandnet.com or 444-2489

      
     

     

     
    SPORTS STADIUM UPDATES

    The Warriors have given notice that they want to extend their lease at the Coliseum at least through 2018. They cite the need for environmental reviews and design changes. Last week SF Waterfront advocates filed an initiative requiring a public vote for any project that exceeds the 85 ft waterfront height limit. http://www.mercurynews.com/warriors/ci_25058522/san-francisco-group-submits-signatures-put-proposed-warriors

    The Coliseum was sold out a record full season of games last year and there is a waiting list for season tickets. Meanwhile Oakland is ready to accommodate a new arena at the Coliseum or Downtown.




    Last week prominent businessmen submitted a proposal for a downtown stadium at Howard Terminal.  The group asked for 6 months to negotiate a lease and 1- 2 years to plan and submit designs.  The Port Commission is currently looking at Maritime uses for the terminal, which is close to Jack London Square.  
     
    The terminal was recently vacated by Matson which has moved to a deeper part of the estuary.  If the current proposals are rejected, the commission is expected to look at other uses, including a ball park.

     

     


    CITY BOARDS and COMMISSIONS

     bdsncomm

    Boards and Commissions are a wonderful way for residents to participate in city government, and currently we are recruiting for several openings. 

     

    • The Planning Commission has a vacancy for someone with a background as a land use attorney, architect, or other valuable skill.  The person must be an Oakland resident and have served on another Oakland board or commission in the past.
    • The Emeryville-Berkeley-Oakland Transit Study Advisory Committee has a vacancy for a West Oakland resident to join its newly forming committee. The purpose of the study is to examine the establishment of a multi-city transit corridor to supplement and enhance existing public transportation for the support of residents and new job-producing commercial enterprise in Wes t Oakland, West Berkeley and Emeryville.   For more info: www.ci.emeryville.ca.us/index.aspx?NID=944 
    • If your interest is in arts and culture, there are vacancies on the Public Art Advisory Committee.
    • The Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board has a a couple of vacancies for someone with a background in real estate, landscape architecture, planning, and/or community local history. Meetings are every 2nd Monday of the month at 6pm.
    • The Commission on Persons with Disabilities has some vacancies, looking for someone who wants to make a difference in Oakland.  This hardy group of volunteers advises the city on its compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).   It works hard to advocate on behalf of the community to the mayor, council members, city staff, and affiliated agencies and organizations. If you are a resident of Oakland and are interested, visit www.OaklandMCPD.org to apply.
    • The Citizen's Police Review Board has two vacancies for alternate positions and one is specifically for a youth candidate. The Citizens' Police Review Board is committed to ensuring that Oakland has a professional police department whose members behave with integrity and justice.
    • The Civil Service Board has a vacancy for someone who has interest in participating in the enforcement of the City's personnel system.
    • The Housing, Residential Rent and Relocation Board has a vacancy for a landlord representative. The Board hears appeals from Rent Adjustment staff decisions, recommends regulations for, and changes to, the Rent Adjustment Ordinance, and adopts regulations for implementation of the Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance and Oakland's Ellis Act Tenant Protections.  The Board also hears appeals related to Code Compliance Relocation Payments.
    • The Measure Z - Cannabis Regulatory Committee has an opening. 
    Due to the term limits that pertain to most Boards and Commissions, vacancies in nearly all of them are continuously occurring.  If you are interested in being considered for any of these Boards and Commissions, please send a letter of interest and your resume to Hatzune Aguilar Sanchez at [email protected] .   

