News — Oakland

Oaklandish is excited to announce that the November Nonprofit of the Month is Level Playing Field Institute, an Oakland-based organization working to eliminate the barriers that underrepresented people of color face in the STEM field. Founded in Oakland in 2001, Level Playing Field Institute (LPFI) envisions a world where the playing field is truly equitable and everyone, especially the historically disenfranchised, have access to the opportunities they seek. To do so, LPFI provides STEM education and support programs to students in middle school, high school, and college. One example of such programs is the SMASH, or Summer Math and Science Honors,...

Akeem Brown, Programs Director for the Hidden Genius Project, believes that "As long as you have the skills and a computer, you can build and change the world." The Hidden Genius Project, an Oakland-based nonprofit dedicated to training and mentoring black male youth in technology creation, is the Oaklandish Nonprofit of the Month for September. This local nonprofit was founded in 2012 by five black male entrepreneurs and technologists discouraged by high rates of unemployment of black male youth in the Bay Area contrasted with the numerous job opportunities available in the nearby tech industry. To address these inequities, the founders created...

For all you deal hunters out there, this is the weekend for you! Three ways to save: (1) Semi-annual Oaklandish 50% off online sale. Final sale, no returns or exchanges. (2) Oaklandish Sidewalk Sale this Saturday, August 19th at 1444 Broadway: select discontinued men’s and women’s tees will be 1 for $15, 2 for $20, 3 for $25. Final sale, no returns or exchanges. (3) 20% off storewide at BOSK! Follow @bosk_oak on Instagram and show the cashier your 20% off coupon for savings!

We are excited to announce that the Oaklandish Nonprofit for the month of August is the WestCoast Children’s Clinic. The WestCoast Children’s Clinic provides psychological services to vulnerable children, youth, and their families in the East Bay. The Clinic, based in Oakland, is committed to supporting these children and their families regardless of their ability to pay, and to expanding accessibility to mental health services in our community. To do this, WestCoast trains the next generation of community psychologists. Founded in 1979, over the past 25 years, WestCoast has trained over 200 therapist interns, and provided an estimated 450,000 hours of...

If you haven't had a chance to check out East Oakland native and hip-hop artist YMTK, you're in luck. Oaklandish is hosting an in-store listening party at our downtown Oakland store on Sunday, July 14th. Stop by 1444 Broadway from 7 to 9 pm to get an exclusive listen of YMTK's new, unreleased project "9 Song Wav." This event will be the first time YMTK performs tracks from "9 Song Wav" for the public. YMTK, also known as Young Murph the Kidd, has a hip-hop flow uniquely his own. YMTK got his start as a songwriter and has progressively developed his style to make a...

This month, Oaklandish is pleased to announce that Youth Business USA is our July Nonprofit of the Month. Youth Business USA is an Oakland-based nonprofit that supports low-income youth and youth of color to build their own businesses — starting from an idea, to crafting their pitch, to developing a quality product or service and the ability to establish a customer base. Youth Business USA recognizes the obstacles young people, particularly underrepresented groups, encounter in the job market, as a result of a lack of resources, support, and other structural inequalities. Over 95% of Youth Business USA’s youth entrepreneurs are low income...

Please join us this Saturday, July 22nd for @exploreoakland #instameet003: noon to 3pm. We'll meet up at BOSK in Old Oakland, meander downtown and Chinatown, ending up on the waterfront in Jack London Square for Pedalfest! Meet amateurs and pros alike as we explore the beauty of the Town, all are welcome, any and all cameras. The top three photos from the meetup will be featured in the Oaklandish 2018 calendar, so come along and meet in person some of the dopest photographers in Oakland and the Bay, plus folks traveling through!

General admission tickets will go on sale at Oakland Supply Co. at 10am on Saturday, July 22nd! Get your posse together! Please note: this benefit event is 21+ and you will need to show valid ID at the gate. During daylight hours, Children’s Fairyland is off-limits to grownups. Anyone who wants to enter the park has to arrive with a kid in tow. But not this August 18th from 7-10pm when Oaklandish and Fairyland are teaming up to host a night of pure imagination, for adults only! Enjoy tunes from Dion Decibels in the Old West Junction, local brews, performances,...

