The Grand Lake Theatre, Oakland’s own historic movie theater, was built in 1926 for vaudeville and silent films. Allen Michaan, the current manager, took over in 1980, renovating and expanding the theater. Today, this beautiful art deco theater continues to make its patrons its number one priority, with no commercials, free weekday popcorn, free parking, the Mighty Wurlitzer on weekends, and big new seats. The theater also hosts events such as fundraisers, speakers, and film festivals. Its marquee is known nationwide for its leftist political statements, ranging from national to local political and community activism. A perfect location for movie buffs and proud, engaged citizens of Oakland!
Khalil Shaheed is a musician with a passion for jazz and its influential powers of change. Besides being a musician, he considers himself an educator, historian, and a community leader, working to “affect positive change in our community.” In 1994 he founded Oakland Jazz Workshops to reach out to young musicians, particularly those at risk. Through this, he provides performance instruction as well as knowledge of the rich history and influence of jazz. He has also volunteered with Stanford Jazz Workshop, San Francisco Symphony’s AIM Program, and San Jose Jazz Society. In his spare time, he performs with Mo’Rockin Project, Big Belly Blues Band, and the Khalil Shaheed Quintet.
Margo Mercedes Rivera-Weiss has live and been active in Oakland
for 20 years, working tirelessly to improve her community.
Through the Woman’s Cancer Resource Center, she has organized
people from all professions and walks of life who are committed
to volunteer their time to people with cancer. She has served on
numerous boards and other volunteer efforts such as Pro Arts,
Oakland Museum, and Uptown Body and Fender. Ten years ago
she started JanRae Community Arts Gallery to promote and support local emerging artists. Says
one nominator, “Margo is smart, creative and gets things done that really help so many people in
the community. She deserves a big reward for her great work!”
Founder and owner Teena Johnson opened the doors of Catered to You in March 2008 and has been self-supporting ever since. Catered to You offers inexpensive and tasty lighter dishes with an “American Dish” focus with its storefront and its catering business. Catered to You is known not only for “real, unpretentious, and delicious fare,” but also for Ms. Johnson, who “always has a smile on her face and a moment to ask you how things are going.” Catered to You is also part of the movement to revitalize the Uptown district with the renovated Fox Theatre. One nominator recalled when, around the Christmas holiday, she donated food herself and organized other restaurants in the area to feed 148 homeless people.
In 2007, after reading that “everyone can use a friend with a truck and tools once in awhile,” Isabella Guajardo decided to take action. She founded Girl With A Truck, an innovative Home and Office Organizing business that offers packing, pick up & delivery, furniture assembly, recycling, and organizing services. As a woman, Isabella puts her female clients at ease and demonstrates to her male clients that women are capable of anything. She recycles her clients’ extra items at various charities, including homeless shelters, Dress for Success, and Urban Ore, and even brings them back donation slips. Says one nominator, “Isabella has created a business that recycles an extraordinary amount of goods back into the community…an efficient and creative way to help clients and beneficiaries of reorganization.”
This one-year-old café offering high-end, quality coffee and food aims to be green in all that it does. Awaken Café’s counter is made out of salvaged redwood from the building’s former occupant, the Golden Bull, and from a re-used lab table from UC Berkeley. Its menu is written on the old front door of the Golden Bull, and all the tile is made locally from recycled glass. All of Awaken Café’s coffee is locally roasted and is served in biodegradable cups. You won’t see any garbage cans at this café—only compose and recycle bins as all products sold can be either composted or recycled! Most employees bike or take public transit to work and the café itself is a member of various green business organizations, including the Green Café Network. As one nominator puts it, Awaken offers “the best coffee I have ever had. How can they be so hip, too?”
Hip Learning was founded by educator and innovative artist Naru Kwina with the goal of reaching students by alternative education methods. Using hip hop and rhyming, Naru has created songs, plays, and other performances to educate elementary school students about science. He has performed in local Oakland schools as well as local festivals and at Chabot Space and Science. Naru, who says hip hop and rhyming helped him to finally pass the DMV permit test as a teenager, encourages students to write their own songs, especially if they are having trouble with a particular subject. Hip Learning and Naru Kwina have received positive feedback from students, parents, and teachers and hopes to expand Hip Learning to other school subjects.
Cynthia Elliot, owner of the woman owned and operated Rough and Ready Repairs, is known as the Mayor of Jingletown by her neighbors. She is a founding member of Jingletown Arts and Business Community Group and continues to be a leader for the artistic and small business communities there. She works with the local government to improve her community and organizes local events that benefit the community, such as Earth Day projects. No wonder people call her the “neighborhood go-to gal”!
Woody’s Drapery & Laundromat is a clean, friendly Laundromat that attracts patrons from well beyond the Lake Merritt district. Owner Steve Ma not only keeps his business clean and wellstaffed, he works to make his neighborhood the same way. He is both the chair of the crime prevention council and business improvement association and works with members in and outside of his district to get new ideas on how to improve his community. Ma is the “Dynamo” who gets local police involved to fight crime, combats safety issues, and organizes street parties to encourage residents to be active community members. Says a nominator, “this area is becoming the place to be…all due to Steve’s tireless efforts!”
