Diary of a White-Passing Biracial/Black woman

By Sydney Williams

Sydney and her little brother Judge.

Oakland, California. 2002, 5 years old.

Black isn't just the color of a crayon

As a little girl, I would draw pictures of my family using brown crayons for my Dad and peach for my Mother. As a kid, race is not something you think about. There are the people you know, the people you love, and yourself, and that’s it. 

I remember riding in a packed car with my cousins and one of them said something about my dad being Black. I asked what he meant and he told me that his skin was black, which meant that he was Black. This confused me and I became frustrated. I said “No, my Dad is not black, he is brown! No one has black skin.” My family giggled and everyone turned their attention to me. My cousin began to explain that being Black was not a bad thing and it also didn’t mean that you had to be as black as a black crayon. He explained that although my skin was fair, I had African blood pumping through my veins, which meant that even I was part of Black culture. I was connected to the music, food, stories, and life that is African American heritage. 

This was the moment that I was introduced to the concept of ethnicity and that race and belonging are not as simple as colors in a Crayon box.

Sydney and Marina. Marina has been Sydney’s lifelong best friend. She is a biracial woman of Korean and Mexican descent and is a first generation American citizen. 

Piedmont, California. 2005, 8 years old.

We live here

We moved to a new home in Piedmont, California, an affluent and predominantly White enclave surrounded on all sides by Oakland. 

Ours was one of the very few interracial families in the city, a fact that we were constantly reminded of at school, work, sports, and social events. I noticed my classmates and their families seemed to be always watching my parents when we were in public. At the time, I didn't understand why my dark-skinned Dad wore his Piedmont baseball hat every time he left the house as if it were his uniform, a bullet proof vest requirement to be safe and accepted in town. 

While I was and still am well-liked by my peers, I often felt that it was under the condition that I conform to what is most comfortable for others to understand. My brothers and I were told to always be on our best behavior. It wasn't just because it was courteous and good habit, but because we were, in many ways, responsible for shaping our communities’ perception of people like us. When White friends and their families learn that I am biracial, the most common response has always been, “It’s alright honey, you can barely tell," suggesting that I should feel shame if my Blackness was more visually apparent. This is still the most frequent form of discrimination that I encounter. 

Even as a child, I felt that we had to prove that not only did we live in Piedmont, but that we belong there. 

Sydney, Judge, and parents Dawn and Michael at University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa Graduation 2019. Sydney also has an older brother, Mike Jr., who is not pictured.

Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi. 2019, 22 years old.

Prejudice exists in all places

After my freshman year of college at a NorCal State school, I took a leap of faith and moved to Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi to finish my education. There, I found myself surrounded by more ethnically- and culturally-diverse people than ever before. It was not a melting pot, but more like a mosaic, with people from across the world in your town all the time, bringing their cultural tendencies and beauty along in their carry ons.

At this time of my life, my Black side was no longer considered the offensive part of me. Instead, it was my Whiteness. Hawaiʻi has a long history of European colonizers coming to their land and forcing their “righteous” ways upon the Hawaiian Kingdom. It comes as no surprise that locals do not want their land and culture further diluted, which in essence is what every tourist and non-native on the islands are doing. They call us "haole" which translates to "no breath." Its original use was simply to identify foreigners, most commonly for Europeans who were known to not respect Hawaiian land. Today, it is a derogation, and I cannot even count how many times it was used against me. 

It never feels good to have assumptions made about you, in this case -- that I did not respect or belong on Hawaiian land. Even still, my sympathies are with the Kanaka (Native Hawaiian people) and their efforts to restore sovereignty to the Hawaiian Kingdom.

Sarah and Sydney at Oakland Tech rally for Black Lives Matter. Sarah is a great friend and supporter of Sydney’s biracial identity.

Oakland, California. 2020, 23 years old. 

Quiet Your Voice

I wholeheartedly identify as a biracial American woman. I am of African and Irish descent, and identify equally with both. Genetics are a coin toss. Even an identical mix may come out with different traits. I happen to be fair skinned with freckles, red hair, and green eyes--what sounds, for all intents and purposes, White. 