Oaklandish and Lo-Fiction proudly present the 'OG Beat Meet,' a live beat-making session hosted at our downtown Oakland store. Join us on Friday, July 7th from 7 to 9 pm at the downtown shop (1444 Broadway) for two hours of beats and raps created by local crew of artists and creatives, Lo-Fiction Collective, or Listener Opposed Fiction. Stop by to see them in action as they create beats on the spot. The event is open to all ages and FREE to attend! Until then, here's a sample of Lo-Fiction. To get more of a taste for what's in store on July...

Local dance company, AXIS, has been at the forefront of exploring contemporary dance, integrated dance, and disability culture for the past 30 years. Founded in 1987, AXIS is our nation's most acclaimed dance ensemble of disabled and non-disabled performers. The Oakland-based group has visited over 100 cities in the USA, Europe and Russia. They have received seven Isadora Duncan Dance Awards and have graced the stage of So You Think You Can Dance. The dance company's vision is to increase access to dance education for people of all ages and abilities through their integrated dance education, outreach programs, and artistic performance program....

To celebrate the Golden State and the 2017 Champions, our sister brand Never Elsewhere has dropped this new tee and muscle tank for women. Shop at neverelsewhere.com or visit Oakland Supply Co. in the heart of Jack London Square to shop in person!

On June 2nd and 3rd, some of the Bay Area's best young emcees brought their freshest bars as they competed to be the next MC Olympics Champion. This year's champ, Mai'saan, will advance to the national MC Olympics, representing the Bay Area at the 20th Annual Brave New Voices Festival this July 19-22, 2017. Check out our photo round up of the two-day event below. All photos by Selena Davant. Day 1, Qualifiers - Oaklandish Day 2, Finals – The New Parish MC Olympics Champ 2017, Mai’saan

The NBA Championship trophy is back in the Bay, and the parade is tomorrow, Thursday, June 15th! It will go right past our downtown store at 1444 Broadway and we will open bright and early at 8am! More info about the parade and rally here.

The 2017 MC Olympics is an electrifying olympic-style hip hop competition featuring the freshest emcees in the Bay Area. Through a series of rounds, we get familiar with each emcee’s skill level (on the mic, rocking the crowd, freestyling and flow). Each year, we search for the next MC Olympics Champion and ask: are YOU the one? MC Olympics is open to all styles of MCs. Come as you are and #BringYourBars! Round 1Hot 16: This round is your introduction. Bring your hottest verse and all your charisma. Judges will be looking for stage presence, lyricism and originality. Round 2...

Did you know that only thirteen percent of writers and seven percent of directors in the media are female? Local nonprofit Camp Reel Stories hopes to change that by offering women and girls the opportunity to tell their own stories through media and film. For this reason, Oaklandish is excited to announce that Camp Reel Stories is our June Nonprofit of the Month! Camp Reel Stories is an Oakland-based nonprofit organization that invests in representation in media. They believe that when women and girls are better represented behind the scenes, their experiences and voices will be better reflected on screen. Founded in...

Alex "Ghost" Hernandez, aka 54Ghosts, is an Oakland-raised photographer who captures the Town's historic culture — from local music, to the art and street scenes. Through his photographs, Hernandez depicts the simple beauty of Oakland's inner city. We asked Hernandez to share how he got his start behind the camera and his favorite spots to photograph in the city. Oaklandish (O): How did you get your start with a camera, and how did that translate into you doing what you are doing today? Alex Hernandez (AH) : I first got my start with a camera two and a half years ago....

The recent ‘OG Told Me’ book signing and meet and greet was a tremendous success this past Sunday, April 2nd! With his photographs and accompanying essays adorning the walls of our Broadway flagship, and an interview platform installed in the rear portion of the storefront, the stage was set and as 2pm came around, 1444 Broadway began to fill up. The faces, both familiar and new, were grinning ear to ear for the opportunity to meet and speak with Pen. Pen signed the books for enthusiastic supporters, took photos with his followers, and generally took things in stride – and if you...