May Community Newsletter: Coffee and everything after
It's been too long. Your friends here at 6028 College have been busy with events and life. We've got a whole slate of programming down below for you to check out in May.
First and foremost, though, we wanted to make sure that everyone knows that you don't have to be a member of Local Economy to come have a delicious coffee from Painted Leopard and hang out.
In fact, we're going to be making some changes to the front of the space to make it a little easier to pop in and hang a while. So be on the lookout for those!
In the meantime, come check out the new art we have on the walls. The images were created by the San Francisco Chronicle's Brontë Wittpenn and feature images of members of the Yurok tribe who led the efforts to remove the dams on the Klamath River.
And of course you can always become a member to support all the programming here in north Oakland. And feel free to get in touch if you have ideas of things you'd like to see at Local Economy. Maybe it's an art or writing workshop. Maybe it's a civic convening. Maybe it's a session on a stage of life or an idea that you think we need for a better future. We're here! Just email us at hi@thelocaleconomy.com.
—Sarah & Alexis
- Fri, May 1, 6pm: The Art of Midlife 1: Yoked (Bonnie Tsui & Caroline Paul talk about Muscles)
Something shifts in midlife around our relationship to our bodies. Writers Bonnie Tsui (On Muscle) and Caroline Paul (Tough Broad) explore what it feels like to get stronger, more capable, and more at home in a body that's changing. Both are renowned for their tales of adventure and physical resilience, exploring what moves us and uncovering surprising sources of strength. - Sun, May 3, 2pm: This Is for You: Dreaming Up Radically Good Gifts
Mother's Day is coming up, friends!! Workshop lead (and author) Lea Redmond writes: "When I am dreaming up a gift for someone, I don’t assume it will come from a store. Indeed, many of the most wonderful phenomena are too big or too small—too fleeting or too slow, too alive or too wild—to pin down, package up, and sell." - Sun, May 3, 4:30pm: Freeing Children from Shame, Scales, and Stigma
Adolescent medicine specialist Dr. Lauren Hartman and leading weight stigma expert and author Virgie Tovar discuss a compassionate, evidence-based approach to weight and wellness. Drawing on Dr. Hartman’s extensive clinical experience and Tovar’s lived experience and expertise, this conversation explores how we can move away from "shame and scales" toward a culture of belonging. Based on the insights from Dr. Hartman’s new book, Freeing Children and Young Adults from Shame, Scales, and Stigma. - Wed, May 6, 7pm: Bedtime Club
A gathering for non-gestational parents of all kinds—men, women, enbies, trans, cis, queer, straight, adoptive—to slow down together and sit with the stuff that doesn't always get airtime. We didn't carry the kids, but we're carrying other things. - Thurs, May 7, 5pm: SPUR's Ballots and Brews
Each election, SPUR releases a Voter Guide offering comprehensive analysis and recommendations on the complex measures up for vote. This event will provide detailed examinations of local and state measures on the June primary ballot in a relaxed setting with some beers at hand. - Fri, May 8, 6pm: An Evening with Robert Hass
Former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Hass will read from his new book, A Third Commonness: Essays on Poetry, Poetics, and the Natural World. Hass has won a National Book Award and a Pulitzer Prize. He'll be joined in conversation by Jesse Nathan, fellow poet and author of the celebrated collection, Eggtooth, and the new McSweeney's book, One Question: Short Conversations with Poets. Co-presented with East Bay Booksellers! - Sat, May 9, 5pm: Creative Show & Tell Happy Hour
Join us for a creative passion project show & tell happy hour. The only thing better than engaging in your own creative passion projects is hearing other people light up talking about theirs. You can choose to be a spectator or show & teller. We’re channeling Kindergarten here. - Wed, May 13, 6pm: Bestiaries of the More-Than-Humane