I was raised in a multiracial family, where very few are as fair complexioned as I. When surrounded by Black culture, I am comfortable, until someone comments about a White Card. What is a White Card? It is the presumed pocket ace. Being White-passing is a blessing and a curse. A blessing because I have the privilege of protections against pre-judgement on the basis of being a minority. A curse because I may never be fully accepted by the community in which I feel most culturally connected to.

It’s June 1, 2020 and I’m stepping out to attend a march in support of Black Lives Matter and to commemorate the lives of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and many others. Thousands of people of all ethnicities are marching in solidarity for one common goal -- racial justice. I’m overcome with feelings of unity, acceptance and most of all, hope. Caught in the passion of the moment, I find myself leading chants for hundreds of people as we march from Oakland Tech High School to Oscar Grant Plaza. I have never felt so empowered and supported. Then suddenly, my mind flashes back to the opening remarks of the young adults who organized this march. I remembered speakers saying, “White voices should not be louder than Black voices here!” and that their spotlight should not be stolen. Chills run down my back. Few people can tell that I am biracial by my appearance, and certainly even less of them would think I am Black. I’m literally yelling at the top of my lungs, the loudest voice for blocks in either direction and now I’m dripping with a feeling of shame. I wonder if maybe I’m sending the wrong message, or coming across as one of those dreadful people who attend protests for more Instagram likes. 

I went from feeling powerful and strong to anxious and sheepish in a matter of seconds. Where is my place in this movement?

Oakland, California. 2021, 24 years old.

This is my time

Let’s set the story straight for a moment -- activism and peaceful protest was a part of me before I was even born. My father and his family grew up in Oakland in the 1960s and 70s, better known to many as the Black Panther era. To this day, I see photos of Huey Newton and the Black Panther Party with my uncles marching right alongside him. 

I took my passion for social justice to fuel my journey toward a BA of Sociology with focuses in racial and ethnic relations and a minor in Political Science. When I say that I was born to participate in this revolutionary time for Black lives and racial equality, I mean it. 

The thing about the pandemic that scares me the most is the way it limits our freedom to assemble. Even with technology, it’s just not the same. As a young girl, I watched the Bay Area rally together when justice was not served after the deaths of Oscar Grant, Michael Brown and so many other innocent Black women and men. I was inspired and moved by the power behind the great masses assembling to demand reparations. And here we are, in a pandemic, where the safest place to raise your voices against racial violence is at home.

As a young adult with a passion for social justice, this is my time. My time to be loud and heard and acknowledged. Yet no matter how loud I shout out the words of my movement, it is muffled by a mask and hushed by our separation. Can anyone hear me?

The Fight for Black Freedom

As the first-state-based fund of its kind, the Black Freedom Fund has hit the ground running with a seismic force resonating throughout California. Launched on February 4, 2021, it has already invested 6 of its 100 million dollars in its first round of grantmaking. The next round is anticipated for late February. This historical and groundbreaking fund is a 5-year initiative established to endorse organizations who work to empower and effect change in Black communities of California. In supporting grassroot advocates, Black community leaders, and Black-led organizations the state will expand its capacity for systemic transformation. The Black Freedom Fund leads their messaging with, “By creating and accelerating a new statewide ecosystem of Black-led organizations confronting racism and anti-Blackness, this fund aims to affect the culture, policy and systems changes necessary to realize equality and justice in California.” 

All factual information was sourced directly from CABlackFreedomFund.org

Nearly two dozen contributors have invested in the Black Freedom Fund as of today, and that number will continue to grow as its positive influence stretches across California. The Black Freedom Fund is a living initiative that is designed to evolve with California’s changing needs in inclusive economic empowerment, voter education, social justice, and leadership development.

Akonadi Foundation President Lateefah Simon said that, “We must also acknowledge that the burden of the pervasive nature of structural racism across interlocking systems -- education, public health, economic and criminal justice -- also oftentimes falls on Black women and women of color.” 

Black freedom fighters Lateefah Simon, Kaci Patterson, and many other women of color have fostered strong partnerships with the fund, sharing a desire to bring institutional reform to our cities, counties, and state, ultimately impacting our world.  On February 24th, they will be hosting the Black Freedom Fund’s upcoming event Powering Black Organizing and Movement Building in California.

