Your Voices, Your Stories
We all carry experiences of our neighborhoods, the stories that make this place home. As North Oakland continues to grow and change, Commons Archive is gathering neighbors' memories to preserve the area’s many histories. Sharing stories and experiences help us feel closer to our neighbors and support long term neighborhood stability.
Watch and read the various neighbor’s written responses for questions prepared by the community event organizers.
These answers were collected during the engagement sessions at recent HEAR/HERE events, and relate to neighborhood safety, planning, and connection.
To find your own handwritten note, check them out in each event page!
This footage is screened on the digital billboard during the truck tours, and all attended events.
Watch the video clip of long-time neighbor Joanne Dickerson-Harper, filmed by youth media group Hidden Gem Project. Scroll down to watch more neighbor stories!
The legacy of the Black Panther Party in Oakland is a long one, Dr. Saturu Ned is one of the original members. In this video he touches on the history of the Black Panther Party’s presence in North Oakland and what they have done for the city.
Community preservation is one of the ways communities are kept strong. On 48th and Webster, Sue Mark has created a way to connect with neighbors and conserve the stories of North Oakland through her project Commons Archive.
Damone Smith tells the stories of his childhood home in North Oakland. He recalls his mother saving up for the house and moving her family from West Oakland to a small house on 54th and Market.
Oakland has been home to so many great artists and activists. At 41st and Martin Luther King, there is a 17 bedroom home that houses artists in Oakland. Shawn Granberry is housing artists and providing them with opportunities to succeed.
Terri Woodfolk-Nelson, a third generation North Oaklander, shares her memories of growing up in the now gone Black community. She lives near to the birth-place of the Black Panther Party. Dr. Saturu Ned, original Panther member, also shares impacts of the Party’s legacy. See more images of this gathering on on our ‘Where We’ve Been’ page.
Video filmed & edited by Gregory Collins smooth-pix
Communities are always more connected than we think. The Bay Area as a whole has been heavily impacted by gentrification, and long time residents all over North Oakland have seen and acknowledge that. Neighbors in the Golden Gate District of North Oakland, new and old reflect on the changes that have been made around them.