The United States has the largest prison population in the world and the highest per capita rate of incarceration. The punitive justice that lands people behind bars often hits communities of color and poverty much harder than other groups. In Oakland, California, one of the most … [Read more...] about A community-designed solution: restorative justice arrives in Oakland
Oakland
Colorful basketball courts for a brighter future
It is no doubt that sports and outdoor activities can have beneficial effects on a community. Rainbow Recreation Center in Oakland, California is taking the benefits to a new level. Dan Peterson has begun fixing up basketball courts in urban communities to bring people … [Read more...] about Colorful basketball courts for a brighter future
With its “virtual” power plant, Oakland looks set to move away from fossil fuels
When the demand for electricity surges in Oakland, California, a power plant burning jet fuel switches on, pumping pollution into the western part of the city. But the plant will soon close—and will be replaced in part by a network of solar panels and batteries installed in … [Read more...] about With its “virtual” power plant, Oakland looks set to move away from fossil fuels
Urban farming can alleviate food insecurity in American cities
Feeding people in major cities exerts a lot more pressure on the environment than you might think. Take the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area, for example, which has a total population of some 7 million people. Feeding that many people means importing 2.5 to 3 million tons of … [Read more...] about Urban farming can alleviate food insecurity in American cities
How Oscar Grant’s family is building bridges between police and the community
10 years ago, Oscar Grant III was murdered by a police officer in Oakland. The story behind his tragic death is heartbreaking, but the manner in which his family has responded to the injustice is absolutely worthy of praise. In the decade since his passing, Grant’s family has … [Read more...] about How Oscar Grant’s family is building bridges between police and the community