For  individual or group trauma support, mediations and anti-oppression advocacy, please contact Safer Spaces:

Tel: (510) 502-9466

Email:saferspaces@occupyoakland.org

Healing can take place in the form of reconnecting with Mother Earth.

It can be little steps like birdwatching, hiking, going to the beach or eating freshly picked berries. Ask your five senses what do I see, hear, taste, touch, smell?

Have you tried gardening? Or are you already a gardener? What does your body, mind and soul experience when you dig that dirt, plant the seed, water, trim the weeds, ask the ladybugs to kindly tell some insects to be nice to your plants and watch the phenomenon of  seeds turning into fruits,vegetables or flowers? What does it feel like to struggle with a plant that won’t thrive but one day you go out and it turned into something beautiful? What does it feel like when you can be sustainable and self-efficient through this entire process? What does it feel like to share stories and tips with your fellow Green Thumbs? What does it feel like when you can share your harvest with your friends, family or community?

Healing from trauma is about your body regenerating and flourishing much like  plants. Sometimes you may have to become  a seed again in order to recover. There may be ups and downs but because you are part of Mother Earth, you have the resilience and strength to overcome, no matter how difficult. You are also your own gardener. What can you do for your garden? Our movement went from seeds to the bountiful harvest that it is now because of the care, faith and dedication you  and your comrades gave to it.Take care and be kind to yourself. Take care of each other. We can heal as a community.

On that note, there’s some beautiful healing going on at Occupy the Farm today! Please come if you can.

When: Thursday, May 3

Event Schedule:
“Occupy the Farm”: Permaculture workshop and Maypole 
Join Starhawk and friends to support the wonderful farm being created on a piece of vacant land in the East Bay by the Occupy movement.
Permaculture workshop, 3:00 p.m: Learn some of the basic ethics and principles of permaculture as we put them into practice at this reclaimed farm site.
Maypole celebration, 6:00 p.m.: Dance the Maypole to celebrate the rising tides of life, the diverse forms of love, and the power of regeneration.

Bring food to share.  Donations of seeds and starts for the farm are much appreciated.
Cost: Free! Kids welcome.
Location: Marin between San Pablo and Jackson streets, Albany, California
For more information: http://www.takebackthetract.com/

The OO Labor Solidarity Committee meets weekly, with every other meeting being held at Oscar Grant Plaza weather permitting. This week’s meeting will be held at Oscar Grant Plaza, on the steps between the amphitheatre and the trees.

This week’s meeting will be held at 400 Roland Way, Oakland, CA 94621 (Teamsters Local 70.). For those coming exclusively by public transportation It’s about two miles away from the Oakland Coliseum BART, (10 minutes on the 98 bus.)

Topics include coordination with labor groups (union and non-union) around the Bay Area, and this meeting will likely be focused on reviewing May Day activities and planning for our upcoming second Workers’ Assembly, tentatively scheduled for May 19th.

Occupy Oakland Research Working Group weekly meeting

Location: The Niebyl-Proctor Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave, in Oakland, California

Everyone who’s interested in doing research to empower Oakland’s 99% and target the city’s 1% is welcome. Bring an open mind and be prepared to learn together.

For more information, email research@occupyoakland.org or visit our website: occupyoaklandresearch.org

The OO Labor Solidarity Committee meets weekly, with every other meeting being held at Oscar Grant Plaza weather permitting. This week’s meeting will be held at Oscar Grant Plaza, on the steps between the amphitheatre and the trees. But check back here on the afternoon of May 10th in case of inclement weather — we might move indoors and the new location would be announced here.

Topics include coordination with labor groups (union and non-union) around the Bay Area, and this meeting will likely be focused on reviewing May Day activities and planning for our upcoming second Workers’ Assembly, tentatively scheduled for May 19th.

Occupy Oakland Research Working Group weekly meeting

Location: The Niebyl-Proctor Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave, in Oakland, California

Everyone who’s interested in doing research to empower Oakland’s 99% and target the city’s 1% is welcome. Bring an open mind and be prepared to learn together.

For more information, email research@occupyoakland.org or visit our website: occupyoaklandresearch.org

The OO Labor Solidarity Committee meets weekly, with every other meeting being held at Oscar Grant Plaza weather permitting. This week’s meeting will be held at Oscar Grant Plaza, on the steps between the amphitheatre and the trees. But check back here on the afternoon of May 17th in case of inclement weather — we might move indoors and the new location would be announced here.

Topics include coordination with labor groups (union and non-union) around the Bay Area, and this meeting will likely include planning for our upcoming second Workers’ Assembly, scheduled for May 19th at 10:00 AM at the SEIU 1021 Hall at 155 Myrtle St, Oakland, CA.

The working class is facing an unprecedented assault from
employers and the state. We must build solidarity in collective
struggle. In this spirit we invite all workers – paid and unpaid,
employed and unemployed, union and non-union, full-time and
precarious – to join a Workers’ Assembly.

We aim to encourage communication and solidarity between
different sectors of the working class. We want to encourage
common struggle against the 1% and their agents who exploit
and oppress us, for a society based on justice and equality, where
the needs and desires of all working people are given first priority.

This will be the 2nd meeting of the Workers’ Assembly.
It will take place at the SEIU 1021 Hall, 155 Myrtle St, Oakland, CA.

Please join us — And there is such thing as a free lunch!

Occupy Oakland Research Working Group weekly meeting

Location: The Niebyl-Proctor Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave, in Oakland, California

Everyone who’s interested in doing research to empower Oakland’s 99% and target the city’s 1% is welcome. Bring an open mind and be prepared to learn together.

For more information, email research@occupyoakland.org or visit our website: occupyoaklandresearch.org

The OO Labor Solidarity Committee meets weekly, with every other meeting being held at Oscar Grant Plaza weather permitting. This week’s meeting will take place at 1440 Broadway, on the 2nd floor in the UNITE HERE conference room.

Topics include coordination with labor groups (union and non-union) around the Bay Area, and this meeting will likely include planning for our upcoming third Workers’ Assembly, scheduled for June 9th and a discussion of a proposed “March of the Unemployed.”

Occupy Oakland Research Working Group weekly meeting

Location: The Niebyl-Proctor Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave, in Oakland, California

Everyone who’s interested in doing research to empower Oakland’s 99% and target the city’s 1% is welcome. Bring an open mind and be prepared to learn together.

For more information, email research@occupyoakland.org or visit our website: occupyoaklandresearch.org

Speaker:  Nichola Torbett, Seminary of the Street

Sharing to follow: Telling our own stories of personal experiences of violence and how that has shaped us as individuals

The OO Labor Solidarity Committee meets weekly, with every other meeting being held at Oscar Grant Plaza weather permitting. This week’s meeting will take place at Oscar Grant Plaza, near or on the steps of the amphitheater. In case of inclement weather, please check back here for an alternative location.

Topics include coordination with labor groups (union and non-union) around the Bay Area, and this meeting will likely include discussion about a labor resolution decrying the death of Alan Blueford and a proposed “March of the unemployed.”

Meeting of the OO Media Committee.

Occupy Oakland Research Working Group weekly meeting

Location: The Niebyl-Proctor Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave, in Oakland, California

Everyone who’s interested in doing research to empower Oakland’s 99% and target the city’s 1% is welcome. Bring an open mind and be prepared to learn together.

For more information, email research@occupyoakland.org or visit our website: occupyoaklandresearch.org