Media Literacy on the Framing Of Mayor Sheng Thao Recall
Support for the recall of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao has been strong in media presence, but is it strong among Oakland voters?
Oakland Activist Kenzie Smith Was the Man on the Moon
What We Can Learn from a Community Activist Who Died Young Suffering from PTSD and Mental Health When...
Breaking Chains for Change – One Family’s Fellowship to Empower Communities
Frank Smith was once a man of the streets of Oakland. He had a reputation as "Frank the Bank," but he turned into "Frank the Blessed" when he dedicated his life to his faith, his wife, and his children.
Art Blooms in Oakland After Chaotic Protest Nights End
If silence is violence, the residents of Oakland have an answer for that; art. Throughout Saturday artists of all ages and ethnicities took their paint, paintbrushes and spray paint to claim boarded windows in Downtown Oakland as forms of beautiful expression.
George Floyd Protest in Oakland Reflects Conflicting Intensions
Friday night's Oakland protest of the killing of George Floyd by Minnesota police had a different—pent energy—than any other protest I've ever been to.
Moms4Housing Claims for One Home Taught Housing Organizers Valuable Lessons
The right to housing is a human right. Yet, in Oakland, there are nearly four vacant properties for every homeless person. A group of homeless moms, Moms 4 Housing, organized to take over a vacant home in West Oakland and used this statistic to wedge their way into a vacant home in West Oakland.
ACCE and Moms 4 Housing Join Forces in March for Affordable Housing with Oakland Advocate Groups
A unified mix of Oakland advocate groups descended on a luxury high-rise to spotlight a building boom they say is not intended to house locals—creating more homelessness and forcing many to leave the city.
A Night of Healing with Barbara Lee Links Gun Violence and White Supremacy as National Problem
Outlining a need to stop gun violence across the country, Lee emphasized the problems with domestic terrorism to worshipers, immigrants, and people of color as well as violence in homes and on the streets. She stressed the importance of letting the NRA know, “we are more powerful than they are.” The NRA has lobbied against gun reform for decades. Background checks and supporting a ban on assault rifles meant for war are a few gun reform legislations Lee wants to pass in congress.
Choosing Between Housing and Education
When resources are not available to young college students, prioritizing education over housing can be a difficult choice. For Laney College football player Armani Turner-Jenkins, his choice was between basic comforts and achieving his long-term goals.
One 40-Year-Olds Decision To Start Journalism Fighting For Democracy
This column was originally published in the Laney Tower Print edition under the title "Tales from the Editor" issue December 6, 2018. This was the second to last print semester before Laney College renovated the program, completely updating the room, computers, and website to digital—our professor, Burt Dragin, who had been teaching journalism since the 70s, retired in 2019. Unfortunately, our other teacher, Scott Strain, passed away in 2020 during the pandemic. I want to dedicate this recently updated post to both Burt and Scott, who taught me the importance of staying true to researching all the facts of a story and ensuring I check every inch of the copy before publishing. This is why I have thought to review my posts again to ensure they are done correctly, in their memory so that I may do them and myself proud. I'd also like to thank all of the journalism students who I worked with at the Laney Tower, who stay in touch with me, and some who I see have moved on, graduated, and become great journalists. They are the ones who pushed me to tell my story, but it is I who is proud of them, always.