A group of people sitting at tables in a gymnasium watching a speaker in front of a stage.
On July 15th, MG hosted the second of our newly re-started Community Dinners, this time in East Oakland.
Several dozen MG homies came out to Roots Community Health at the Parker Elementary School campus to savor some phenomenal potluck dishes — from Thai green curry and fresh-from-the-garden summer salads to mint basil lemonade and a vegan cheese charcuterie board.
While we enjoyed the feast and the kids played nearby, MG’s Quinton Sankofa shared with us how teachers, parents, students, and community members occupied Parker Elementary when it was slated for closure by OUSD, and saved it as a community resource. Quinton also shared more about the powerful work being done in East Oakland by the Brotherhood of Elders Network and their partners on the 40×40 council to move resources to Black communities to meet their own needs in the face of increased public and private disinvestment.
Inspired by plant starts offered by our friends at the Gil Tract Community farm at our first community dinner, we began what we hope will be a regular practice of bringing seeds to the dinner to share with each other. MG’s Gopal Dayaneni shared Yakteen (heirloom Palestinian gourd) Kousa (Palestinian summer squash) seeds from Palestine.
We’re aiming to host the dinners at a range of accessible spots across the Bay. If you have a spot to offer, please let us know!