Oakland, CA
In Oakland, organizations Youth Speaks and Edutainment for Equity, are leading the charge. Together they have produced the Life is Living Festival, a 15 year multi modal, Black led arts and culture festival in West Oakland. Using Hip-Hop as a vehicle, this festival honors the legacy of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense in celebration of their groundbreaking survival programs. Life is Living builds sustainable collaborations with health agencies, and wellness groups to address the increasing levels of suffering in the city.