High Street Neighborhood News

by Adelle Foley

Peace in the Park

The sun was just coming out when I arrived at Brookdale Park, and the rededication for peace was about to begin. A group of children from tiny to teens stood with matching drums next to the drill team. All of them had bright red shirts that read, "FAD Drill Team and Drum Corps." They told me that FAD stands for "fight against drugs."

Tables ringed the ballfield. The Discovery Center demonstrated magnetism and electricity with exhibits that the kids wanted to take home. An amazing collection of organizations explained their programs to stop violence and provide alternatives to Oakland's young people. The Job Corps, Bay Area Nonviolent Communication, Ella Baker Center, Silence the Violence, Oakland Coalition of Congregations, Food not Bombs, and Friends and Families of Victims of Violence were among those represented. There was food, paint to decorate ribbons for the pole, face painting, demonstrations of martial arts, and a beautiful red colt.

Aztec dancers chanting, "Dancers are prayers, pray for the earth, men and women," blessed the peace pole as it was unveiled. Leaders of the Faith community, representing a variety of ministries and congregations, delivered prayers and words of hope in Spanish, English, and Arabic. They encouraged us to form an alliance of neighborhood partners, to commit to a future of hope in our city. They asked us to surround with love those who had lost friends and family to violence, and to remember those who were lost on our streets.

The crowd lined up behind the dancers, and clergy "marched like warriors" and sang "Let there be peace on earth. It's time to take a stand," inscribing a circle of protection around the park. Reverend Sally Juarez, pastor of High Street Presbyterian Church, who co-chaired the event with Rec Center Director Michael Foster, told the group that the rededication at Brookdale is just the beginning. She invited everyone to the last of the celebrations, scheduled at San Antonio Park on September 21, 2008. [See the Dimond Neighborhood News for information about the park.]

Good Neighbors and Good Food

Maxwell Park and Melrose residents took to the streets in record numbers to celebrate National Night Out. The scent of burgers, barbecue, pizza, lemonade, and ice cream (donated by Councilmember Jean Quan's Office) filled the streets, and music brightened the late afternoon as the fog finally gave way. The more energetic neighbors formed three walking groups and sampled the warm welcomes and movable feast from I-580 to 55th Ave. to High Street. One group joined the carnival at the Boys & Girls Club. Another discovered a neighbor who has lived in his house on Rawson Ave. since 1921. A member of the third group found a Maxwell Park neighbor who has a good friend who lives in her home town (in the UK). If National Night Out is about making connections with our neighbors, the 2007 version was a great success.

Wanted: Teen Advisors

Melrose Library said good-bye to Children's Librarian Sharon Sensor, who transferred to the Golden Gate Branch. Sharon ably juggled her children's programs and her role as back-up to the branch manager. We'll miss her, and we wish her well.

The library's new Teen Advisory Committee will hold its second meeting on September 12. The new group was organized to provide ideas and suggestions for programs and acquisitions that would appeal to teens. Young people from tweens to almost 20 are welcome. Call Vic Vickers, 535-5623, for more information.♦

Adelle Foley can be reached at jandafoley\@sbcglobal.net.