We partner with the intellectually dazzling Berggruen Press to bring you a workshop from artist and experimental philosopher Jonathon Keats, author of the new book, A Field Guide to More-Than-Human Governance. Taking inspiration from medieval bestiaries, this workshop is designed to explore lessons in righteousness learned from nonhuman creatures, providing a space for creative expression of the more-than-humane. - Thurs, May 14, 6pm: The Art of Midlife 2: Sandwiched (Courtney Martin & Mia Birdsong on Caregiving)
Many of us in midlife find ourselves holding multiple generations at once — aging parents on one side, kids on the other — while quietly wondering who's holding us. Author and activist Courtney Martin, author of Learning in Public and the Substack the examined family; and pathfinder and futurist Mia Birdsong, author of How We Show Up will share their wisdom on care, interdependence, and how we can cultivate lives and communities that don't leave anyone stranded. - Fri, May 15, 5pm: Herb and Mushroom Talk & Tea Tasting, Vol. 2
What grows around us? Join Cindy (@cindydoedee) for a short presentation on common, local herbs & mushrooms we find growing wild in the Bay Area. We’ll have a short discussion about the ethics and policies around foraging. Cindy will bring in a collection of foraged goodies to share. Enjoy a sampling of foraged fresh and dried herbs during and after the talk! - Sat, May 16, 3pm: Pop-Up Books & Cards for Palestine
Explore the world of paper mechanics in this hands-on workshop. You’ll learn about the history of pop-up paper engineering, pop-up books, and conceptual pop-up art followed by a guided hands-on tutorial. Participants will come away with one pop-up card or art piece. - Sun, May 17, 5pm: Joseph Tseng's "Shanghai: An American Story" Performance
Join us for an evening of art and community as Joseph Tseng shares songs from his latest project exploring hyphenated American identities through a mix of acoustic performances, storytelling, and previews of unreleased tracks. - Tues, May 19, 10am: Storytime for Caregivers with Kate Schatz
This month Patricia Zaballos will chat with writer and activist Kate Schatz about her novel Where the Girls Were In 1968 San Francisco, in the pre-Roe era, pregnancy upends a teenager’s promising future. Sent to a home for unwed mothers, she finds unexpected community. - Wed, May 20, 6pm: Writing the Liminal Body
Parenting pubescent bodies while navigating the wild territory of perimenopause is fertile ground for all the feels. Same storm, different season. Let’s gather our unruly bodies and unlock some unruly words from our creative unconscious. Writing teacher Ali Lawrence invites you to come as you are to write, listen, connect, and create. All you need is a pen and paper (yes, we write with our hands). - Sat, May 23, 2pm: Thriving Solo
An idea-sharing session on living a great life while living on our own, hosted by Susie Wyshak and personal chef Rebecca Stevens (an "eating for one" expert). - Sun, May 24, 9am: Mindfulness Meditation for Habit Change
Rewire stress. Strengthen attention. Create habits that actually stick. In this four-week course, physician Robin Baltrushes will help you explore mindfulness not as a trend or a quick fix — but as a trainable skill grounded in neuroscience, psychology, and lived experience. Signing up for this event is your key to the whole four-part series, and the idea is to come to all four. - Thurs, May 28, 6pm: The Art of Midlife 3: Snatched (Angela Garbes & Manjula Martin talk Fashion)
What if getting dressed is one of the first places where midlife liberation shows up? Manjula Martin (The Last Fire Season) and Angela Garbes (Essential Labor) will explore style, identity and the power of wearing clothes that allow you to move into your body, and make you feel more like yourself. They’ll get into fashion as art, the experience of being perceived, and what we talk about when we talk about pants. The conversation will be candid, joyful, and hopefully a little weird. - Sat, May 30, 1pm: Oakland Noticing Club
Member Jeni Paltiel helps you turn on your curiosity radar. For this session, bring your sightings of Sidewalk Joy. Think art or messages on the sidewalk, impromptu hopscotch games, boxes of free stuff, little free libraries, leaf shadows, neighborhood cats; whatever brings you joy on the sidewalk! There's a lot of room for interpretation here and there are no wrong answers.