As a strong-willed and outspoken civil rights, juvenile rights, and racial justice advocate, Lateefah Simon continues to lead the state of California as one of its staunchest and most influential leaders.

Akonadi Foundation President Lateefah Simon. Civil rights, juvenile rights, and racial justice advocate.

How were you involved in the Black Freedom Fund’s inception?

This fund is co-created with Black organizers. California’s visionary Black organizers have told us that they need sustained investments to eradicate systemic and institutional racism, and we are answering their call.  Akonadi Foundation is among two dozen foundations and funders who collectively have invested more than $35 million to date into the fund.

The California Black Freedom Fund is a five-year initiative. In your professional opinion, how long-lasting of an effect do you predict they will be able to create in that time?

To be clear, Black organizers will require more than five years of funding to make the kinds of long-lasting changes that Californians need to secure the livelihood of future generations. 

The fund responds to a history of underinvestment in Black-led organizations and power-building by philanthropy; for example, an estimated 1 percent of community foundation support was specifically designated for Black communities in recent years, according to the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy. 

Historically, philanthropy has responded to racial justice flashpoints with an uptick in temporary funding that is short-term, tactical, and/or narrowly focused.

We are trying to change that through this fund. Black communities must attain the decision-making power over the policies, systems, and opportunities that shape their lives.  To get there, it will take a powerful statewide movement of Black-led organizations working to improve Black lives through efforts such as budget processes, census counts, education funding, voter registration, access to housing, and employment. 

Akonadi’s participation in the fund responds to a history of exclusion of Black-led organizations and power-building in philanthropy and the ongoing disinvestment and displacement in Black people and communities in the Bay Area across California. 

If we are to make real policy changes and full-scale culture shifts against the dehumanization of Black people, we must include the input of Black leaders and communities so that they can have decision-making power over policies and systems that are impacting their daily lives. 

Lateefah Simon at a Rosenberg Foundation event

What upcoming initiative can we look forward to seeing from the Akonadi Foundation?

The Akonadi Foundation has recently launched Creatives in Place, a listening project featuring 22 Bay Area artists and their stories of surviving and thriving during a time of great upheaval. The digital platform gives expression to the lived experience, traditions and resilience of local creatives whose geographies, ethnicities and races, gender identities, and sexualities span the spectrum. The project provides a digital space for artists’ words, works, and (virtual) presence to speak for themselves.

Akonadi Foundation is also investing audaciously in people of color-led organizing, base-building and policy advocacy to end the criminalization of Black youth and youth of color in Oakland through our All in for Oakland initiative. The All in for Oakland initiative is investing $12.5 million over five years in an ecosystem of movement organizations that are mobilizing directly impacted people to win and implement police free schools, reimagine school safety and school discipline, close youth prisons, and realize other critical efforts to transform youth justice in Oakland.

Empowering California’s Black Women

By Sydney Williams

Natalie Champion, LaTiera Zachery, Carlene Davis, Sonya Young Aadam, MaeRetha Franklin-Coleman (l to r). California Black Women’s Health Project staff, intern, and Regional Representative. Photo by Champion Photography

We stand on the shoulders of women and allies who came before us, fore-sisters who fought painstakingly for liberties we enjoy today: reproductive rights, our right to vote, our ability to pursue economic advancement. When women are empowered, we send seismic shockwaves throughout the world, effecting change. We anticipate the great changes that will come from the work of a statewide not-for-profit organization, the California Black Women’s Health Project (CABWHP). As said by their Chief Executive Officer Sonya Young Aadam, “Intentional investment in and collaboration with Black women-led organizations like ours is necessary to build capacity and resources to further our work to achieve better health and wellness for Black women and girls and for our families and community.” CABWHP refuses to accept imposed limits by our systemically racist institutions that have led women of color to move their own health to the bottom of their priority ladder. 

The CABWHP has a rich history of women working with the community to bring Black women together, encouraging them to prioritize their own health and advocate for their prosperity through policy. Founded in 1994, CABWHP is an affiliate of the Black Women's Health Imperative (formerly the National Black Women's Health Project), based in Washington, D.C. Their legacy continues to be built upon its foundation of hosting over a dozen annual policy conferences in Sacramento, convening a series of 15 town hall meetings, and serving on several boards, commissions, and coalitions to raise their voices. Today, they serve California’s 1.2 million Black women through their advocacy, education, outreach, and policy. 

