Oakland is a hot spot for inspiring food entrepreneurs and rad food justice organizations — in 2012 Food Shift joined the ranks with a focus on reducing food waste, feeding the hungry and creating jobs in the process. 40% of food produced in the US is wasted while 50 million Americans struggle to get enough food — pretty crazy right?

Dana Frasz has been passionate about this issue since college where she launched a successful food recovery program. Now, she is bringing her passion and social innovation experience to tackle the hunger and food waste problem in Oakland. “I saw this as a real gap in the conversation and a gap in the ecosystem of food justice and sustainability organizations,” says Frasz.

Food Shift works collaboratively with communities, businesses and governments to develop long-term sustainable solutions to reduce food waste and build more resilient communities. Currently they are working closely with Oakland Unified School District to ensure food from the schools is redistributed to students and families rather than thrown away. The intention is to create a model that can be replicated throughout Oakland and beyond.

Food Shift is also interested in developing food recovery models that generate revenue and provide jobs. “We believe we can employ and train people in the recovery, redistribution and processing of surplus food,” Frasz says.

If you believe food is too good to waste, please join Food Shift at Oaklandish this Sunday, May 19th from 12-4. Together we can increase awareness about the social and environmental impacts of wasted food and inspire us all to be part of the solution! 10% of Oaklandish stores sales from Sunday will go directly to support Food Shift's work in Oakland.

For over a decade Dana Frasz has worked to inspire, support and create social change through her work on college campuses, with businesses, and at Ashoka's Changemakers. Food Shift is an Earth Island Institute sponsored project based in Oakland, CA dedicated to developing long-term sustainable solutions to reduce food waste by working collaboratively with communities, businesses, and governments.

Follow our work on Facebook and Twitter!

New website coming soon! www.foodshift.net.

She said the First Friday shootings were like AIDS spreading from Africa to Europe.

She moved to America eight years ago from Europe. She is of mixed ethnicity. She’s a journalist. She doesn’t want to be identified.

We met early Saturday February 2nd.

Twelve hours after three shootings left a reported four people injured, and one dead — we were back out on those same streets. We breezed into one of those hip-new-spots on Telegraph Ave., “Awaken Café”; I heard the cheddar biscuits were worth the visit alone.

I didn’t have my notebook with me; I wasn’t on the job. But I remember…

…Friday shootings were like AIDS spreading from Africa to Europe…

The location is prime real estate for the nomadic-artistic types who frequent downtown in search of a good place to momentarily kick their feet up, enjoy a solid wifi connection and spend money.

We found a table in the sea of unfamiliar faces. I picked at my biscuit.

My friend had invited me to break bread in order to discuss her forthcoming podcast project. Some wild dream she has about pairing interviews of community leaders with the music that inspired them to do the work that they do.

I think it’s ingenious.

I thought the cheddar biscuits were alright (nowhere near Red Lobster quality), but her idea was something worth raving about.

I met this journalist at a conference in Berkeley, she struck me as an interesting character. Being that she has somewhat of an outside lens-I imagined she’d have something to say about the current state of Oakland. Within the first five minutes of conversation, she hit the nail on the head: …shootings were like AIDS spreading…

She didn’t say “the shootings were as bad as AIDS,” — she wasn’t comparing gun violence to sexual diseases.

Her idea was that elected officials might become more vigilant now that the city’s infestation of gun violence has spread to an area well known for its commerce; it’s no longer confined to the hood.
She told me that statement after she apologized for the prior night.

It wasn’t her fault. She was just sorry to hear the news.

She read my social network posts. She knew that a close friend of mine had been grazed by a bullet: through his leather jacket, his sweater, his shirt, and finally burning the top layer of his skin. But the bullet never pierced him.

She grew angry as I gave more background on my friend, Jesus El. An acro-dunking, turf dancing, community organizing, bible thumbing, youth mentor… Just your regular West Oakland kid. He was standing in a crowd on the corner of 14th and Webster, coming from watching one of his friends play in a brass band. And then someone started shooting.

The heavy subject matter we were discussing, and the dry biscuit I was consuming combined for a lump in my throat. Jesus was on his path to being a good friend — he didn't deserve to get grazed by a bullet. Those other people didn’t deserve to get shot that night.