     

    BACK TO TOP 

    5. The TECH Side of Oakland

      

    OaklandUn1te logo Data-sharing program targets recidivism

    On January 17, Oakland Local ran an article written by Jon Leckie entitled "Unprecedented data-sharing program aims to reduce recidivism." The article was about the innovative data-sharing used by Oakland Unite and its partners in the Juvenile Justice Center and Oakland Unified School District Wraparound Services strategy. Through hard work and determination, Oakland Unite and its collaborative partners were able to create a database that includes the sharing of Juvenile Justice Center (JJC) data and Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) data. This data gives case managers, who work with high-risk youth leaving the JJC and reenrolling in OUSD, real-time data to inform individualized plans for their clients. This unprecedented data-sharing gives high-risk youth more support to succeed in life and avoid reoffending. In fact, the program has seen a 75% reduction in program youth arrested for violence and a 60% reduction in arrests overall. Dyanna Christie, Program Planner for Oakland Unite, has been instrumental in creating the data sharing system now in use. 

     

    Click here to read the article. 

     

    For more info: Dyanna Christie, [email protected] or 238-6875

     

     

    OPLfreecomputerhelpReady, Set, Connect - Free computer help at 6 library branches

    computer help at opl

    Now through May 2014

    The Oakland Public Library has 190 public access computers available at its locations for one hour sessions for anyone with a library card. Computers can be reserved at www.oaklandlibrary.org. Patrons needing assistance from a tutor will need to sign up for a computer at one of the five branches listed, during the scheduled period. (Computers are also available for use at other times and library locations, but without a tutor.) 

     

    Ready, Set, Connect! is made available thanks to a partnership between the Oakland Public Library and Community Technology Network. It's a workforce development program designed to provide local youth with technology-based job skills through a balanced combination of classroom training and hands-on work experience.

     

    MAIN LIBRARY, 125 14th Street -- Wednesdays 6-8pm; Saturdays 10am-12pm; Sundays 1-4:30pm 

     

    ASIAN BRANCH, 388 9th Street, Suite 190 -- Saturdays 10:30am-12:30pm; 

     

    C�SAR E. CH�VEZ BRANCH, 3301 East 12th Street, Ste. 271 -- Tuesdays 5-8pm; 

    Saturdays 10am-12pm; Wednesdays 1:30-5:30pm

     

    DIMOND BRANCH, 3565 Fruitvale Avenue -- Tuesdays 12:30-2:30pm 

     

    EASTMONT BRANCH 7200 Bancroft Avenue (Eastmont Town Center, Suite 211) -- 

    Mondays 11:30am-2:30pm 

     

    ROCKRIDGE BRANCH, 5366 College Avenue -- Tuesdays 4-6pm; Saturdays 1-3pm

     

      

    6. VOLUNTEER Opportunities

     

     

    WriterCoaches Come to Life Academy -- Volunteers Needed!writer coach connection logo

     

    WriterCoach Connection brings trained community volunteers into East Bay public middle and high schools to work one-on-one with students on their classroom writing assignments.  In Oakland we coach at Fremont High in the Fruitvale District and, beginning in February, we will also be coaching at Life Academy, which is also in the Fruitvale District and focuses on preparing students to become health and bioscience professionals. writercoach

     

    Our writer coaches emphasize a positive approach as they work with the students on their writing and critical thinking skills.  With the support of a caring adult, students gain academic confidence and improve skills that are crucial for success in school and beyond.

     

    Join us! The launch of our new program means we have an even greater need for volunteers. If you can commit to 1-2 hours during the school day a few times a month, we invite you to register for one of our upcoming trainings.  We are conducting two two-part trainings in Oakland soon; one begins on January 15 and the other on January 28. Other training sessions are available in Berkeley and El Cerrito.  We welcome volunteers of all ages, backgrounds and cultures, from college students to grandparents, working and retired people, and anyone who cares about helping Oakland students succeed.

     

    For more info: www.writercoachconnection.org or contact Catherine O'Connell, [email protected] ,  339-3653

      

     

     

     

    EBCF hearts
      

     

    Be a Game Changer. Become a Mentor for The East Bay College Fund

    Are you looking for a powerful way to help young people in Oakland? Would you like to make a meaningful connection with a college-bound student working hard to fulfill their dreams? 