The CABWHP is steadfast in empowering black women to take the driver's seat in their health and wellness with five guiding values: equity, empowerment, a focus on Black women, change and collaboration. They emphasise the importance of equal access to opportunities and resources to ensure that Black women and girls are never overlooked in their endeavors. This organization celebrates the history and heritage of Black women and recognizes their intrinsic value rooted in their lived experiences. They empower their sisters to stand together in a collective engagement for effective prevention and early intervention of racial inequality in healthcare. To create real change in community conditions, CABWHP addresses health disparities, individual behavior and policies that burden the lives Black women. 

With a board packed tight with women of color, the California Black Women’s Health Project takes a systematic approach to racial disparity reform. Their Policy Advisory Group (PAG), consisting of grassroots leaders, health service providers, government representatives and policy advocates, serves as a platform for Californians to collaborate and find effective solutions for health policies that adversely affect Black women. PAG has a policy partner lineup of big names like Kaiser Permanente and UCLA Health, who even further perpetuate CABWHP’s sphere of influence. 

The California Black Women’s Health Project is not only devoted to healthcare policy reform, but is also committed to creating space for Black women to gather, learn, celebrate, and engage in their rich cultural history. Hosting events year round, the CABWHP has not let the pandemic slow it down. Although the warm embrace of sisters across California cannot be felt, their unity is experienced through virtual meetups. On February 28th, 2021 from 12pm-3pm the CABWHP will host Deep Roots: the journey of Black hair, its Resilience & Royalty. While this organization focuses its efforts on the betterment of healthcare for Black women specifically, they welcome the input and collaboration of all leaders who show a commitment to improving the health of African American women. 

Treva Reid: Rising with East Oakland

By Keesa Ocampo & Sydney Williams

Photo courtesy of Hon. Treva Reid

Many things come to mind when you hear the word Oakland but there’s a much deeper, richer, broader story that exists for those who have true roots in The Town. No one would know this better than East Oakland’s newly elected City Council member for District 7, Treva Reid. 

A daughter of Oakland, Treva lived in the city until she moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where she was raised and attended school. Treva is a community leader and advocate, born to a family of educators, entrepreneurs, civil servants, and laborers with a deep respect for hard work. Hard work, they say, is a mark of one who has grown in Oakland. This city is as strong in labor, manufacturing, shipping ports, builders, and warehouses as San Francisco was with its gold rush and Silicon Valley with its tech boom. Oakland’s values are deeply rooted in social justice and a movement of anti-racism. With its communities and Black Panthers long ago declaring that Black is Beautiful, political activism flows through the veins of the people who call it home.

As a young single mother in college working multiple jobs, Treva soared with these very strengths, providing for her daughter and graduating from Hampton University. In 2013, she was faced with her life’s biggest challenge while working for then Assemblymember Nancy Skinner, advocating for her gun legislation package. Treva shares, “My heart is full and (my) mind is racing as I reflect on my son, Brandon, who was murdered in 2013. He would be turning 30 years old today. I’ve had much on my mind approaching this day.” 

At the dawn of a new decade, primed by a movement to elect more women into office and a more progressive battlecry around social issues, Treva brings her experience with childhood trauma, gun violence, domestic abuse, poverty, and housing instability as motivation for her passion to fight for justice and challenge inequities. As a survivor, her leadership style will be known for courage, determination to overcome adversity, and a powerful resilience - the very things that Oakland now needs in its struggle to make it to the pandemic recovery line. 

Approaching with an aggressive plan for her district, Treva battles against the inequitable opportunities for Black residents and Black- and women-owned businesses, illegal dumping and blight, and the unexpected enemy in the COVID-19 pandemic. So much of her first few months have been dedicated to aiding in the recovery of her district and the greater Oakland community and Councilmember Reid shares some groundbreaking efforts that she co-leads to get Oakland back on its feet.

