Life Is Living Table
“Hella Solidarity” was this year’s theme at Lil Bobby Hutton Park, better known as DeFremery Park, where Life Is Living came alive on Saturday, October 11th. Now in its 17th year, this powerful festival continues to merge culture and wellness, food and hospitality as politics, and arts and youth engagement with activism and education, all grounded in an unwavering commitment to music.
The festival connects Oakland’s local struggles to global movements, creating a space where the people’s stories, hopes, and power meet. This free community gathering offers refuge and renewal to the city with free breakfast, wellness zones, a kid zone, Black Panther exhibits, and a bustling marketplace featuring community partners and local vendors.
Kingmakers of Oakland was front and center, proudly supporting this vanglorious day. People from every walk of life across generations, colors, and cultures came together to receive the love and light that radiated throughout the park. Music, art, laughter, and deep conversations filled every corner.
Kingmakers played an integral role in ensuring that the message and legacy of this 17-year movement continue to thrive. Rooted in the very neighborhood where the festival began, Life Is Living stands as a reclamation of public space and a celebration of local culture.
Throughout the day, I had meaningful conversations with elders, families, youth, and community partners, each exchange a reminder of the love, pride, and purpose that binds our city together. Our merchandise was warmly received by the community, opening deeper dialogue about our organization’s theory of action and how we support schools, families, and young people across Oakland.
This day, like every Life Is Living celebration, was rooted in justice, community, and family. Our presence added another layer to the tapestry of legacy and culture that defines this beautiful event. Seeing young kids and elders alike rocking Kingmakers hats and t-shirts throughout the park was a blessing and a symbol of shared pride.
It was a day etched into the memory of my soul, one that speaks to legacy, impact, and the enduring beauty of Oakland.