Work
Through our films, we aim to evoke emotions, provoke thoughts, and spark conversations. Check out some of our latest work!
WeLoveOakland – Peggy Saika
Former ED of APEN, AAPIP and Common Counsel Foundation, Peggy Saika has been fighting for equity and justice in Oakland for over 40 years. She’s dedicated her life to building formal and informal structures to strengthen her communities because of her deep love for The Town.
WeLoveOakland – Pen Harshaw
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’s spent the majority of his career in journalism helping Oaklanders feel and connect to each other through storytelling. Pendarvis has been intentional about dismantling the echo chambers of negative stories by uplifting the good, inspiring, and wholesome – which often doesn’t spread as widely.
WeLoveOakland – Nairobi Barnes
Nairobi Barnes is an Oakland native and an accomplished poet. She often explores themes around voting rights, discrimination against Black women, and Black hair and how it defines her culture.
In her role as Oakland’s 2023 Youth Poet Laureate, Nairobi traveled to schools across the Bay Area, teaching younger generations all about how poetry can transform their lives.
WeLoveOakland – Chef Nelson
Our first #WeLoveOakland story features Chef Nelson German, executive chef and owner of the Oakland-based restaurant alaMar, who celebrates his Dominican heritage and spreads joy through the food he serves. After alaMar was burglarized a couple of months ago, our city showed up and out to keep the restaurant afloat – because that’s what Oakland is about: solidarity and love.
CA RISE
California is leading the way in supporting employment social enterprises (ESEs)—businesses that create jobs for people overcoming barriers like homelessness or incarceration. Through CA RISE, a groundbreaking public-private partnership, the state has awarded $25 million in grants to 61 ESEs. This August, CA RISE officially launched with an in-person gathering in Sacramento, marking a major step in expanding social enterprise statewide.
CCIS 2024 Event Highlight
The CCIS 2024 Winter In-Person Conference, titled “THAT WAS SO 2020,” addressed the pandemic’s impact on Independent Study. It featured discussions on artificial intelligence, the opioid crisis, and student engagement strategies.
Elevate Youth CA – Event Highlight
Elevate California’s youth took center stage at the 2023 Elevate Youth California Youth Leadership and Promising Practices Convening, where 760+ individuals from 210+ organizations across the state came together to amplify and center the voices of our youth.
It Takes a Village – Transforming Lives from Cradle to Career
An overview of the impact of California’s place-based poverty alleviation initiatives, including Promise Neighborhoods and Cradle to Career Networks. Featuring speakers from the California Cradle to Career Coalition, community members, and California Assemblymembers Mia Bonta and Liz Ortega.
HeretoLead – Devon Gray
We tell the story of Devon Gray, president of End Poverty in California, who shares his story of his upbringing and what compels him to do the work that he does today.
MSI Teacher Testimonial
Marine Science Institute brings science and environmental education to the Bay Area through interactive hands-on adventures. Hear teachers’ firsthand accounts of positive transformations in their students’ learning experiences.
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