The Black Cultural Zone, conceived in 2014, addresses the disparate impact that decades of disinvestment in East Oakland and more recent displacement of Black People and Black Businesses from their legacy communities here in Oakland by centering Black Arts and Culture within a community development framework. The East Oakland Black Cultural Zone Collaborative (the “Collaborative”) was formed by the Eastside Arts Alliance and several non-profit organizations located in East Oakland to develop the East Oakland Black Cultural Zone. The Collaborative designated the East Oakland Black Cultural Zone as the 50 square blocks from High Street to the San Leandro Border and focused on implementing arts and cultural strategies and engaging artists and community members in art activism.

The Black Cultural Zone Collaborative partners with 20 local organizations to promote community and celebrate the area’s Black cultural heritage in East Oakland. They include the Alena Museum, Allen Temple Baptist Church, Bay Area Black Market, Blink Lab Architecture, East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative, East Oakland- Building Healthy Communities, East Oakland Collective, East Oakland Youth Development Center, Eastside Cultural Center, Ground, Housing Services East Bay, Oakland Conservatory of Music, Original Blackprint, RBA Creative, Roots Community Health Center, Steps and Ladders, Support Oakland Artists, Artist as First Responder, Spearitwurx. These organizations are representative of public health, resident organizing, entrepreneurship, property development, and transportation in East Oakland. The Black Cultural Zone Collaborative uses arts and culture-based strategies to advance community well-being and social cohesion.

Photo courtesy of the Eastside Arts Alliance.