WEST OAKLAND LIVING HERITAGE CENTER

• providing guidance on and inspiring the building of a vibrant, self-reliant community that is: rooted in its history/ecology, food secure, entrepreneurial, participatory, and creative
• serving as an inviting space for the community to learn, teach, connect, collaborate, create, and enjoy
• ensuring that the perspective and knowledge of Indigenous and other community Elders/individuals are highlighted
• inspiring diverse young people from inside and outside the community to seek out, learn from, and record the knowledge of legacy and current community residents
• helping to ReRoot community members to their history and ecology (living land and water) in a participatory manner
• encouraging and contribute to self-created (entrepreneurial) livelihoods through honoraria and other incentives

FOUR FOCUS AREAS

Apart from encouraging the sharing of narrative, art, music, and/or performance related to ReRooting West Oaklanders to their history/ecology, there are four specific focus areas:

• Oral History. Oral histories of the diverse peoples in the area, with a focus on the relationships of people and their lands (the ones they left behind or the ones they adopted/were forced to adopt}
• Music History. Oral and other histories of the music originating in the area, with a focus on ties to land/water and/or food
• Black Panthers History. Oral and other histories of the Black Panthers, with a focus on ties to land/water and/or food
• Food History. Oral and other histories centered on food production, preparation, service, and enjoyment in the area

We appreciate your patience as we develop the Virtual Community Center for the West Oakland Living Heritage Center.