WEST OAKLAND MATTERS

OAKTOWN PICTURES presents

July 26, 2025

One of Oakland's most historically vibrant and currently challenged communities partners with Oaktown Pictures to create a special

Arts & Advocacy Event centered on West Oakland's residential history.

Opening July 26th, the collaboration will feature visual artists, journalists, and neighborhood residents highlighting challenges

and creativity amidst West Oakland's resistance and resilience

versus economic and environmental crisis.

For information on the ongoing project and engagement,

email contact@westoaklandmatters.org

A collaborative comprised of professional artists, journalists, poets, scholars, activists, entrepreneurs, and designers in fashion and architecture, West Oakland Matters is fueled by volunteer passion and tax-free donations. The collaborative expresses its mission through a focused annual event and an ambitious multiyear campaign for community renewal.

Visit our new Virtual Online Community here.

Preview 2025? Visit the 2024 Event here.

Last year's July 27th event brought together residents, local businesses, civic leaders and supporters (community champions with similar interests). The inaugural event highlighted the community’s history and advocated for its creative resilience and self-determinacy. And it exceeded our expectations. We made the news on ABC7, in the mainstream Oaklandside news site Oakland North, and alternative sites like Broke Ass Stuart. We received a proclamation from the mayor of Oakland and a commendation from the local councilwoman. And the event production team immediately volunteered to do the event again this year.

2025 EVENT PRODUCERS

Simone Nia Rae (Painting/Prints)

Sarah Bass (Fashion)

Malcolm Ryder (Photography)

Constance Hale (Publications)

Kakoli Mitra (Music, Ecoculture)

LEADERSHIP TEAM

Malcolm Ryder, Creative Director, Founder; owner of Ryder Foto and Oaktown Pictures. Board of Directors at Oakland Art Murmur and at East Bay Photo Collective.

Constance Hale, Research Director, co-Founder; nationally recognized writer/editor, UC Berkeley Journalism alumna; previously Harvard conference director and Neiman Fellows program organizer.

Janice Edwards, Media and Development Director; CEO, Edwards Unlimited. Emmy-nominated Creator/ Producer of Janice Edwards TV Bay Area Vista;; inductee, Black Legends of Silicon Valley Hall of Fame.

ADVISORY GROUP

Ken Light, Adjunct Professor, the Reva and David Logan Professor of Photojournalism and curator of the Center for Photography at the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California Berkeley

Mario Hernandez, PhD, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Fletcher Jones Sociology Chair, Mills College; author, Bushwick Bohemia

Deirdre Clemente, PhD Associate Director of the UNLV public history program, 20th century American Culture, Fashion and clothing, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Museum studies

Donna Brinkman, co-Founder, co-owner, 7th West Community Center, and co-owner Overlook Lounge

Donate to West Oakland Arts Advocacy Here.

All Donations Welcome & Tax-deductible

$20 donation supports West Oakland Matters as an event accessible to all
$50 donation supports an artist's investment in showing work at WOM
$150 donation sponsors the addition of another participating artist
$300 + acknowledgement during program and in the Event catalog
$1000 + VIP table during the event, and press mention, as a WOM co-sponsor

EQUITY

West Oakland Matters holds a non-discrimination policy which prohibits discrimination in its programs, services, policies, hiring practices and administration on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, or physical or mental disability.