     

    Become a Mentor with the East Bay College Fund. You'll work with one of 50 students who have faced long odds, navigated through difficulties in urban East Bay public schools, and are now entering the foreign arena of a college campus. Many of these young people will be the first in their families to attend college. These youth are exceptional individuals, but need support. Being accepted into college and awarded a scholarship from the East Bay College Fund is an enormous achievement, succeeding in college is another thing. 

     

    For over a decade, the East Bay College Fund has helped young scholars do just that: persevere and succeed. We provide mentorship, on-campus support, preparation and life-skills education to 200 college-bound and enrolled scholarship winners.

     

    Being a Mentor is a life-enriching experience that requires a nominal time commitment and gives unexpected rewards.  And there is no greater equalizer for African American, Latino and other underrepresented communities than a college degree. College graduates, on average, earn far more than high school graduates, up to 84 percent more over a lifetime. Beyond the economic advantages of attaining a college degree, the East Bay College Fund believes education matters, enriches lives, and should be within reach.

     

    Become a Mentor, share your experiences, and help a young person succeed. You'll be inspired, challenged, and proud. Whether you are recently retired or firmly in your career, you can be a game changer in a young person's life.  You'll be joining a community of engaged people connected with youth and surprised by the rewards.

     

    What's the time commitment? In addition to twice a year retreats, a Mentor meets with or talks with a matched student once a month. It takes very little to make a big impact.  

     

    Can't become a Mentor but want to contribute? The East Bay College Fund is a 501-c3 nonprofit and your donation is tax-deductible and needed. Thank you.

      

    For more info: 836-8900 or www.eastbaycollegefund.org 

     

     

     

     

    Keep money in Oakland!  

    Help Oaklanders receive over a million dollars this tax season! 

    Low-income individuals and families spend, on average, $250 to have their taxes prepared every year. 

     

    Community Trust, a division of Self-Help Federal Credit Union, is a Community Development Financial Institution in West Oakland and has had a Free Tax Site for 11 years.  We partner with United Way of the Bay Area's Earn It! Keep It! Save It! Program.

      cmty trust logo

    Last tax season, Community Trust volunteers helped to:

    • secure over $1 million in refunds
    • prepare over 900 tax returns
    • save filers $226,000 in fees
    • set up direct deposit for 71% of our filers

    Find out more about volunteering here from Sayla: 267-0450 x7505 or [email protected] 

     

     

      

    OASvolunteerVolunteer for Oakland Animal Services

    oas logo

    Volunteers are essential to Oakland Animal Services (OAS). Not only do OAS volunteers benefit from a fun and rewarding experience, but they also significantly improve the lives of the shelter animals. Spending time with the animals, increasing adoptions by helping citizens find the right animal to join their family, and making new friends along the way, volunteers are a driving force behind OAS.

    Volunteers can train to work with:

    • Cats 
    • Dogs
    • Rabbits
    • The staff to assist with administrative tasks

    Volunteers learn skills for handling each type of animal and techniques for talking with the public about adoptions of them. 

    Learn more about volunteering here. 

     

    Also, if you're interested in the animals themselves, click here to jump to our spotlight on this week's pet.

        

       

      

    org for health careCalifornia Health Insurance Exchange needs your help

    California's new health care program will start enrolling residents on October 1st. Volunteers are needed to inform residents about enrollment dates, where to go for information and sign-up.  

     

    Invited presenters will include: Health Services, NAACP, La Clinica and Organizing for Action, Volunteering for Oakland.  

     

    For more info:  [email protected]

     

    Success depends on a proactive, prepared volunteer outreach. Learn more about the California Health Insurance Exchange atwww.coveredca.com . 

     

     


    health care reform 2 

    Become a Volunteer Health Navigator

    Allen Temple Health and Social Services and the Robert C. Scott Wellness Center are seeking persons to join the Volunteer Health Navigation Team.  The navigators will provide education on the Affordable Care Act (also known as 'Obamacare'), healthcare coverage options, as well as assist in healthcare enrollment.  Volunteers will receive training and a certificate of completion.  A six-month commitment is requested.

