Sorry, no content matched your criteria.
We Love Oakland
Celebrating vibrant and joyful culture, community, and activism
Footer
We Love Oakland
Celebrating vibrant and joyful culture, community, and activism
Peggy Saika is the former CEO of Common Counsel, which focuses on community-oriented philanthropy by expanding resources for progressive social movements across the United States. She has four decades of experience as a social justice leader who has worked to empower women, achieve environmental justice, fight hate crimes and support immigrant and worker rights. Her nonprofit and philanthropic leadership includes many years as Executive Director of Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy, the first executive director of the Asian American Environmental Network, and the executive director of the Asian Law Caucus.
Nelson German is chef-owner of alaMar Kitchen & Bar and the Afro-Latin cocktail lounge Sobre Mesa, both located in Oakland, California, a contestant on Top Chef season 18, and was named one of Plate’s “2020 Chefs to Watch.” A Dominican American originally hailing from New York City, Chef Nelson received his culinary training at the New York Art Institute, where he learned the foundation of Mediterranean-style cooking incorporating French techniques. He worked his way up to executive chef at New York staples like Gramercy Park Hotel, Jerry’s Café, and Joseph’s Citarella. After relocating to his fiancée’s hometown of Oakland, Chef German joined Supper Club SF and adopted a newfound appreciation for California cuisine. His unorthodox culinary style draws from his Dominican heritage, his African roots, and his embrace of Mediterranean cuisine and Asian influence, coupled with his love of local and sustainable California ingredients. He believes in letting his food tell the stories of his journey, derived from childhood memories, inspirational travels, food escapades, and his own original ideas. Follow him at @chefnel4
Nairobi is a woman who grew up in Oakland, CA, her entire life. Her accomplishments include winning the Superior and Impressive Writing Chops award at her high school, a published op-ed in Teen Vogue, and a published poem in the 2016 book Accomplished, a collection of poems by The American Library of Poetry. Nairobi defines herself as a poet, artist, and activist. Her past accomplishments include creating educational videos with KQED and PBS about voting rights, discrimination against Black women, and Black hair and how it defines her culture. These videos offered to change the way we address such issues and learn how to call out behavior that doesn’t serve to uplift. Many of her poetic pieces reflect these same themes to continue challenging the rhetoric around the Black experience and how we can improve our communities. Per her role serving as Oakland’s 2023 Youth Poet Laureate, Nairobi has traveled to schools across the Bay Area, teaching the younger generation all about poetry and how it can transform their lives. As a woman who leads with her heart, poetry follows and flows through her. To get in touch, email her at: nairobiwilliese@gmail.com
Pendarvis Harshaw is an award-winning journalist from Oakland who writes about prisons, politics, hip-hop and all things impacting his Northern Californian community. He currently works in San Francisco at KQED, where he’s an Arts & Culture columnist. You can reach him at @ogpenn on all platforms.