Kiante Campbell didn’t deserve to die on that night.

I didn’t know him. I knew his older brother, Marcell Campbell. We went to school together — middle school. Marcell was murdered on the block I lived on in 2006.

“It would no longer be Africa's problem,” I remember the journalist lady saying, as she likened the First Friday shooting to AIDS hitting Europe. In the same way the homicide in problem in Oakland is no longer confined to just the "100 blocks", "2 feuding gangs", or just East and West Oakland; as some officials would lead us to believe.

The city is diseased. And it’s spreading.

There is no reason that a portion of the city should stand alone as a healthy, vibrant, top 5 ranking place to visit in the world, when there are pockets of the city in conditions that parallel the third world.

As community members strap up to fight for First Friday with campaign warnings about violence and messages about peace; I wonder if it’s all for naught.

The message can be given out as easily as the word about AIDS is told to those in the sub-Saharan region of West Africa, but the change in Oakland will come just as the cure for AIDS will come to the motherland: education, resources, a changed mind state… Government support… And the list of needs goes on…

Ultimately, the task of making a change falls on the shoulders of individuals; a bunch of individuals with the same mindset — the mindset to change the mindset that currently exists in Oakland… regardless of what part of the city they reside.

I finished my biscuit, bussed my dish and thanked the journalist for the conversation.

Pendarvis Harshaw
Pendarvis Harshaw is a young man from Oakland, CA. He is a grad student at UC Berkeley's School of Journalism. His articles can be found on Oakland North.

He is also the man behind OGToldMe.com

A time for healing.

This First Friday, take a moment of silence and participate in the collective healing of our city. From 7-9pm, the Oaklandish downtown store at 1444 Broadway will be transformed into an ofrenda dedicated to the memories of those who have passed. We will light a candle for each homicide victim from 2012 (comprehensive list below courtesy of the Oakland Tribune), with a name and age listed for each of the 131 candles.

We invite you to bring in your own offering to the deceased and share a city-wide moment of silence at 7:30pm and 9pm.

We will not have any regular Oaklandish merchandise available for sale during First Friday. We will only have the Respect Our City $10 tees available from 7-9pm. More info on the community campaign here.

