We understand over 70 people attended the Town Hall Meeting at Eastside Arts to discuss the Black Arts Movement Business District, hosted by Dr. Ayodele Nzinga. People came as individuals and as members of organizations who want to see the BAMBD a reality along the 14th Street corridor, downtown Oakland. Dr. Nzinga informed folks the BAMBD will be whatever they want it to be and the idea is beyond the imagination of any person or group. Stay tuned for a summary of the meeting. Another meeting is scheduled soon.
FYI, the Oakland City Council approved the district on January 19, 2016. We still await banners and vendors along the corridor. We have also asked that the Malonga Center be placed in a land trust for the BAMBD district along with other properties that will be utilized for artist space and general housing. We would like to see capital improvements to Geofrey's Inner Circle as an anchor of the BAMBD. There is discussion of extending the BAMBD from the Lower Bottom of 14th Street to deep East Oakland along the International Blvd. corridor. Activities planned for the BAMBD include the Black Arts Movement Theatre Festival at the Flight Deck and Donald Lacy's play Color Struck at the Laney College Theatre, August-September, 2016. For more information, please contact Dr. Ayodele Nzinga: 510-457-8999.
