We Are Neighbors Together: The Harrison brings visibility to the lives and voices of residents at the historic Harrison Hotel, one of downtown Oakland’s last single room occupancy (SRO) buildings.

With community journalism hub the Oakland Lowdown and Lifelong Medical Agency, artist Sue Mark and photographer Monique Blodgett spent a year collaborating with Harrison Hotel residents and staff: building trust, listening deeply, and co-creating a space where residents openly shared stories of hope, healing, and belonging.

Throughout the year, larger-than-life portrait murals wrap the Harrison Hotel’s ground floor windows transforming them into vibrant public galleries. With a documentary film, community celebrations, and curbside screenings on the HEAR HERE Community Billboard, the project sparks urgent conversations about Oakland’s housing crisis.

Founded by Black Panther Aunti Frances Moore and Darnel Parks in 2009, Self-Help Hunger Program (SHHP) builds unity and self determination through care programs to support  North Oakland and South Berkeley residents. SHHP serves hot meals to hundreds every week, providing cultural nourishment and resources to vulnerable neighbors.

In 2024 HEAR HERE collaborated with SHHP members for ‘We Are Neighbors Together’. We recorded SHHP stories of resilience, resistance and community care, and shared these messages on the Community Billboard at farmers markets, community celebrations, the flea market, parks and neighborhood streets. We are growing our partnership in 2025 to include SHHP portraits with powerful messages about housing and resilience at downtown Oakland’s Harrison Hotel.

The Black Panther Party Alumni Legacy Network is composed of original Black Panther Party members and other socially conscious, caring individuals, educational institutions, and community-oriented businesses.  Dr. Saturu Ned, educator and survival program architect is a HEAR HERE mentor.  HEAR HERE has uplifted the Panther’s work at community celebrations like Oakland’s annual Black Joy Parade, Life is Living Festival as well as neighborhood gatherings and workshops at the public library.

North Oakland’s Golden Gate Branch was the first home of Commons Archive (2015-2020). Known as the birthplace of the Black Panthers and current home to Pixar, this area used to be the one of the largest Black communities in Oakland. This branch was also the origin for the African American Library and Museum in Oakland. The Oakland Public Library has hosted multiple events for Commons Archive and is a key location for community gatherings to connect neighbors in Oakland, and empower learning and knowledge for all ages.

CA Revealed is a statewide initiative that helps public libraries, archives, museums, historical societies, and other heritage groups digitize, preserve, and provide online access to materials documenting the state’s history, art, and cultures. Commons Archive and HEAR HERE are proud to have its archive of written and video community stories widely accessible through CA Revealed. We are also excited to expand our partnerships through their Community Archiving Trainings and workshops.

David Peters, leader of the West Oakland Cultural Action Network, is a 3rd generation Oakland native. He has created the nationally acclaimed ‘Black Liberation Walking Tour’, a community-led cultural asset map celebrating Hoover-Foster’s multi-generational Black history and culture. HEAR HERE has partnered with David on many local events from driveway conversations to large celebrations.

N4RJ is a group of Oakland neighbors who, since 2013, have been committed to racial equity and justice in our neighborhoods & city.  They examine and act to address anti-blackness and white supremacy. N4RJ has been HEAR HERE’s strategic partner to develop and maintain an equity lens for all of our engagements.

Susie Wise (Design for Belonging) is liberatory design faculty at the National Equity Project and an adjunct professor at the Stanford D.School where she founded the K12 Lab. As a HEAR HERE strategic partner, Susie uses her beliefs to create more belonging and less othering in our communities through design.

Shawn Granberry, HipHopTV founder & CEO, was immersed in Oakland’s musical entertainment scene through his family. Shawn is passionate about supporting young people to achieve a college education through leadership programs.  As a HEAR/HERE strategic partner, Shawn recruits young people to produce video content.