ALL SUMMER LONG at Liberation Park, a shared community hub in Oakland, the Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation has brought people together with live music and libations, an outdoor roller-skating rink, informational resources, free meals, local beauty vendors and roaring belly laughs. It’s a celebration of Oakland pride and good spirits.
Black Cultural Zone is a nonprofit that focuses on preserving and promoting Black culture since 2014. Its CEO, Carolyn Johnson, has been focused on the revitalization of East Oakland through community partnerships that invest directly back into its neighborhoods and attempt to disrupt disparaging mainstream narratives of Oakland, she said.
“There’s a fundamental belief, I think… on an unconscious level, even in us, that people of color, Black, indigenous, don’t deserve this,” she said, referring to development and access to resources in the East Oakland communities.
Johnson is a lifelong resident of Oakland who has distinct memories of how different life was growing up there, from the movie theaters to the former Malibu Grand Prix entertainment venue.
However, these amenities have disappeared, and now Johnson is dedicated to restoring more life back into the community with plans that start with 10-block sections and include rebuilding community resources lost during the drug-related public health crisis of the 1980s.
Saturdays, the East Oakland way
The work has already begun with Saturdays at Liberation Park, which have been amplified with “Saturdays in THE ZONE,” where residents can skate and vibe at the Umoja Outdoor Roller-Skating Rink and enjoy lively events like the “Levitt Vibe Summer Concert Series” as one of Black Cultural Zone’s many hubs. The space also features small local businesses and healing services offering massages and reiki, an art portal curated by Oakland artists, local jewelry makers, and food vendors serving free meals from Bay Area businesses.
Community resources are also on site to assist with essential needs like housing support and social services. Aside from the Black Cultural Zone Welcome Center, 12 different additional hub locations are in the works that will include performance and art spaces, a culinary kitchen, and more.
According to Oakland resident Ari Curry, Black Cultural Zone’s deputy director of media and communications, the organization acts like a facilitator for collaborative organizations that service East Oakland, connecting them to about 50 different organizations with specialties in health care and public health, some that specialize in housing and the Bay Area’s homelessness crisis.
“For me, success looks like when a little Black boy or a little Black girl goes to sleep at night, and they have more opportunity,” said Curry. “They have more advantages, they can dream, they can hope, and they can thrive in their community. Success looks like that father that found a job and now he’s able to have custody of his children again, because he can provide a place for them to live. That’s success.”
Blanca Gordo, a Black Cultural Zone safety ambassador and events crew member, highlighted the extreme wealth and inequality in the region, noting that the community has been neglected.
Gordo believed that the heart of community is economic development, and she was passionate about meeting Oakland residents who have expressed that they are no longer hanging in the streets anymore, telling her that they have jobs now and that people have noticed the positive influence of Black Cultural Zone.
Different food vendors are featured at every themed event the Zone hosts. Kevin McCullough, a Richmond native and owner of Aunt Bill’s Soul Food Cafe, flew from Texas to participate in a Black Cultural Zone event in Oakland.
“Sometimes you go into a situation thinking that you’re gonna be the one that’s a blessing, and you wind up going somewhere and being blessed by the people that you intended to bless,” said McCullough.
Big visions, bold investments
With her organization’s work, Johnson plans to build 119 units of affordable housing, a three-story market hall, and more in the future. All efforts are made possible through the Black Cultural Zone staff of 190 employees, comprised of community stewards, safety ambassadors, events crew members, in addition to local support from the Oakland City Council, small businesses and churches, among other groups.
“If everyone is invested, we have something to lose, which is this,” said Johnson, referring to the “Free Your Fro Day” event that took place on July 5. “We’ve been here (at Liberation Park) since September of 2019, and it’s only getting bigger. We’re intentional.”
Her organization is a part of the 40×40 Initiative, a coalition of community-based organizations to improve the health and quality of life in Oakland, which includes the Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation, which temporarily licenses Liberation Park; the Brotherhood of Elders Network, an intergenerational network of men of African descent dedicated to creating supportive environments; the East Oakland Youth Development Center, a community center focused on social and leadership development of youth and young adults, and ROOTS Health, a nonprofit organization that supports underserved communities through medical and behavioral health care. All work is in partnership with the Oakland Thrives nonprofit organization, where public agencies, community organizations, and residents come together for long-term improvements in Oakland.
For me, success looks like when a little Black boy or a little Black girl goes to sleep at night, and they have more opportunity. They have more advantages, they can dream, they can hope, and they can thrive in their community.
Ari Curry, Black Cultural Zone’s deputy director of media and communications
Altogether, this coalition is the backbone of the Rise East investment plan, a 10-year initiative focused on improving the 40-square-block area from Seminary Ave to the Oakland-San Leandro border.
The 40×40 Initiative aims to create positive community change, having raised $100 million — $50 million from local organizations, donors and grantors, matched by $50 million from Blue Meridian Partners, a philanthropic organization. The funds support projects that benefit Oakland residents, including affordable housing, community centers and programs that reduce crime and blight.
“As we’re getting the properties entitled, which takes years, we activate, and so we test the ideas, and we help people really believe that something is possible,” said Johnson.
In the meantime, the fun doesn’t stop at the park.
Erin Dixon, an Oakland resident and Black Cultural Zone lead, felt safe knowing that while she works at the welcome table at events, her daughter Ava is able to enjoy herself with friends at the skating rink on Saturdays.
“I remember growing up in the summer here, they didn’t have stuff like this for us,” said Dixon, “it’s nice that my daughter has access to this.”
Delvon Emerson, an Oakland resident of 42 years and a Black Cultural Zone events crew member, discussed the positive impact of the Black Cultural Zone on the homeless community. He highlighted the Zone’s inclusivity and safe space for individuals regardless of their circumstances.
“It don’t matter if you’re homeless, if you got money, or if you’re a kid in the community — you just need a safe community space,” he said.
Father and Oakland resident Keyonn Kelley took his three daughters roller-skating for the first time at the Umoja Outdoor Roller-Skating Rink after hearing about the chance to skate from a neighbor.
“It’s a memorable moment you can bring up, and at least they know that their parents took them somewhere,” said Kelley, “it takes the older generation to show kids how to have fun.”
The organization has been hosting live events for the summer most Saturdays, with the Umoja Outdoor Skating Rink made available and free to the public every Saturday until Aug. 16.
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