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Northern California Interreligious Conference
4335 Virginia Avenue
Oakland, CA 94619
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
January 21, 2011
Contact: Jackie Wright,
415 525 0410
"TAKE BACK HIGH STREET BLOCK BY BLOCK"
MARCH, CLEAN UP & COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Community leaders, organizers and residents of High Street Say, "Together We're Cleaning Up, Reaching Out and Changing Our Neighborhood Hand in Hand."
 | | Oakland Mayor Jean Quan Urged Residents on Inaugural Day to Take Back Oakland Streets. |
Oakland, CA-Oakland
Mayor Jean Quan has been invited to be on hand on Sunday, January 23,
2011, as residents on and near High Street, where the first murder of
the year occurred, will put into action the mayor's mandate "to take
back the streets of Oakland."
The
neighborhood is rising up in arms to begin to stage a march that will
provide outreach and cleanup while culminating in a community
commemoration of the work of Dr. Martin Luther Jr. at the Miracles of
Faith Church, with Pastor Greggory L. Brown, located at nearby
4335 Virginia Avenue. Sponsored by the High Street Coalition, the
Northern California Interreligious Conference and supported by Oakland
City Council members: Desley Brooks, Rebecca Kaplan, Libby Schaaf, Larry Reid and Ignacio De. La Fuente and Oakland City Auditor Courtney Ruby, the launch event is themed: "Together We're Cleaning Up, Reaching Out and Changing Our Neighborhood Hand in Hand."
"It's
important for the Mayor, our council members and especially the people
on and near High street to know that this is not a one time event," said
Community Activist and co-founder of the High Street Coalition, Krista Gulbransen.
"There is a lot of opportunity to connect with people in the community
and to gather forces to completely change one of Oakland's most notable
gateways. We will take back this street and make it one the community can be proud of."
The
groups plan to establish regular outreaches as they take on some of the
tough realities of their neighborhood including marking the spot where
the first murder in 2011 occurred. 19 year-old Darnell Barr was
pronounced dead in front of an apartment complex in the 3100 Block of
High Street at 12:09 a.m. January 1, 2011. March participants will stop
for a moment of silence and prayer.
"It's
important to take a moment to acknowledge the loss of Darnell Barr.
Every life has value and its important that we affirm that fact," said Reverend Greggory Brown
of Miracles of Faith Church, one of the key community spokespersons who
was among the first to speak to the BART Board of Directors in the
death of Oscar Grant, who too died on a New Year's Day. "We can't let
the deaths of our young men be a harbinger of our future," added
Reverend Brown. Oscar Grant died after being shot on New Year's Day by a
BART policeman at the Fruitvale BART station near High Street. We must
triage these neighborhood hotspots with compassion and real action that
results in substantive change. We can live and learn to grow in
harmony and productivity. Everyone must know their life and dreams are
of value."
The "Take Back High Street Block by Block" March and Clean up will begin simultaneously at 2:00 p.m. at Brookdale Recreation Center, Brookdale Avenue @High Street and Walgreens Redding Avenue and High Street. Participants may join at either location. The march culminates at Miracles of Faith Church, 4335 Virginia Avenue.
 | | Virtuoso
Ricardo Scales will be among the featured artists at The Sixth Annual
Miracles of Music Jazz & Gospel Festival in honor of Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. |
The Sixth Annual Miracles of Music Jazz & Gospel Festival in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
will include special prayers for the people of Arizona and Haiti. The
sponsored by Miracles of Faith Church, ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church
of America), Reigning Love Outreach Ministries, High Street Coalition,
Northern California Interreligious Conference, and Thrivent Financial
for Lutherans.
The Living the Dream Award will be presented to the Honorable State Senator Sandre Swanson, the Honorable Mayor Jean Quan, Vice Mayor Desley Brooks, Oakland City Council members: Desley Brooks, Rebecca Kaplan, Libby Schaaf, Larry Reid and Ignacio De La Fuente and Oakland City Auditor Courtney Ruby. Bishop Mark Holmerud, Fourth Bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod, ELCA, since 2008 is among the honored guests.
Also, Community leaders and organizations being recognized are:
The Reverend Dr. Harold Mayberry, The Reverend Dr. Brondon Reems,
Reverend Verleeta White, Pierre Laboissier, Black Alliance for Just
Immigration, The St. Luke's Society, The African American Fellowship, Nancy Karigaca, Co-chair of Friends of Maxwell Park, Radio Personality Marshalen Martin of KDYA, LaHitz Media's CEO & Media Activist Jacquie Taliaferro, andHuman Rights Activist Preston Turner.
The entertainment for the program features recording Jazz artist, Ricardo Scales, Grammy Award-winning Jazz Artist, Rodney Franklin, "Oh Happy Day" Recording Artist Dorothy Morrison with Reverend Bill Combs & Guest Minister Anthony Carter, The Oaktown Jazz Workshop, Destiny Harpist Extraordinaire, Gospel Singing Sensation Jordana Jiltonilro, One Accord Praise Dancers of Faith Tabernacle, Spoken Word Artist Timothy Ayati Reaves, and Heaven's Singing Angel Shaila Head.
The public is invited to attend.
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Editors Note: For day of point of contact, you can call Krista Gulbransen at 510-304-3575 or Reverend Greggory L. Brown at 510 499-3700.
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