Amplifying East Oakland Voices
EVOAK! RECLAIMING OUR WORTH!
EVOAK! RECLAIMING OUR WORTH!
EVOAK! RECLAIMING OUR WORTH!
EVOAK! RECLAIMING OUR WORTH!
Our Vision
EVOAK!: Reclaiming Our Worth! is a transformative research initiative dedicated to defining and celebrating Black culture in East Oakland. Funded by the Wallace Foundation, our mission is to leverage cultural assets as powerful tools for community development and placekeeping.
Our Approach
Through collaboration with local partners, we engage community members via surveys, focus groups, and interviews, ensuring their voices guide our research.
Who We Are Partnering With
This work is a collaborative effort between:
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EVOAK (SOA Village Housing) – leading community-based organizing and cultural preservation.
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Mills College at Northeastern University professors Dr. Mario Hernandez and Dr. NNeka Allen-Harrison– contributing research oversight, data collection, and community-engaged research support.
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Black Cultural Zone – bringing in the vision and resources of a strong East Oakland community network.
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LIFTT Inc. – lending support by transforming focus groups, interviews, and survey data into digital archives, maps, and cultural briefs that help residents advocate for their future.
Project Partners
Our Impact
Together, these partners are working to build tools that preserve Black culture, strengthen belonging, and influence planning and development decisions in East Oakland.
Culture. Stories. Community.
Join Us in Shaping East Oakland’s Future
East Oakland! We would love to hear from you.
ACCESS THE RESEARCH PARTICIPANT SURVEY BELOW
DEFINING EAST OAKLAND BLACK CULTURE IN PLACEKEEPING
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Can't participate in the project but still want your voice heard? Click the button below to record and share what Black Culture means to you (coming soon).
Centering East Oakland Black Voices
Listen To Lawrence "Manifest" Gantt Share His Perspective On Black East Oakland Culture
Culture
Our project focuses on preserving Black culture by highlighting East Oakland's narratives and histories.
Community
We are dedicated to fostering safe spaces for dialogue and expression that reflect the diverse experiences of Black residents in East Oakland, enhancing community belonging and celebrating Black culture.
Research
Our research aims to uncover vital cultural assets and strategies for effectively utilizing them, guiding development efforts that align with the community's needs and aspirations.
