Archiving Gold: Everyday People in Oakland Storytelling Our History

    Archiving Gold: Everyday People in Oakland Storytelling Our History
    Friday, June 9, 5-9 pm as part of Friday Nights at OMCA (Free)
    Sunday, June 11, 2023:  1-2:30pm (Panel discussion), 2:45 - 4pm (Post-Event Café Conversations), Sliding Scale $1-$30

    What would you want future generations to know about life in Oakland today? Come narrate your own history at OMCA! Archiving Gold is a two-part program presented in collaboration with Gold Beams and the Oakland Public Library History Center inviting everyday people to narrate and archive their own history of Oakland for future generations. You’re invited to participate in either or both parts of this engaging two-part program.

    PART 1

    Part one is integrated into our popular Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid. Bring an object, a photo, a writing or just share a story that symbolizes your culture and wisdom as you experience it right now in Oakland. Gold Beams photographer Dorean Raye will photograph your object and develop a digital archive of the stories in a portal on the Gold Beams website and the Oakland Public Library History Center will produce a printed version for their shelves that will live on for generations to come. 

    PART 2

    This Sunday Public Program will offer a deeper dive into the practices of community partners who are doing the work of holding and shaping Oakland culture and history. We will showcase a visual display of the digital archive produced from the Friday Night event. 

    The panel guests will include  Elisha Greenwell, Founder & CEO of the Black Joy Parade, Carolyn Johnson, CEO of Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation, Sheilby Macena,  photographer whose work focuses on intimacy and personal histories that document the past and honor the present and Travis Watts, Founder and ED at Afrocentric Oakland and Oakland Juneteenth Festival. The conversation will be moderated by Tayleur Crenshaw Founder and Co-owner of Gold Beams. 

    After the discussion we invite visitors to join us to continue the conversation at the black woman and Howard University alumni-owned OMCA’s Town Fare by Chef Michele McQueen. Come taste the hearty and delicious brunch menu and sip on the special edition “Archiving Gold” signature mimosa (regular menu prices apply).