Community
Youth Spirit Artworks Recruits Charles Blackwell
By Charles Blackwell
Alan Laird who once operated Expressions Art Gallery in downtown Oakland, and would also visit inmates on death row at San Quinten Prison in Marin County, had returned to Oakland for a visit from Miami. He requested me to go with him to Youth Spirit Artworks on Alcatraz in Berkeley. Alan had worked on some art projects in the past and introduced me to Sally, the director and Victor Hindman. After a few minutes of conversation with Victor, Alan and I were asked to conduct a session with the youth. We both agreed.
About 25-30 young people attended. Alan and I spoke about life. Not trying to paint a pretty picture, but being real with them. We went from A-Z, prison, politics, love, God, and life’s struggles. They were seriously listening, even telling us, “this isn’t the classroom at school, this is real.” Alan suggested I do a couple of poems and I did. Then towards the end some of the youth presented poems.
A few months later, Sally contacted me and the next thing I knew, I was recruited to conduct writing workshops at the agency. Soon I was doing writing workshops with young adults, homeless youth, and high school students. I was stunned to find out how many young people are homeless. One night Angel Perez, the art instructor, and I went to a shelter in Berkeley, trying to locate one of our clients. It was alarming the number of homeless people there.
One extremely gifted writer, Enera Wilson, who is homeless, writes:
CHARLES
It’s bizarre to believe,
that a man who could not see,
cleared my vision.
This man opened my eyes,
and allowed me to see things in a
different light.
Before encountering this young sanctuary
filled with much spirit and many works of
art,
I was deathly afraid of expressing the twisted
thoughts that came to me.
it’s unbelievable to think that a man who
cannot see,
allowed me to realize,
That I was talented beyond what I had ever
Imagined about myself.
I am thankful for the gift that he bestowed
Upon me.
I give thanks to the man whose name is
Charles.
At YSAW, I use creative writing to confront and convict some of the thoughts which youth today embrace. Its all in an attempt to create the looking glass self. We write about violence, fear, forgiveness, anger, hope, racial hatred, color and love. To move them away from the self-centered world to seeing others, with a concern for various issues; other than self.
After a writing exercise, we have discussions, sometimes provoking them to participate. No matter how intense the discussion, there’s always a note of comedy with Jason Powel Smith and his fried chicken poems:
I saw fried chicken
In somebody’s office And I went past Somebody offer
And I was like ummmmmm!
I always love me that
Friend Chicken
I’ve conducted writing workshops in prisons and I’ve worked with youth before. I can be very hard line, but this is different. Sometimes these youth really hit my heart. Some stories are about horrible situations with parents, family or circumstances they have no control over. Probably the best way to explain the impact of the YSAW Writing Workshop, maybe summed up in a poem unexpectedly presented in a workshop by Elias Gutierrez:
Crash! The thunder booms in the raging
wind blows me back as I am rushing
back at midnight. Phone dead, no money,
no food, no protection from the rain.
I pray, someone, anyone will let me in.
How can this world be so cold as to
take everything I was, am, and will be,
my future and my history away from
me. As I feel the freeze from my
bones and my fingertips, you cannot see
my tears through the bullet like rain
almost piercing my skin. I am not here
anymore, I do not exist.
Arts and Culture
San Jose Jazz Fest ‘24: Fun, Food and an Unforgettable Frankie Beverly Farewell
SAN JOSE — The sounds of summer echoed through the heart of town during the 3-day-long San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2024, held Aug. 9 – 11. Multiple stages hosted a variety of iconic performers such as Incognito; local favorites like Tia Carroll; and trailblazers such as Herbie Hancock. Guests enjoyed dozens of vendors featuring art, gifts, and clothing. Tasty bites included flame-grilled barbeque, seafood and a variety of desserts
By Carla Thomas
SAN JOSE — The sounds of summer echoed through the heart of town during the 3-day-long San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2024, held Aug. 9 – 11.