Isaac White, age 19, died Jan 4, 2012; Brian Delk, age 37, died Jan 12, 2012; Nobuko Goswami, age 68, died Jan 15, 2012; Matthew Bradley, age 28, died Jan 20, 2012; Christian Dixon, age 19, died Jan 27, 2012; Susan Poff, age 50, died Jan 27, 2012; Robert Kamin, age 55, died Jan 27, 2012; Raymonda Hampton, age 31, died Jan 29, 2012; Jordan Chhit, age 20, died Jan 29, 2012; Anthony Ray Torrence Jr., age 24, died Feb 2, 2012; Charles Jarvis, age 48, died Feb 2, 2012; Onika Jones, age 18, died Feb 3, 2012; Brondon McDaniel, age 30, died Feb 4, 2012; Lonnie Turbin, age 35, died Feb 6, 2012; Maisha Dorsey, age 32, died Feb 11, 2012; Ernest Williams, age 51, died Feb 13, 2012; Lamont Price, age 17, died Feb 16, 2012; Hector Ramirez, age 30, died Feb 19, 2012; Bryant Perry, age 44, died Feb 19, 2012; Joseph Robertson, age 78, died Feb 23, 2012; William Mejia, age 18, died Mar 3, 2012; Lemuel Wilson, age 51, died Mar 4, 2012; Kelly J. Surrell, age 34, died Mar 5, 2012; Deonte L. Conley, age 27, died Mar 7, 2012; Charles Hill, age 16, died Mar 23, 2012; Rondale Gurley, age 29, died Mar 24, 2012; Tyrone Braswell, age 36, died Mar 29, 2012; Doris Chibuko, age 40, died April 2, 2012; Katleen Ping, age 24, died April 2, 2012; Lydia Sim, age 21, died April 2, 2012; Grace Kim, age 23, died April 2, 2012; Judith Seymour, age 53, died April 2, 2012; Sonam Choedon, age 33, died April 2, 2012; Tshering Bhutia, age 38, died April 2, 2012; Marques Crosley, age 30, died April 9, 2012; Lewis Holman, age 21, died April 16, 2012; Tyrell Smith, age 24, died April 18, 2012; Shonte Daniels Jr., age 15, died April 21, 2012; Joselito Anabo, age 43, died April 25, 2012; Cody Luster, age 18, died April 26, 2012; Anthony Woods, age 51, died April 28, 2012; Philip Calvin, age 49, died April 29, 2012; Milton Massey Jr., age 37, died April 29, 2012; Lamar Patton, age 26, died May 5, 2012; Alan Blueford, age 18, died May 6, 2012; Brian Keith Robinson, age 41, died May 11, 2012; Ronnie Kidd Jr., age 30, died May 27, 2012; Alejandro Aguillera, age 18, died June 1, 2012; Justin Shoemaker, age 21, died June 9, 2012; Malique Parrott, age 26, died June 10, 2012; Jason Chess, age 30, died June 12, 2012; Michael Bradley, age 67, died June 14, 2012; Augusto Matias, age 34, died June 16, 2012; Luis Velasco, age 32, died June 16, 2012; Ericka Whitmeyer, age 18, died June 22, 2012; Vernon Morgan, age 25, died July 1, 2012; Leonardis Holmes, age 67, died July 6, 2012; Tommy Lacy III, age 18, died July 6, 2012; Curtis Williams, age 44, died July 6, 2012; Clemente Curiel, age 84, died July 10, 2012; Joel Pervoe Jr., age 20, died July 10, 2012; Hadari Askari, age 15, died July 10, 2012; Tianna Leui, age 19, died July 12, 2012; Juan Pedroza, age 29, died July 20, 2012; Rafael Garcia, age 41, died July 27, 2012; Tsega Tsegay, age 33, died July 31, 2012; Ola Okuribido, age 23, died Aug 4, 2012; Tommy Nguyen, age 20, died Aug 6, 2012; Tattiaunn Turner, age 16, died Aug 8, 2012; William Adams III, age 24, died Aug 10, 2012; Jakary Garrett, age 23, died Aug 11, 2012; Terrance Jackson, age 22, died Aug 12, 2012; Bruce Smith, age 30, died Aug 14, 2012; DeMariae M. Clay, age 25, died Aug 16, 2012; Lamon White Jr., age 21, died Aug 20, 2012; Shanika Latham, age 20, died Aug 24, 2012; Otis Key Jr., age 46, died Aug 24, 2012; Demetria Spears, age 21, died Aug 25, 2012; Kenneth R. Jones Jr., age 20, died Aug 27, 2012; Marshall Prosser III, age 22, died Aug 28, 2012; Lorenzo Ward, age 29, died Sept 1, 2012; Mi'Andrew Rachal, age 24, died Sept 6, 2012; Anthony L. Green, age 32, died Sept 6, 2012; Ellis McfeeJr., age 42, died Sept 6, 2012; Scott Merker, age 36, died Sept 12, 2012; Germaine Brown II, age 21, died Sept 14, 2012; Lester Young, age 34, died Sept 21, 2012; Demarcus Ross, age 23, died Sept 24, 2012; Charles Edwards, age 38, died Sept 26, 2012; Angelo Price, age 18, died Oct 1, 2012; Herron Adams Jr., age 26, died Oct 1, 2012; Robert Dell, age 23, died Oct 2, 2012; De-Shawn Sutton, age 27, died Oct 2, 2012; Herman Nevarez, age 44, died Oct 2, 2012; Rashad Meredith, age 20, died Oct 5, 2012; Ronald Perry Jr., age 28, died Oct 8, 2012; Erin Adams, age 19, died Oct 8, 2012; Billy Brooks Jr., age 39, died Oct 7, 2012; Demariae Coleman, age 24, died Oct 10, 2012; Isiah Montouth, age 21, died Oct 15, 2012; William Jones, age 32, died Oct 15, 2012; Ledell Moss, age 47, died Oct 18, 2012; Thomas Cochran, age 20, died Oct 23, 2012; Winston Callender, age 29, died Oct 20, 2012; Vincent Jones Jr., age 27, died Oct 26, 2012; Clifford Mosby Snead, age 27, died Oct 28, 2012; Wilbur Bartley Jr., age 50, died Oct 31, 2012; Hector Matias, age 18, died Nov 9, 2012; Ian Smart, age 27, died Nov 17, 2012; Jose Rivera Estrada, age 33, died Nov 21, 2012; Kendric Scott, age 48, died Nov 23, 2012; Greysi Gordon, age 18, died Nov 24, 2012; Aaron Marks, age 19, died Nov 24, 2012; Raquel Gerstel, age 15, died Nov 25, 2012; Bobbie Sartain, age 16, died Nov 25, 2012; Francisco Rosas, age 26, died Nov 28, 2012; Leonard Wafford, age 52, died Aug 8, 2012; Jokay Ellis, age 32, died Dec 7, 2012; Marchea Jackson, age 39, died Dec 7, 2012; Michael Taylor, age 32, died Dec 8, 2012; Qing Jun Sun, age 56, died Dec 11, 2012; Mark Mitchell, age 49, died Dec 13, 2012; Aaron Dawkins-Lang, age 39, died Dec 13, 2012; Ramona Foreman, age 48, died Dec 19, 2012; Lashaun Browning, age 45, died Dec 22, 2012; Brittan Sneed III, age 26, died Dec 23, 2012; Ronnie Lewis, age 32, died Dec 25, 2012; Darrell Armstrong, age 21, died Dec 28, 2012; Keith Bradley Davis, age 19, died Dec 28, 2012; Jennifer Kingeter, age 26, died Dec 28, 2012; Jubrille Jordan, age 15, died Dec 30, 2012;

