The Current in a Sea of Displacement
Today as we speak there are hundreds of people every minute that are displaced into a condition without a definite resolve. As our economy slides deeper into collapse, and Covid takes it’s toll, we must prepare ourselves to be agents of change and act as our own political entities to exact transformation in these challenging times.
Artist Building Communities was founded on the principle of direct action from its inception and strives to cooperate with the existing organizations, to erect housing in the shadows of the city where people have been swept into the cracks.
Our exploration has taken us from east Oakland at the 12th st. Village, and BK Village in cooperation with Ohlone Village Builders, to Seabreeze Encampment where Annmarie, and Dmitri were able to aid Mr. West, Shawna, and various other in acquire medical attention and supplies for their everyday needs. We discovered that there is a restriction that excludes the construction of anything that is deemed “permanent”. So as a result we began to focus our energy on Wood st. Encampment which has less visibility and more space with virtually no police presence.
As we get to know the various residents of Wood st., we have come to find a rapport with quite a few. An old friend is currently residing there and we have proposed to build something for him. An African American woman named Mona who has been out there for five years and has become our first recipient of a tiny home at Wood st. Encampment. We have organized with one of the compounds and are developing a relationship with them such that if there is ever an eviction that we could be part of a rapid response phone/email network to defend their homes and the ones we are building. Please drop us your e-mail/phone if you are interested in being part of a rapid response network to defend encampments/build sites.
As of now we are more than 3/4 finished with our first build out at Wood st. And there has been nothing but positive response. The structure has doors and windows installed and is and is awaiting the final touches of roofing and interior paneling, paint, and voila! We are looking forward to further coalition with the Wood st. encampment as we have amazing rapport with the population and the fact that many unhoused are directed there by the police.
Dmitri and Zoe have been providing amazing support with food and logistics, and we are happy to announce that Zoe is running for city counsel! I also want to thank our builder friends Matt, Alexis, John, and now Ben and Bobby, Ryan, Katie, and Jenny, who have all been invaluable.
The Organizations that are doing outstanding work out there in the unhoused communities of Oakland are, Youth Spirit Artworks headed up by Sally Hindman, building yurt style homes in a village at 633 Hegenberger. The Ohlone Village Builders are the most prolific and well establish group with various sites off 12th st. In east Oakland. EFAM (Essential Food and Medicine) providing food and healing elixirs as well as various amenities to the unhoused in various locations. UFAD (United Front Against Displacement) is a political organization that is striving to offset displacement by protecting and offering a political platform to force local government and other local organizations to address the problem of homelessness in the Bay Area and beyond. Not to mention their development and distribution of hand washing stations for various encampments. UFAD has a clean up/trash removal scheduled for September 29th-30th. These organizations are the backbone of an evolving support structure for the unhoused encampments around the east bay.
Right now we are looking for housing stewards in various capacities. Please check out what positions are open if you would like to become a part of the ABC Team. Thanks for listening and stay tuned for information on how you can get involved!
Signing off….
Jonathan Wright
Build Director