    For more info: Raquel Cummings 544-975 or [email protected] 

      

     

      

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    7. SAFE & HEALTHY Oakland

      

    FOR YOUR SAFETY

    LLL logo  LLL

    Learn, Lead, Lift (LLL) Emergency Preparedness Training

    In February and March, the Oakland Public Library will be hosting emergency preparedness classes. The Oakland Fire Department's Emergency Management Services Division has established the Learn, Lead, Lift (LLL) Emergency Preparedness Program --  a "whole-community preparedness" program that simplifies the steps needed to prepare yourself and your community using everyday items as tools for preparedness. This training can be a stand-alone training or a primer for the CORE Program, if residents wish to take a more rigorous emergency preparedness training program.

    • Saturday, February 22, 1:00 p.m., Dimond Branch Library, 3565 Fruitvale Avenue
    • Saturday, February 22, 1:00 p.m., Rockridge Branch Library, 5366 College Avenue
    • Monday, February 24, 6:30 p.m., Eastmont Branch Library, 7200 Bancroft Avenue, Suite 211
    • Monday, March 3, 6:30 p.m., Piedmont Avenue Branch Library, 80 Echo Avenue
    • Saturday, March 8, 2:00 p.m., Melrose Branch Library, 4805 Foothill Boulevard
    • Saturday, March 8, 3:00 p.m., Montclair Branch Library, 1687 Mountain Boulevard
    • Wednesday, March 12, Noon, 81st Avenue Branch Library, 1021 81st Avenue
    • Saturday, March 15, 3:00 p.m., West Oakland Branch Library, 1801 Adeline Street

    For more info: Genevieve Pastor-Cohen, Senior Emergency Planning Coordinator, 238-2326


    coreRefresh

    CORE Classes

     

    CORE provides free emergency preparedness training for individuals, neighborhood groups and community- based organizations in Oakland. CORE teaches self-reliance skills and helps neighborhoods establish response teams to take care of the neighborhood after a disaster until professional help arrives.

      

    Here are just a few of the standard CORE courses. 

    Click here for a full Winter class schedule.

     

    CORE I

    Wednesday, March 26, 6-8:30pm, Dimond Library, 3565 Fruitvale Ave

     

    CORE II

    Tuesday, February 11, 6-8:30pm, Holy Names University, 3500 Mountain Blvd

    Wednesday, April 2, 6-8:30pm, Dimond Library, 3565 Fruitvale Ave

     

    CORE III

    Saturday & Sunday, February 22 and 23, 9am-5pm, OFD Training Division, 250 Victory Ct

     

    Register online at www.oaklandcore.org, 238-6351, or [email protected]

     

     

     

     

    BACK TO TOP
    8.  GREENING Oakland

    plantsales 

    EVENTS

    friends of sausal creek 

    Friends of Sausal Creek Events

    Click here  

    for a full calendar of events and directions to each event.

     

     

     peralta hacienda park
    Peralta Hacienda Monthly Park Clean-up Day, Saturday, February 22, 10am-12pm, Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, 2465 43th Ave. 

    Lend a hand by picking up trash, pulling weeds, painting out graffiti, and making our park a safer, more beautiful place! Refreshments are served. 

    For more info: www.peraltahacienda.org , 532-9142



       

    o landscape cmte

     

    Captain Planet Foundation Awards Education Grant to Oakland Landscape Committee 

    The Captain Planet Foundation, an international environmental education foundation for youth based on the successful Captain Planet cartoon, is proud to announce that the Oakland Landscape Committee has recently been awarded an educational grant of $2,500. The Oakland Landscape Committee will use these funds toward the Oakland Pollinator Gardens Project. 