Once a year, we clear out the whole shop and stack it full of boxes of tees that we need to discontinue in order to make space for the new freshness. It's usually a madhouse, though we try to keep everything civil (if there are hoodies, limit 2 per customer).

The pricing is simple: 1 tee for $15, 2 for $20, or 3 for $25. Yep - that's $8.333333333 for each tee when you buy three or more. So, for all of you who want to stockpile gym clothes or holiday gifts, this is the sale that we've been telling you about all year.

These are select styles only, test prints, and limited-edition tees. All sales are final sale. 1444 Broadway. No regular merchandise will be available for sale on Saturday. This sale is not available online (obv., but people always ask).

Only at the downtown shop. This Saturday, March 2 from 11-6pm. See you there!

For all the times we've sat in a chic new restaurant in the Uptown or taken in a sweeping vista of the Bay from the hills, we've also driven through food deserts in West Oakland and stood at makeshift altars for murder victims in East Oakland. And though the hood is rife with devastation, some of Oakland's deepest hues of beauty and our best Oakland memories reside there as well. The Respect Our City campaign is the attempt of a dedicated group of Oakland citizens to reclaim pride and positive investment in all of Oakland.

For all the folks who accept The Town as two separate cities, many of us who were raised here and/or have lived here for decades have meaningful stories that span every neighborhood and every emotion. These stories comprise the patchwork of a grander idea–a diverse but unified Oakland. An Oakland that understands that it's victories and struggles are two sides of the same coin, rather than separate entities. The divisiveness of race, class, and quality education are real problems, but they won't be solved with blind eyes and wishful thinking.

This Respect Our City t-shirt is accompanied by a peace pledge that the Oakland community is asking you to sign. It is both a commitment to non-violence, and an investment in the creation of a city that values respect, creativity, safety, equity, and community. Whether you were raised on 85th Avenue or Skyline Blvd; whether you live by the lake or the port; and whether you were born here or just moved here, sign on to building an Oakland we can all cherish.

Honor our resilient legacy by carrying Oakland's progressive spirit onward. Respect Our City.

For every "Respect Our City" tee sold by Oaklandish, one will be given away to Oakland youth through outreach with local nonprofits and schools. And if screen-printed tees aren't your thing, you can come in just to sign the pledge and show your support.

You may also visit RespectOurCity.org to join the cause and sign the pledge online. An email will then be sent to you with a link to order the t-shirt. If you have any trouble with this process, please contact the ROC team at info@respectourcity.org.

