First Voice Media

Jay Ento remembers the neighborhood she grew up in near 75 Avenue in East Oakland. Mothers Cookie Factory, playing in the park, the fruit trees and agricultural areas near the airport. Everything they needed was close by, and the neighborhood watched out for one another.

Frank Rose, Board President at the East Oakland Boxing Association and Smart Moves Program, talks about cultivating leadership and hope with East Oakland Youth.  EOBA grew from a boxing program into a broad academic, enrichment and violence prevention center for East Oakland youth. Frank Rose was recently voted an Oakland Local Hero, along with Green Jobs Trainer, and Dig Coop member Babak Jacinto Tondre for their work at EOBA.

Terry Moland, a youth intern at the East Oakland Boxing Association and Smart Moves Program, talks about the program and the positive impacted it has had on him and his friends. He has been involved with EOBA for ten years, and is now a mentor for other young people at the center. He remembers his friend Phillip Wright who was shot and killed in his East Oakland home.

Jean Quan speaks at the East Oakland Boxing Association green jobs training graduation ceremony that took place on Saturday, November 21, 2009, located at 816 98th Avenue in deep East Oakland.

Jay tells how it used to be in the East Oakland she knew growing up, and the changes today.  She encourages us to talk TO young people, rather than AT them. "You'd be surprised," she says. "Theres a lot of talent on those corners."

This video is part 1 of an interview with Jay by our media partner First Voice Action Media at our second Community Storytelling Day, and edited into two videos with Jay's powerful observations about the community.

A'Jewel and Maikia tell us what they want to be when they grow up, and their mom Alicia speaks of her wish to see the violence in the community end in the future, and people come together to help each other.

This video was produced and edited by the wonderful team from our media partner First Voice Media Action at our second Community Storytelling Day.