East Oakland BCZ Collaborative

Formed in 2014, the Black Cultural Zone was created to counter decades of disinvestment and the displacement of Black people and businesses in East Oakland. Centering Black arts and culture within a community development framework, the East Oakland Black Cultural Zone Collaborative was established by Eastside Arts Alliance and local nonprofits to lead this work. The Collaborative designated a 50-block area—from High Street to the San Leandro border—as the Zone and focuses on cultural strategies, community engagement, and art-driven activism.

THE BLACK CULTURAL ZONE REPRESENTS:

Our Community

A coalition of Black residents, leaders, organizers and advocates formed to keep culture and place for Black folks in East Oakland.

Our Allies

Organizations and Businesses that support our Purpose and Values and are funded to work with the Collaborative in one or more strategic disciplines.

Our Supporters and Friends

Entities and individuals that support our Purpose and Values and invest time, treasure, and expertise in support of the Black Cultural Zone CDC.

Our Purpose

To innovate, incubate, inform and elevate community driven projects that allow our people and culture to thrive.

Our Core VALUE

Arts & Cultural Preservation and Innovation

People

We are unapologetically & deliberately & joyfully Black.

Culture

We preserve and uplift our customs, arts, social institutions and other manifestations of our collective achievements.

Love and Unity

We respect Black diversity in all its beauty, differences and expressions. We are devoted to equitable intergenerational participation and deeply bonded with each other from Africa throughout the Diaspora.

Creativity

We elevate self and community expression through art, imagination, innovation and intellect.

Our Core Strategies

We “center” our core value within three strategic initiative areas:

Place Keeping

We hold and elevate our presence here.

Strategies: Anti-Displacement programs, activities and advocacy, activation of vacant and underutilized Space Activation, Pop-up to Permanent hubs and villages, Black Cultural Zone Cultural Hub(s) and Neighborhood Development

A Strong Economy

We have robust and cooperative production and distribution which supports our collective sufficiency.

Strategies: Wealth Building and Workforce Development programs, activities and advocacy.

Quality of Life

We create and maintain an environment where we thrive — mentally, spiritually, emotionally and physically. We ensure that all have good health, housing, education, income and options.

Strategies: Health and Wellness, Education, Welfare and Safety, and Environmental programs, activities and advocacy.

OUR FREEDOM

We believe when Black people are free, all are free. Our vision of freedom is grounded in our collective self-determination and the creation of political, social, cultural and economic liberation. These principles are informed by the ideals and platforms of our historic Black consciousness movements.

OUR INVITATION

We invite you to reflect and take action with us:

01.

What does it mean to love and embrace Black culture?

02.

What does it mean to love and support Black people?

03.

We Invite You To EMBRACE our purpose, SUPPORT our collaborative, HONOR our values and INVEST in our vision.

Networks/
Partners and Allies

Arts & Culture

Place Keeping

Oakstop
Black Developers Forum
Emerging Developer Program

Strong Economy

Greenlining Institute
Alameda County SBDC
East Oakland Entrepreneurship Forum
National Association of Black Accountants
Oakland Indie Alliance
Oakland Black Business Fund
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Working Solutions
Piikup

Quality of Life

All Tied Up
Brotherhood of Elders Network
Havenscourt Neighborhood Association
Adamika Village /
Oakland Frontline Healers
100 Black Men

COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS

Our Partners are organizations, businesses, and community residents rooted in or connected to East Oakland. Many are legacy community members and residents who share our Purpose and Values, and who are either funded or seeking funding to collaborate with us through one or more work groups.

ADVISERS

Marsha Murrington, FUSE Fellow, City of Oakland, California
Donald Gilmore, Executive Director of the Richmond Community Housing Development Corporation
Ms. Sherry
Stuart Flashman, a Board director of the Rockridge Community Planning Council (RCPC)
Causa Justa Just Cause
Eddie J. Walker
Fred MacKay
Larry Taylor
Len Turner
Lynette Lee

New Partners

Ashara Ekundayo Gallery
Museum of Children’s Art
SV Creates
Betti Ono
Ase Arts
Deep Waters Dance Theater
YR Media

Sarah Webster Fabio Center for Social Justice
Black Women Organized for Political Action
Alliance for Community Development

Ms. Sherry