Photo courtesy of Hon. Treva Reid

What inspired and prepared you to run for District 7 City Councilmember?
I’m an overcomer, advocate, and community leader who ran to lead transformative and sustained change in East Oakland. I’ve experienced many of the issues and challenges we face today - real life issues. I fight for families who have endured like my family, the deep trauma of losing loved ones to gun violence, overcoming housing instability, food insecurity, unemployment, domestic abuse, struggling to pay rent, relying on affordable housing, mental health care, living-wage jobs, and keeping their business doors opened. All of that and more motivate me to fight for justice, challenge inequity and influence solutions. I’ve championed those issues, having served with a number of organizations, including East Oakland Youth Development Center (EOYDC), Satellite Affordable Housing Associates (SAHA), Youth Alive!, Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA), and regional business chambers. 

I worked as the Senior Field Representative in the office of then Assemblymember Nancy Skinner, advocating for housing policies, gun violence prevention, job training programs, legislation for incarcerated and formerly-incarcerated individuals, and other critical efforts for East Oakland. I have the policy, lived and professional experience to advocate with community members and organizations to develop courageous policies, equitable outcomes that empower Oaklanders and small businesses to remain rooted in Oakland. 

I co-founded Triumphant Women where we’ve worked in partnership with organizations like Oakland Elizabeth House, a transitional home for single women, and Wardrobe for Opportunity, and others to help women--primarily single mothers like me--thrive in every season of life, with a supportive network.

I am inspired to serve with a strategy of love for our community, working to ensure equitable access to opportunities, policies and practices prevail for all of us to stay and thrive in Oakland for generations to come. For those who have felt left out or pushed out to remain rooted, housed, raising their families, enjoying quality schools and growing their businesses, safe, sustained and stable with lasting change. 

What was your campaign experience like? 

It was empowering for me as a Black woman to step out and lead during a historic time of women of color rising. I found affirmation in my call to champion change in our community through District 7 neighbors/voters. It was truly inspiring to be uplifted by many family, friends, community leaders and supporters and to have my fearless foundation in faith and action was encouraged. I was strengthened in character as I endured harassment, attacks, lies and threats. It was reassuring to know I was more prepared than I ever imagined for this race, running with grace and finishing strong. Victory has been humbling as I now hold a role as a public servant leader. 

How does being a single mother, trauma survivor, and woman of color affect your approach to policy making and reform? 
Those aspects of my life impact where and how I show up in serving my community and influence my policy making approach to lead transformative change. I’m committed to lead out on policies affecting those most overlooked and underserved, including policy areas I’ve faced or engaged in relationships with those I support in the community. 

I never imagined that I’d be in this role today. I saw my life ending in several seasons with what I was enduring, drawn into a cave of fear, shame, and regret - early years of childhood trauma, pressing through my undergraduate college years as a single mother, walking away from an unhealthy relationship, coming off of welfare, taking on multiple jobs, seeking stable housing, food and diaper money. It’s by the grace of God that I am here, emerging out of dark seasons in life as a triumphant woman in politics, serving with the tenacious heart of a mother and fearless fighter, advocating to help others overcome life issues. It’s an incredible alignment of my most treasured role as a mom with my passion to serve others.

Councilmember Reid has supported clean up, recovery and small business outreach for funding for East Oakland businesses that have been impacted by protests following the George Floyd murder and still struggle to sustain their livelihood during COVID. Photo courtesy of Hon. Treva Reid.

What plans do you have in place to address the economic and social effect of the COVID-19 pandemic in your community? 

The greatest disparities of COVID are faced by Black and Brown community members, with the highest impact of COVID positivity rate, hospitalization, and death in East Oakland. I continue to advocate with city, county, state, and federal leaders to secure and equitably allocate funding and anti-displacement/COVID relief funds for residents and businesses, deploying equitable public safety resources, mental health care, essential services, housing solutions, accessible testing, contact tracing and prioritized vaccination in East Oakland to overcome this pandemic. It’s going to take a more unified strategic approach to engage the opportunities, overcome the challenges, and champion equitable outcomes.  

We are faced with unprecedented and rising racial, economic and social impacts due to COVID-19. Too many families in East Oakland are struggling through COVID, are unhoused, unemployed, hungry, facing increased threat of violent crime, blight, traffic safety, loss of business (nearly 140 businesses were lost in District 7 in 2020) and the devastating loss of life from COVID, health disparities and homicides.  