     

    "We are thrilled to present this award to the Oakland Landscape Committee," says Leesa Carter, Executive Director of the Foundation. "We receive hundreds of submissions each year and have to be very selective to whom we award funding. This is one of the few projects from across the country that we chose to fund. We wish the Oakland Landscape Committee the great success as they work to implement this important project. It is our hope that our combined efforts will educate, empower, involve and invest today's youth to cultivate a better tomorrow." 

     

    Oakland Landscape Committee Chair Gordon Piper indicated the grant support from the Captain Planet Foundation will assist the Landscape Committee in its work to expand pollinator plantings and habitat in five Oakland gardens, including: the Broadway Pollinator Garden, the Firestorm Memorial Garden, the City of Oakland's Gateway Garden, the North Oakland Sports Field Entry Garden, and the Henry J Kaiser Jr. Elementary School Entry Garden. In the last year, the Oakland Landscape Committee has added nearly 3000 native and pollinator plants to public and park gardens in Oakland supporting bees, butterflies and birds. The Committee will use the Captain Planet Foundation grant to supplement these efforts.


    For more info about the Oakland Landscape Committee: Gordon Piper,  [email protected]

    OLC is always looking for volunteers. For more info about how to volunteer, and what the schedule is, call Gordon Piper or go to http://oaklandlandscapecommittee.org/ 

     

     

    BACK TO TOP  

    9. Kids' Programs & School News

    EDITOR's NOTE: News about the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) and the local education community appears in a lot of different places: print, radio, television and online media. OUSD has started collecting the highlights in one easy place: https://www.rebelmouse.com/OUSD/  Check the link regularly.

     

      

    Forum on the Local Control Funding Formula (the new way of funding schools) 

    Tuesday, February 18, 6pm, Sequoia School, 3730 Lincoln Ave.

    Sponsored by the Oakland Education Association

     

     

    Teen Dating Violence Prevention Summit

    Wednesday, February 19, 4-6pm, Mosswood Rec Center, 3612 Webster St.

    February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

     

     

    Best of The Bay Step Show and Youth Conference Middle and High, Saturday, February 22, 9am-6pm, Oakland Technical High School, 4351 Broadway.
    Bringing the college experience to our high school and middle school students, this event provides workshops about college and college readiness, followed by a step show where the best high school and middle school teams will compete on one stage to be crowned Best of the Bay! 

    For more info and to register: www.urbanheatacademy.com 

     

     

      scholarship money

    Free University of California Financial Aid Workshop, Saturday, February 22, 11am-1:30pm, Love Center Ministries 10440 International Blvd.
    Love Center Ministries and the University of California present a free Financial Aid Workshop--learn about UC's Blue & Gold Opportunity Plan. This workshop is for 10th-12th grade students & transferring community college students. 

    Click here to register. 

     

     

     

    2014 African American Parent Conference, Saturday, March 15, 8am-3pm, Castlemont HS, 8901 MacArthur Blvd. 
    RSVP required.

    For more info and to RSVP: 273-1564, [email protected] 

     

     

     

    Olympian Thinking Training For Ace Kids Golf Camp Sweeney Program, Mondays and Tuesdays through March 25, 1:45-2:30pm, Lake Chabot Golf Course, 11450 Golf Links Road. 

    Ace Kids Golf Camp

    This 8-week program is designed to mentally recondition Camp Sweeney-incarcerated young men ages 16 to 18. The Olympian Thinking Training will be presented by Olympic Pentathlete Marilyn King. Participants are trained to think positively about themselves, family and their community. At the end of the session, participants will understand the process of using passion, vision and action to accomplish their goals. 

    For more info: Preston Pinkey, Ace Kids Golf Director, 351-5812

     

       

     

    teach tomorrow  

    Want to Make a Difference in Your Community? Consider Teaching in Oakland Schools

    Learn more at Teach Tomorrow in Oakland (TTO)

    In its continued effort to diversify Oakland's teaching workforce, TTO is now looking for 4-year college graduates, those soon to graduate, and especially those with a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) focus.  Visit teachtomorrowinoakland.net to learn more about this initiative to help aspiring teachers navigate the credentialing process.  

