events
This October, BLACspace Cooperative joins MOAD’s Nexus: SF/Bay Area Black Art Week for a two-part adventure through the living ecosystem of Black arts, culture, and creativity in Oakland and beyond.
On Friday, October 2, explore The BLAC Map of Oakland in real life, our guide to the remarkable creative and cultural spaces stewarded by BLACspace members. We’ll take you behind the doors, into the spaces, and closer to the people growing Oakland’s cultural landscape and economy.
Then, as the sun goes down, the tour gives way to The BLAC Map Party, a celebration of the budding BLAC ecosystem, with good music, good people, fabulous food, and a destination we’re keeping under wraps for now.
Think of it as a field trip through the forest, if the forest had studios, galleries, gathering places, makers, artists, space makers, and a very good party at the end.
Meet us at MoAD SF on Friday, October 2nd, 2026 at 11:30 AM. We will gather at the front entrance - 685 Mission St, SF 94105. Bus departs at 12 PM sharp!
Six site visits. One living map. Explore BLACspace.
The BLAC Map Tour
The BLAC Map Ecosystem Tour is a guided multi-location experience for arts and culture lovers to explore BLACspace’s ecosystem. Within the tour participants will be joining our guide to experience studio visits, photography exhibitions, film screenings, somatic activations, live music and performances.
The BLAC Map Party
A lush celebration of the people, places, and ideas shaping Black arts and culture in Oakland and beyond.
The forest is growing. Let’s Celebrate.
Come for the music and art.
Stay for the company.
Meet the BLAC ecosystem.
Hosted by BLACspace Cooperative, the party marks the final stop of The BLAC Map Tour
- a day field trip spent visiting the creative and cultural spaces stewarded by our members.
A lush celebration of the people, places, and ideas shaping Black arts and culture in Oakland and beyond.
The forest is growing. Come Celebrate.
Come for the music and art.
Stay for the company.
Meet the BLAC ecosystem.
Hosted by BLACspace Cooperative, the party marks the final stop of The BLAC Map Tour
- a day field trip spent visiting the creative and cultural spaces stewarded by our members.
BlaQyard is located in the Fruitvale District, Oakland (address given after RSVP)
The BLACumentary at the Oakland International Film Festival
OIFF Day 3: 9/11, Session 1: 5-8:00PM
See the exciting films below for session 1 at Jeannik Méquet Littlefield Concert Hall. After each film, there will be a 5min Q&A!
People Of The West - Episode 8
Directors: Bradley Munoa, Christopher Nataanii Cegielski, Phillip Montgomery, Josh Baker
Runtime: 00:70:00
In the ashes of San Francisco's American Indian Center, a new generation rises. Mohawk activist Richard Oakes and student leader LaNada Means rally Native voices from across the nation to reclaim Alcatraz Island, transforming a former prison into a symbol of freedom. As the 'Indians of All Tribes' occupation captures the world's attention, unity and defiance collide with loss and sacrifice. Through courage and conviction, they ignite the Red Power Movement and declare to America, and the world, that Native people are still here, and always will be.
THE BLACUMENTARY
Director: Korise Jubert III
Runtime: 00:31:00
The BLACumentary is the story of how six cultural leaders in Oakland started a revolution. This documentary takes you on a proverbial hero’s journey, tracing the Black arts movement in Oakland from its beginning to the threat of cultural erasure experienced today, and the work BLACspace Cooperative is doing to resist and rebuild the movement for the next 100 years Centering the voices of BLACspace Cooperative’s vision keepers and board members, the short film maps the birth of BLACspace and acts as a stirring meditation on what it means to re-establish and protect Black spaces.
THE FIGHT TO BREATHE
Director: Holden Hilal
Runtime: 00:11:00
A portrait of Oakland’s fight for clean air, told through the voices of residents, doctors, truck drivers, and children living with asthma. Led by activist Margaret Gordon, this documentary traces a community’s battle against diesel pollution—and its vision for a healthier future.
UNIDOS 26
Director: Jesus Alejandro Nunez
Runtime: 00:15:24
In the lead up to the biggest sporting event in history, a teenage soccer club witnesses their community be torn apart by continued ICE raids and anti-immigratory reforms.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Kindred Connection: Holiday Office Party
2nd Annual Kindred Connection: Holiday Office Party
Hosted by Just BE x Real Life Oakland - Business Coaching
For solopreneurs, freelancers, and entrepreneurs — the end of the year can be a lot. You’ve worked hard, poured your heart into your work, and kept showing up… even when no one was watching.
And while most workplaces throw office parties to celebrate their teams — we often don’t get that kind of love. So we decided to change that.
Join Just BE for a night that’s all about celebrating YOU: your growth, your resilience, and the incredible year you’ve created.
Wednesday, December 11, 2025
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Groundfloor Oakland
What to Expect
A cozy, celebratory atmosphere and community connection with fellow entrepreneurs
A delicious catered meal featuring local flavors
Signature cocktails, mocktails, and sweet treats
A warm, affirming space to reflect, recharge, and reconnect
A special gift bag to take home
Who’s Invited
Black, Indigenous, Women and Gender Expansive Entrepreneurs of Color, freelancers, and small business owners — anyone who’s poured their heart into self-employment and deserves to be celebrated
Bring a friend, family member, or colleague—especially someone who’s been your biggest supporter this year.
The BLAC Toast
The BLAC Toast,
BLACspace Cooperative’s twenty-twenty-five closeout sorièe.
In partnership with Comfort Collective, a Southern cuisine pop-up gracing the tables at Couchdate. We welcome you to an evening of good food, conversation, and good music.
And at seven o’clock sharp, join us for our collective toast, a moment to honor the year behind us, while writing intentions for the one awaiting on the horizon. Come dressed in your joy. Leave full of community love.
We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Final AfroPortals Project Space & Archive Activation of 2025
You are warmly invited to join Artist As First Responder inside our gold container at Liberation Park for the final set of AfroPortals activations of the year. These gatherings will be a beautiful opportunity for our network to come together, connect with our global community, and honor the powerful conversations and relationships we have built across continents over the last 2.5 years in partnership with Shared Studios.
If you've never had the opportunity to step into the gold portal for a full body livestream,
NOW is your chance!
Schedule for Tuesday, Dec 9, 2025
9:00 AM – A Shared Bite: Kinship Across Continents (with Lagos, Nigeria )
Coffee and tea and bites!
10:30 AM to 11:30 AM – Afro-Dynamic Music & Poetry (with Johannesburg, South Africa)
11:30 AM to 12:30 PM – Traditional and Contemporary Archiving and Sonic Healing (with Mexico City, Mexico & São Vicente, Brazil)
RSVP at artistresponder@gmail.com and let us know which session(s) you plan to join us for so we can plan seating and hospitality.
Rock Breaking Ceremony
After five years of preparation, we are so pleased to announce that we are breaking “ground” on Esther’s Orbit Room and will begin 12 months of construction this January!
You are cordially invited to our Rock Breaking Ceremony on Saturday, December 6, 2025 from 10am to 12:30pm! Meet us at Esther's Orbit Room (1728 7th Street, Oakland CA, 94607) to mix, mingle, and watch us deconstruct and preserve the venue’s original rock facade in celebration of this incredible milestone! Attendees will enjoy food and music, meet fellow supporters, and tour the bare bones of Esther’s Orbit Room before we begin construction.
RSVP for our Rock Breaking here and check out our attached press release for more information!
Thank you for being part of our movement to build a permanently affordable, cooperative economy in the East Bay! We look forward to seeing you in December.