Cesar Cruz, leader of YMCA of the East Bay’s Homies Empowerment program, received the Jefferson Award for his innovative work with East Oakland youth.

This Saturday, Oakland dog hotel Citizen Canine is hosting an outdoor dog-centric festival to raise money for East Bay animal rescue organizations. Tons of local vendors will be there, supplying attendees with treats for both humans and their doggy companions.

Many Oakland businesses are using social media to reach their fans and customers. Here are a few tips to put the cherry on top of that social media sundae.

The Mole was a dock halfway out Oakland’s Long Wharf used by Southern Pacific ferries to connect with the Key System. The Key System, formed in 1903, was a network of commuter rail and bus lines connecting cities and neighborhoods in the East Bay to San Francisco by way of the Mole.

Liver transplant recipient Michael Carraway has paid the “gift of life” forward by feeding feeding nearly 1,200 Oakland residents through his family’s “Mikey’s Meals” program for the homeless. He was honored with a Martin Luther King community award last week.

The task of transforming years of exaggerations and negativity, into a more truthful, realistic image is a daunting one, but our Mayor is taking on the task, with the help of Oakland-based marketing professionals and cultural leaders.

By Aimee Allison:
We’ve been here before – mourning the loss of a community member to senseless violence. But perhaps it’s time for Oakland to assume a national role in addressing the violence that plagues our nation.

An Oakland youth organization founded in the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has issued a call for community volunteers, in light of this weekend’s assassination attempt on Arizona Democratic Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

“Happy New Year from the sidewalks of Oakland!” That is the message from Oakland artist Alan Leon’s pen to the pages of OaklandSeen. His cartoon series, “Oakland Seen” presents his unique perspective on the architecture and landscapes of our Town.

Margaret Gordon, who spent a lifetime laboring for environmental causes on behalf of the West Oakland community, finally recieves national recognition for her groundbreaking work.