I serve on the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Joint Power Authority (JPA), where we established a COVID task force to work with the Biden-Harris administration, CalOES and the County to ensure we prioritize equitable vaccine distribution, appointments, access, transportation and outreach to our most at-risk seniors and community members. I launched a District 7 Community Covid-19 Task Force to partner with credible community and faith-based organizations to register and serve more residents of color at community vaccination pods. There remains concern within these groups that the Coliseum site will not serve the greatest number of Black and Brown seniors/residents we seek to prioritize vaccinating. 

I’ve worked in partnership with BWOPA and the Black Cultural Zone to advocate for equitable COVID relief funds and community grants to keep us housed and safe, to keep businesses opened, increase public health and mental health care, access PPE for community health centers, more testing sites, contract tracing, emergency preparedness/wildfire safety resources, and targeted funding to support Black and Brown families and businesses. Many small businesses owners of color were shut out of the federal funding process with technical issues, language barriers and access to banking partners. They have rent/mortgage and employee benefits to pay and unemployment insurance to sustain their business. I am working with my colleagues and business chamber partners to preserve more businesses and nonprofits with anti-displacement funds. 

Hon. Treva Reid in partnership with JusLa Catering and 25 Women donate and distribute food to frontline essential community health workers during the initial weeks of the pandemic. Photo courtesy of Hon. Treva Reid.

How do you plan to revive East Oakland and turn it around? What can we do to participate and help you get this done? 

As we face the economic crisis before us, I will tackle the city and district issues with a strategy of love in where and how we invest in our community. Leading with wisdom, sound judgement, strategic insight, and collaborative execution with community partners to deliver equitable and just outcomes, one day and decision at a time.

It’s going to take all of us to get through this pandemic and help lead the transformative, sustained change East Oakland deserves and demands. Join our collective work to identify funding partners to secure our own designated District 7 city staffed illegal dumping crew, show up at our clean up initiatives, invest in and provide workforce opportunities for our residents, partner on housing, violence intervention, prevention and healing strategies, help beautify and build community gardens and actively participate with me in city council meetings to champion equitable policies, programs and funding needed to move East Oakland Forward.  

Passion for Fashion: Oaklandish

By Polina Smith

People who change the world are those who are crazy about their dreams and display great passions for what they believe in, just like Angela Tsay. Passion for her culture is what makes her business success so inspiring. Today, Oaklandish has one of the greatest local brand stories in America that has not only succeeded in spreading local love, but also in pioneering civic pride in the city of Oakland. 

Angela Tsay’s passion for fashion is inspired by pure love and genuine interest in priding Oakland. Oaklandish started as a public art project with the vision to showcase the history and cultural values of Oakland in the year 2000. The brand continued to gain popularity and started branding Oakland wares for street festivals in 2005. Today, Oaklandish is recognized as one of the fastest inner city businesses in America with over $3.26 million in revenue as of 2015. 

In 2006, Angela experienced career-changing exposure at her first Saturday at the Grand Lake Farmers’ Market with a booth. She was eye-opened to people’s commitment to Oakland pride, inspired by their investment in her message. Oaklandish connects the people to the Oakland culture and fuels their spirit to represent and support the city. 

Oaklandish is led with love at its helm, rather than economic profit, which allows people to feel directly connected to Oakland through this brand. Community is at the center of Oaklandish’s business and this force has motivated them to always prioritize the needs of their community and customer service first. 

As an investor in Bay Area nonprofits specifically set out to support local women, men, and children, Oaklandish gives more to the community than it takes back. This brand creates space in its mission for partnerships with other companies and organizations that share the great desire to spread local love. They continue to partner with brands such as Adidas and Town Park to produce sportswear, skateboards, and more. 

CEO Angela Tsay ignited the burning fire of local love and has done her part in unifying Oakland by allowing people to express their unity with their clothing. Oaklandish will keep growing by connecting the people of Oakland to what they love: beauty, arts, and culture. 

Oaklandish Product Gallery 

Oaklandish has fashionable and comfy wear, including great accessories that genuinely connect with the roots of Oakland. 

Hiero Crop Hoody

$58
Get your cute on with this crop pullover hoody

Root SC Mosaic Tee Pack

$130
The Oakland Roots Sports Club seeks to harness the magic of Oakland and the beautiful game of soccer as a force for social good. This is a nod to the role that sports continues to play in building passion and pride in the City. One color for every day of the week.

