Storyland Collective closed its summer BookOut series with a free family block party, running from Marcus Books to Longfellow Fields with story time, music, games and crafts. Town Nights partnered with Storyland on this summer's BookOut events, bringing children's authors and illustrators into Oakland neighborhoods.

Partnering with Town Nights, an organization that hosts free community events, the cook-off was held in Snow Park next to Lake Merritt. Chefs from some of Oakland’s top restaurants, bars and one cactus greenhouse presented their take on the classic American dish. 

Urban Peace Movement's free "That's Oakland, Baby" block party on Brockhurst drew about 300 people on September 20 as part of the Town Nights series, with free haircuts, massages and acupuncture, local performers, and remarks from Congresswoman Lateefah Simon, Councilmember Carroll Fife and other local leaders.

As summer closed, families gathered in Oakland’s Fruitvale for “Fresh for School,” a back-to-school celebration hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ) on August 23.

The program, started by Trybe, a nonprofit serving youth and families, is a continuation of Town Nights, a program by the city’s Department of Violence Prevention that hosts events in parks around Oakland to combat violence. 

Working with a diverse team of community groups and hundreds of Oakland residents, the Possibility Lab at UC Berkeley assessed what factors make people feel unsafe — or safe — in their daily lives. Now, using the expertise of city residents and a trove of new data, the goal is to shape policy that supports healthy neighborhoods.

In the heart of downtown Oakland stands two 7ft tall, larger-than-life sized photos depicting Black fathers and their sons. The two pieces are accompanied by a collection of black and white photo collages showcasing the sacred presence of Black fathers across Oakland.

Want to Reduce Gun Violence in Oakland? Invest in Culture, Experts Say.