Eons ago, Oakland was rich with giant redwood trees that dated back millenia. The trees, whose scientific name is Sequoia sempervirens, are the tallest known plant species in the world.

AFFRM (the African Film Festival Releasing Movement) is a grassroots effort with no commercial advertising. It is genuinely a movement, and a wake-up call to Hollywood to reach outside of its archaic distribution system and to cease ignoring intelligent Black film. Black Cinema At Large is its Oakland outpost, helping bring a local audience to the launch of a new indie film being distributed nationally.

Our City and State governments have published information about the threat from earthquakes, tsunamis and nuclear radiation leaks here in Oakland. Here is a review of a some useful information, including visuals, to raise awareness to the need for Oaklanders to get up, get informed and get ready for The Big One.

There is a growing movement of concerned citizens organizing to offer aid to these 21st century slaves: children ensnared in prostitution. Allen Temple has founded a group of Streets Disciples to provide support for young people and fragile families who might fall prey to commercial sexual exploitation.

Social media expert Jennifer Heller presents the case study of a venerable Oakland merchant trying to establish a new location, change new offerings and serve the community at the same time.

In Uptown, Hiroko Kurihara founded the 25th Street Collective: an outpost of the slow-life movement where artisans can grow their sustainable businesses in a shared environment and provide a place for artists to come together to make things, re-make things, learn and teach each other.

There is a emerging movement sweeping across urban areas from West Oakland to Detroit, Milwaukee, Chicago to the Bronx. It is an urban agriculture movement that is a call to arms to reclaim post-industrial abandon lots, underserviced public parks, and vacant lots to grow food for the people.

An Oaklander tells the tale: “Last week I sat on my couch reading about what was happening in Madison, WI from my friends’ links on Facebook. Although I could have stayed in Oakland and supported the campaign from afar, I needed to go to Wisconsin. I called up my dear friends, used my frequent flier miles, and traveled to (the) city…”

From planter to plate, to a vigil against violence, to the musically minded, to streets and ladders, to our own Art Murmur minions, there’s plenty to do in Oakland this weekend. So get out there and have some fun, learn something, and most importantly, interact with your community.

Across the nation, communities like Oakland are feeling the crunch of the budget deficit. Low-income communities with the scarcest amount of resources are being hit the hardest.