Retro Classic Socks

$15
These retro classic socks are perfect for hard training sessions. They make you feel comfortable by absorbing sweat and odor. 

Hiero Logo Cuff Beanie

$32
The accessory of the season, available in 5 colors.

Oaklandish Classic snapback

$34
This snapback is made with 100% cotton for a warm and comfortable fit. You can wear your pride, styled with your favorite dress. 

Women’s Ancient Roots Tee

$30
Oakland’s roots story that declares its feminine power and our part in shaping the City.

Limitless

Sponsor Spotlight

EHS is a Pilates based movement studio located in San Francisco’s Mission District on Valencia Street.

EHS was just about to celebrate their 30th year and the honor of being included in the ‘SF Legacy Business’ registry, which recognizes longstanding businesses that contribute to the city’s culture and vibrancy, when the pandemic hit. Like so many, EHS had to get creative and pivot to online and outdoor classes—including some eye-catching dance fitness classes held at Dolores Park. Fun!

But missing their beautiful space and deep sense of community, the entire EHS team is determined to reopen the studio as soon as they get the green light from the City of San Francisco.

Their services include movement therapy, Pilates based pre & post-surgical rehabilitation, pre & post-natal care, and Pilates private instruction and group classes. EHS is also one of the largest Pilates schools on the west coast.

Tracey Sylvester, EHS owner, writes, “The outdoor Pilates Dance Classes are so fun and a lifeline for our business with a huge bonus of bringing so much joy to our community. People just love it so much. The old saying ‘Movement is Medicine’ is so true. Being around other people moving and dancing fills the soul with joy. It is great for both the mind and body and everyone leaves grinning from ear to ear. Just what the doctor ordered.”

“Our team and clients are looking forward to getting to the studio and we are prepared and have worked hard to ensure all City, State and CDC protocols are in place. We installed a new ventilation system, added 5 new windows and reinforced 3 large skylights to bring in more fresh air. The space has been reimagined to meet the moment. The lobby and bathroom have been remodeled removing points of contact and adding touchless fixtures and sanitization stations throughout. The entire studio has been reconfigured for physical distancing and flow. Each trainer will be assigned a Pilates Pod to control sanitation and reduce shared equipment during sessions,” writes owner Tracey Sylvester. “We are ready, Safe and Assured.”

A Minute of Mainstream

TEXAS TRAGEDY - Senator Ted ‘Cancun’ Cruz is getting absolutely roasted on Twitter and TV for jetting off to Mexico while his state of Texas fell into a deep freeze caused by a freak polar vortex snowstorm and widespread power failure, leaving millions without heat, electricity, food, water, and sanitation. His response? He was just wanting “to be a good dad.” (He blamed his daughters!) What a spectacular failure of leadership in a crisis. Wow Texas can do so much better than ‘Flyin Ted’ and Gov. Greg ‘blame the windturbines’ Abbott.

Remember when Texas had a badass lady governor? Remember the great Texas Governor Ann Richards, who ruled over an amazing progressive 4-year reign from 1991 to 1995 that embraced diversity, feminism, and enlightened policies? Take a minute to learn “All About Ann” in the HBO documentary film and imagine what Texas could have again in the future!

• All About Ann: Governor Richards of the Lone Star State – HBO Documentary

• WEST OAKLAND MURAL – Tribute to Women of the Black Panthers is shown in powerful new mural. – San Francisco Chronicle

•  In her NEW BOOK - “The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together” - Heather McGhee shifts the focus from how racism benefits white people to how it costs them. – The New York Times

• People are not LEAVING SAN FRANCISCO for Texas or Miami in great waves, they are mostly moving elsewhere in the Bay Area. Looks like they are not falling for these billboards. – San Francisco Chronicle

• BOOK CLUB - “Know My Name” a memoir by Chanel Miller. As part of their ‘One City One Book’ program, San Francisco Public Library is hosting a virtual Book Club event on March 13, 11 a.m. (register here) to discuss the groundshaking book “Know My Name”. It will be followed up with a special appearance by author Chanel Miller on March 16. - San Francisco Public Library