Blueprint for Resilience: Lessons from Oakland’s Black Neighborhoods

Oakland Landmark a Symbol of Black Labor Organizing

November 07, 1910, Oakland Enquirer As Oaklanders celebrate Black History Month, a local symbol of Black labor organizing marks a milestone. The historic 16th Street Station has been officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. We hope this designation will aid in restoration efforts to bring this 1912 building to its former glory, while celebrating its role as a vital organizing center for the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porte…

Blueprint for Resilience: Lessons from Oakland’s Black Neighborhoods

Before urban planning buzzwords became trendy, Black communities in Oakland were already building vibrant, connected, and transit-oriented neighborhoods out of necessity. These communities—West Oakland’s 7th Street corridor and East Oakland’s industrial hubs—flourished despite systemic barriers, embodying what we now call SMART—Sustainable, Mixed, Affordable, Resilient, Transit-Oriented—growth principles long before they were formally recognized…