Multiple stages hosted a variety of iconic performers such as Incognito; local favorites like Tia Carroll; and trailblazers such as Herbie Hancock.
Guests enjoyed dozens of vendors featuring art, gifts, and clothing. Tasty bites included flame-grilled barbeque, seafood and a variety of desserts.
Oakland entrepreneur Ava Carrie and several friends said it was great to get out, enjoy the sun and hear great music. “This is a wonderful festival and just a great time with friends,” said Carrie.
Festival goer Cin-Dee said she flew in from Virginia to celebrate her birthday in the Bay Area. She was saddened that she missed Frankie Beverly’s farewell tour that kicked off in March when he performed in her area on the east coast, capping a 50-year career. When Cin-Dee noticed Maze would feature Beverly in the line up at the San Jose Jazz Festival, in a tribute to him, she made sure to cut short her touring of Santa Cruz to not miss the performance on Sunday evening. “I am so happy to be here and have this opportunity to see Frankie with Maze,” she said, dancing to the music. “This is really special and it’s great to see Frankie on stage and hear my favorite songs.”
Maze performed favorites in tribute to Beverly while introducing their new lead singer, Tony Lindsay. During the last stretch of the concert, Beverly performed, “Happy Feelings,” and “I Wanna Thank You.” The performance was emotional for Beverly as the audience stood up and danced during the entire performance, capturing the historic moment on their cell phones.
Maze was founded by Beverly in 1970 in Philadelphia and was recognized by Marvin Gaye when they relocated to the Bay Area in 1971. The group went on to earn nine gold albums between 1977 and 1993 with mega hits such as “Happy Feelin’s” and “Before I Let Go.” Beverly, known for his soulful baritone voice, wrote hit after hit during his five-decade career. Beverly said he was initially inspired by the pacesetting R&B doo-wop group Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers.
Performances at the San Jose Jazz Summer Fest also included the John Santos Sextet, the San Jose Jazz High School All Stars, Faye Carol, Delfaeyo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, David Benoit Quartet, Andre Thierry Accordion Soul, Ayo Brame, The Family Stone, and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra.
Bay Area
Advocates Hold Rally to “Issue a Citation” to City to Stop Homeless Encampment Sweeps
Advocates in San Francisco held a rally Thursday afternoon in front of City Hall to issue a symbolic citation to Mayor London Breed, urging an immediate end to the sweeps of homeless encampments in the city. “What do we want? Housing! When do we want it? Now!,” the group chanted. The group of allies and advocates originally intended to start their rally off on Jessie Street, where a sweep of an encampment was going to take place around noon. But, the group had to change their plans because the city allegedly heard about the rally and chose to sweep the area earlier in the day.
By Magaly Muñoz
Advocates in San Francisco held a rally Thursday afternoon in front of City Hall to issue a symbolic citation to Mayor London Breed, urging an immediate end to the sweeps of homeless encampments in the city.
“What do we want? Housing! When do we want it? Now!,” the group chanted.
The group of allies and advocates originally intended to start their rally off on Jessie Street, where a sweep of an encampment was going to take place around noon. But, the group had to change their plans because the city allegedly heard about the rally and chose to sweep the area earlier in the day.
The streets adjacent to Jessie St., such as Mission and Market St, are lined with multiple encampments and unhoused individuals. Many stand in groups or walk along the streets by themselves.
One member of the group, Leah, said she lived in District 6 and what politicians claim is an “open drug market” area. She criticized the extra funding that has gone to the San Francisco Police Department to “solve homelessness” but no positive results have been shown.
“If giving the police more money actually solved the housing crisis, the homelessness crisis…then it would’ve gotten better, but it has actually just been getting worse and worse as more services for poor people have been cut,” Leah said.
Other speakers said the problem with sweeping and citing people for living on the streets is that the homeless problem is being exacerbated, and it’s ultimately not helping those who are struggling.
