Why is it powerful to know our neighbors?

Commons Archive is a creative grassroots history project that builds neighbor relationships. Started in North Oakland, our work stands on the shoulders of the long history of local community-based programs.

Since 2016, Commons Archive has been empowering neighbors as narrators and creators of their many local histories. We connect longtime and new neighbors through stories, shared resources and celebrations to build community resilience.

We all carry stories of our neighborhoods, the stories that make a place home. Commons Archive honors the many histories of this rapidly changing North Oakland and South Berkeley neighborhoods.

This starts by listening to and learning from each other - people caring about people, block by block.

Commons Archive is led by marksearch with incredible community partners: The Black Panther Party Alumni Legacy Network, Neighbors for Racial Justice, Design for Belonging and All Power to The People (AP2TP) art collective.

NEW YouTube Channel

NEW YouTube Channel

Sharing stories is a human way to celebrate, grieve, and hold hope.

Our YouTube channel features a wide range of media we’ve showcased over the years. Check out our video archive ofpowerful neighbor stories, thought-provoking questions, and community responses about pressing local issues.

Neighbor Story Videos

HEAR/HERE

Community Billboard

HEAR HERE Community Billboard—the latest Commons Archive initiative! The Community Billboard evolved during COVID-19 in partnership with multicultural community organizations. Isolated neighbors were seeking safe ways to nurture belonging in their neighborhoods—we still need this today!

HEAR HERE Community Billboard Truck is a multimedia vehicle that builds community, amplifies neighbors’ voices, and makes neighborhood histories accessible. This custom-built electric clean vehicle is equipped with a large-format digital screen and on-board sound system. Its small size and eco-friendly design allows that Community Billboard to fit in many locations including playgrounds, parks, streets, plazas and more.

Check out the HEAR HERE Community Billboard website to learn more!

WHAT’S NEW!

  • HEAR HERE Community Billboard website

    HEAR HERE meets East Bay neighbors where they are, takes media into local hands & engages the public imagination! The latest Commons Archive program now has it’s own website. Learn about where we’ve been and how to bring the HEAR HERE Community Billboard to your next gathering!

    HEAR HERE Website

  • Writing the Golden State: The New Literary Terrain of California

    We’re honored that “Fred’s Story”, an essay we co-authored during the depths of the pandemic, is included in a timely new publication! This essay collection looks beyond the clichés of the ‘California Dream,’ portraying a state that is deviant and recalcitrant, proud and humble, joyful and communal.” A longtime North Oakland neighbor, Fred Williams is a second generation Black business owner and staunch believer in the power of community.

    Purchase the Book!

  • Partnership with Self-Help Hunger Program

    HEAR HERE Community Billboard and Commons Archive is excited to partner with the Self Help Hunger Program, an organization that nurtures the community through nourishment and cultural care. During 2024, we uplifted the voices of unhoused neighbors through story sharing and listening sessions. Check out these powerful messages of resilience, reparations and community care on our YouTube Channel!

    This initiative was generously supported by the Berkeley Civic Arts Commission.

    LEARN MORE

  • California Revealed Archive

    Commons Archive is honored to be part of California Revealed, the California State Library’s online archive.

    Hundreds of neighbor stories shared with Commons Archive are part of this online archive. CA Revealed has also generously digitized all of the titles in The Golden Gate Library Local Collection reference series!

    Visit CA Revealed!

  • Share your neighborhood story!

    Now you can share your Oakland memories with Commons Archive with our new online form! Sharing your experiences is a powerful way to preserve local culture. Stories don’t need to be monumental to be meaningful. As Oakland continues to grow and change, let’s document its people and places for the future.

    Thank you for sharing your stories and giving voice to many unheard Oakland stories! 

    Share Your STORY!

@commons_archive on Instagram

Connecting North Oakland neighbors through stories, shared resources and celebrations

“My grandfather told me that he didn’t know being a Black man was a problem until he moved to San Francisco.” -Mark Lasartemay, 3rd generation Berkeley neighbor In 1932 Eugene Lasartemay became the first Black licensed marine eng
“Reparations is to repair something that has been torn or something that’s been severed. There needs to be a repairing with us. There needs to be a healing with us.” -Kedar, 4th generation Oakland neighbor and Self Help Hunger Progr
“The HEAR HERE Billboard truck doesn’t have an agenda. It’s for the community to use in an authentic way.” -David Peters, Black Liberation Walking Tour 2025 is HERE! How are you thinking about connecting with your community
HEAR HERE is committed to amplifying neighbor voices to uplift stories of resilience and hope. We’re excited to announce the launch of our YouTube channel! Experience the range of community stories questions, and local histories that we have
What happens when the people with recollections of historical events are no longer with us? How do we preserve the past when the eyewitnesses are gone?” — Susan D. Anderson, Commons Archive Advisor, History Curator & Program Manager,
“Community archives represent the truest nature and the truest intent of collecting stories, and seeing these stories as alive rather than a stale historical artifact. This is where history is living.” -Sean Dickerson, Archivist, African
How does a community reflect on and process change? Sharing stories is a human way to celebrate, grieve, and share hope. These experiences have inspired so many communities to speak up and share glimpses of their truth. We’re beyond honored
Rest. Reflect. Self-care. When was the last time you took a break? Rest is essential for us all. It’s important to take a moment—to step away from our everyday routine and restore. The HEAR HERE team is taking a social media pause.