    To schedule an appointment: 273.2339

     
       

    BACK TO TOP 

    10.  UPCOMING Events
    UPCOMING
     
    Lake Merritt BioBlitz
     
    Lake Merritt Bioblitz, Sunday, February 23, 9am-5pm, Rotary Nature Center, 600
    Bellevue Avenue. Participants will photograph and document all life inside of Lakeside Park, home to North America's first wildlife sanctuary. Tora Rocha and Eddie Dunbar of the Pollinator Posse and Insect Sciences Museum of California will be presenters at the Lake Merritt Bioblitz hosted by WildOakland and Nerds for Nature. Participants should bring their smartphones and cameras to take photos and then upload images and information to iNaturalist, an online database of life on Earth. 

    RSVP here. 

    For more info: Eddie Dunbar, Management Intern, 615-5482 or [email protected]

     

      

    Skyline Jazz Band at Oakland Yoshi's, Tuesday, February 25, 7pm and 9pm, Yoshi's, 510 Embarcadero West.  

    Enjoy a fun evening of jazz and support this award-winning Oakland Public school group by attending their concert.

    Cost: 7pm show - $15 tickets and/or 9pm - $10 tickets

    Tickets can be purchased from Jazz Band members, and from Yoshi's. Click here for the 7pm show and click here for the 9pm show.

     

     

       

    RECURRING11.  RECURRING Events

    QUICK REFERENCE

     

    Oakland Public Libraries sponsor a multitude of events all over the city. Go to this link -- now and often -- for upcoming events of all kinds:  www.oaklandlibrary.org/events 

     

    Fairyland has events every weekend for children:  fairyland.org 

     
    Oakland Museum
     has weekday and weekend events and hands-on activities. First Sundays of the month are free.   museumca.org 
    Oakland Zoo -- Need we say more? www.oaklandzoo.org


    ART ANTICS
    art murmur square logo
     
    The Art Murmur
    , Every First Friday year-round, 5-10pm:
    Various art galleries in Uptown.  www.oaklandartmurmur.org 
     

    Art Murmur SAT Stroll logo

        

    Saturday Stroll, Every Saturday, 1-5pm: Uptown Art Galleries:
    www.oaklandartmurmur.org/calendar/saturday-stroll
     

     

      

      

     

    First Thursday Art Walk, Every First Thursday of the Month, 6-9pm, Grand Avenue from LakePark to Piedmont border.
    The Grand Avenue Business District hosts a monthly art event with special discounts from merchants and galleries. 

    For more info, click here.

     

       
    1st Saturdays of the Month West Oakland Community Fair and Farmers' Market, 11am-3pm, Lowell Park, 12th St.at Filbert, next to the West Oakland Middle School Family Resource Center.  An opportunity for the community to come out and access fresh produce, engage in fun and healthy activities, and support the schools and community. A chance to help brand the image of what a vibrant, positive, and active West Oakland should look like.

      

     

    Castlemont Community Market, First Saturday of the Month, 12-3pm,  8711 MacArthur Blvd.
    (in front of Youth Uprising, in case of rain market will be held indoors). Help support & grow a NEW monthly event!  Join us for: castlemont market
    • Shopping in your neighborhood 
    • Jewelry 
    • Art 
    • Free kids activities 

    Be a vendor! Interested in participating in the market? 

    For more info: Mariela Uribe, [email protected] or 208-1223

     
     
     

    jack of all trades scene  
    Jack of All Trades Market,  2nd Saturdays of the month, 11am-5pm, Jack London Square, foot of the Broadway.
    The market will feature a curated mix of local makers, indie designers, antiquers, collectors, artists, start-ups and more brought together by the Treasure Island Flea. This eclectic market will feature one-of-a-kind items, live music and several free D-I-Y workshops for all ages. Visitors can bike, ferry or drive to Jack London Square for the market that will take place on the second Saturday of each month. 