In order to help alleviate the problem, advocates have called for expansions to permanent supportive housing, resources and services, housing vouchers, and rent relief for struggling residents.
According to the 2024 Point in Time Count, 8,323 people were experiencing homelessness in San Francisco. A seven percent increase since 2022 where there were 7,754 sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals.
In her mission to get people off the streets, Mayor Breed has directed city crews to clear encampments more frequently than before. This decision comes after the landmark case, Grants Pass v. Johnson, was overturned by the U.S Supreme Court and cities were given the authority to ban people from camping or sleeping on the streets.
The mayor also instructed city workers to offer transportation tickets to people before offering shelter with the intent that those who are not originally from San Francisco can return to family or friends elsewhere and services can then be used for long-time residents.
A former homeless resident, Yolanda, in attendance at the rally said it was difficult to get off of living on the streets because of the barriers to housing and services.
Yolanda told the Post that she had grown up in the city with her family, but once her father passed away, there was no one to maintain the bills so they had to relocate to Oakland for a few years. She said her family stayed there for a few years before returning to San Francisco.
As she got older, she found herself living on the streets or in temporary shelter. But these shelters would only allow people to stay for a few months at a time and were very restrictive in what people could do, such as leave when they wanted or have guests with them.
After some time, Yolanda and her boyfriend were selected for housing through a housing allocation program, where she still currently lives now. She said they were one of the lucky ones, but others do not get to experience this same fortune.
She shared that at one point in her journey to find a housing placement, there was a 2,000 person waitlist, making it nearly impossible and disheartening for those looking for a roof to put over their heads.
Yolanda said it was unfair to criminalize people for not being able to afford housing, considering the extremely high costs of living in the area.
Community
GRIP Invites Community to Walk to End Homelessness, Hunger
The Greater Richmond Interfaith Program (GRIP) is warming up for its 38th annual “Harmony Walk to End Hunger and Homelessness” Saturday, Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Nicholl Park in Richmond. Registration is $38 per person and includes event swag and access to all related activities, with discounts available. The event’s new theme, “A Harmony Walk in the Park,” will focus on park activities this year, including a walk to GRIP and back starting at 10 a.m.
By Kathy Chouteau
The Greater Richmond Interfaith Program (GRIP) is warming up for its 38th annual “Harmony Walk to End Hunger and Homelessness” Saturday, Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Nicholl Park in Richmond. Registration is $38 per person and includes event swag and access to all related activities, with discounts available.
The event’s new theme, “A Harmony Walk in the Park,” will focus on park activities this year, including a walk to GRIP and back starting at 10 a.m.
Organizers also welcome the community to enjoy a fun run, food truck offerings, vendor booths and other activities as they learn about how GRIP is fighting hunger and homelessness while serving 15,000 people each year in West Contra Costa County.
“What I love about it is how the community comes together from across the region to walk the neighborhood, connect and learn about what’s new at GRIP…,” said Brandon Mercer, a GRIP board member.
During the event, ABC-7 TVs Julian Glover will be on hand alongside other local personalities and community leaders, who will share their experiences with GRIP and with supporting the community, according to the organization.
Food trucks lined up include Curbside Kitchen and Black Star Pirate BBQ, with additional offerings still being coordinated. Live music throughout the day, games/activities for the kids and raffle prizes donated from sponsors—with dinners, merchandise and passes to Disneyland—are also in the mix.
GRIP tipped its hat to its major sponsors—including Chevron, EBMUD, Kaiser Permanente, Lifelong Medical Care, Sims Metal and others—emphasizing that their support helps make this event possible and ensures that the organization can continue to provide vital services to the community.
Nicholl Park is located at 3230 Macdonald Ave. in Richmond. Again, registration is $38 per person. Discounted rates of $12 are available for each additional registration purchased alongside the one full-price registration. The ticket price includes event access, a Harmony Walk T-shirt and five raffle tickets.
Learn more about GRIP.
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