If you'd like to change your Facebook or Twitter avatars to support the cause, you can use this:

And if you'd like to print out a poster to display in your window, download this.

38th Notes blog post
Like the "Respect Our City" page on Facebook
Follow "Respect Our City" on Twitter

Show your LOVE to a grieving family: Khadafy Washington Foundation "Give Back Night" is this Tuesday, February 19.

We are proud unveil the "In Loving Memory" pin, designed by Oaklandish for the Khadafy Washington Project.

Starting at this month's KWP Give Back Night, every Oakland family will be sent this pin on the first anniversary of the death of their loved one to violence.

Youth ALIVE! needs volunteers to help write cards, make sympathy calls, and assemble care packages. Join us and show your love.

KWP Give Back Night
5:30-7pm, Tuesday, Feb 19th
at Youth ALIVE!'s office
3300 Elm Street, Oakland
Dinner provided.

Contact Dionne Carter at dcarter@youthalive.org or (510) 228-9106 to RSVP and to get info on providing meals or other LOVE to our families.

We are uneasy with the idea of Valentine's Day as normally practiced, so we thought we'd give it a little twist and design two tees about love and the town. Behind the scenes, we're having our own war of the roses about which is the better design. Choose your expression of local love, with City Beats or Love, Oakland: both available in men's and women's styles. Available online only through February 6th. Order by midnight 2/6 and receive by the 14th.




City Beats for Men
City Beats for Women




Love, Oakland for Men
Love, Oakland for Women

We were on hiatus for January First Friday, but we said we'd be back, and the Club Crasherz will bring you into 2013 with pop, verve, flash, and fun.

Club Crasherz will perform around 9pm, with First Friday at Oaklandish running from 7-11pm. Before and after the live set, we'll be featuring our own DJ Criddy Mac spinning R&B and hip-hop for the grooves and moves. As always, FiveTen Burger, Linden Street, and Urban Legend will be doing their part to support the festivities.

PinkMinxx & Jimi Rezidu are two solo artists whose creative chemistry and explosive performance formed them into a dynamic duo. PinkMinxx is the modern Mae West, with sultry, gutsy vocals, grit and class, strength and fearlessness. Jimi Rezidu is the electronic brain and the heart behind the beats, with a futuristic style. Together they call themselves Club Crasherz. They joined forces when they would pop up at nightclubs, parties and after hours in the LA scene and deliver a precise, in the moment, and unexpected performance.

Club Crasherz sound is an innovative blend on dance pop, electro house, and infuses dancehall, rock, and golden-age hip-hop. This combined with their performance they define as Über Pop. They are pure FUN and promote a world of togetherness and are accessible to everyone. Their music is 100% original work composed and written by Team Bubble. Their songs are authentic, versatile and reach a vast array of audiences.

“Club Crasherz mission through their authentic and versatile songs is to encourage fearlessness, guts, and strength, express pure fun and promote a world of togetherness. They are the face of cutting edge music straight from the Bay Area with an innovative blend on dance pop, electro house, and infuses dancehall, rock, and golden-age hip-hop making them accessible to everyone.”

Oakland's innovators inspire our shirts, and the shirts in turn support the Innovators. 2013 marks the seventh year of annual grants and partnerships between Oaklandish and all of the good people in Oakland working to make this town a better place. If you know an artist, nonprofit, or other group that you think would benefit from support from Oaklandish, please send an email to innovators@oaklandish.com and nominate them! If you would like to apply yourself for a partnership, please fill out our partnership form here by March 1, 2013.

Proceeds from our designs are distributed through our Community Fund. In addition to financial support, Innovators and other partners receive help with design, events, social media — anything to get the word out about the important, trailblazing work going on in Oakland.

It's our way of recognizing those who exemplify the values of innovation and progress in all areas of civic life. The recipients represent a wide range of social interests and populations, and are not restricted by any political agenda. In the past few years, we've given Innovators grants and partnerships to groups like: The Khadafy Washington Foundation, Youth Alive, Town Park Skatepark, 25th Street Collective, and The Oakland Ballet.