    For more info: www.JackofAllTradesOakland.com 



      

     

    Piedmont Art Walk, Piedmont Avenue, every 3rd Thursday, 6-9pm. 

    Enjoy Piedmont Avenue's rich and diverse collection of art of all stripes: culinary, music, design, photography, fashion, recycled design and upcycled style, among others. 

    For more info: www.piedmontavenue.org/avenue-art-walk  

       

    JUST FOR KIDS
    CSSC tykes programTyke Explorers Workshop at Chabot Space & Science Center,Tuesdays, 10am, 12:30pm, or 3pm. Chabot Space & Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd.  For ages 2.5-5 years. Expand your preschooler's universe by enrolling in our Tyke Explorers Program. Kids get to bring a special grown-up to share in the excitement of science and space. Classes are a combination of instructor-led lessons and self-guided, hands-on experimentation and exploration. For more info and monthly workshop listings, click here.

     

    JUST FOR GIRLS 

      

    Girls' Sports Days at Oakland Parks & Rec

    For more info: Coach Love, 535-5608 or [email protected] 

     

     

    FOR ADULTS

     

    League of Women Voters Monthly Hot Topics Roundtable Discussion

    LWV of Oakland sponsors monthly HOT TOPICS roundtable discussions to inform members and the public and to seek ways everyone can come together to address important issues facing our community.

    For more info: www.lwvoakland.org/calendar.html 

     

     

     

    toastmasters logoTuesday Toastmasters with Warehouse416 artists and friends, Tuesdays, 7-8am, and NEW TIME: 6:30pm, 416-26th St. 
    Plenty of parking is available. Anyone who needs a parking place can get one here, enjoy an hour of fun, then walk to work. All you need is a job in the area. You are welcome to visit, just to see what it is like. 

    For more info: Ron Scrivani, [email protected] or warehouse416.com 

     

     

    bike grp standing Saturday morning bike ride with Warehouse416 artists and friends, every (dry) Saturday, 8:45am (doors open at 8am), 416 26th St.

    This is a flat, short ride designed to provide new or returning riders with a way of getting started. We will guide you back to the start early, based on your needs. Our full ride is 30 miles and returns to 416 26th by 12:30pm.  For more info: Ron Scrivani, [email protected] or warehouse416.com 

      
     
     
    Vintage Porcelain Show, Wednesdays, 10:30am & every 2nd Saturday, 10:30am, & every 2nd Sunday, 2pm, Pardee Home and Museum, 672 11th St. 

    If you love vintage china, you won't want to miss Mrs. Helen Pardee's collection of exquisite demitasse cups, teacups, and tea pots. Included with cost of tour ($5) or tour with high tea ($25). Reservations required for tea or private tour (min 4).

    For more info: 444-2187, www.pardeehome.org  

     
    The Listening Horse designed by our nationally known architect Walter Hood has a magical impact as visitors listen to stories
     
    FOR EVERYONE 
     
    What I Hear, I Keep: Stories From Oakland's Griots, Wednesday-Saturday until February 2014, 2:30-5:30pm, Peralta House Museum, 2465 34th Ave.  
    A visual and audio art installation based on African American stories of modern-day Oakland, with local residents telling about their lives and exploring their identities. Hear voices speak about the pluses and minuses of segregation, rituals commemorating the Black Holocaust, combating racism in major league baseball, The De Fermery Recreation Center community, the Black Panthers, the heyday of KJAZ, the Black Native community, and many other iconic contemporary Oakland themes.
    Cost: $5; free for Fruitvale Community members and children 10 & under

    For more info: Peraltahacienda.org 

     

    Mexica Dance, every Monday evening, 6-8pm, sponsored by Peralta Hacienda, Center for History and Community, 2488 Coolidge Ave.

    All are welcome to discover Mexica culture during ceremony and dance classes open to the public.  

    For more info: www.peraltahacienda.org