Oakland

Local Organizations16

1. A.B.O. Comixabocomix.com

   Organization supporting LGBTQ+ prisoners through art publications, direct financial assistance, and pen pal programs. Provides essential items, legal support, and resources while amplifying prisoner voices through comics and art.

2. Oakland Abolition & Solidarityoaklandabosol.org

   Oakland prisoner-support collective that backs incarcerated people organizing against prison conditions, with phone zaps, rallies and a monthly newsletter.

3. Critical Resistancecriticalresistance.org

   Building an international movement to abolish the prison industrial complex through grassroots organizing, coalition building, political education, and direct action. Their Oakland chapter leads campaigns against imprisonment and policing while developing community-based alternatives.

4. Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN)apen4ej.org

   Environmental justice group based in Oakland that organizes Asian immigrant and refugee communities in Oakland, Richmond and Carson against industrial polluters.

5. Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ)curyj.org

   Oakland group led by formerly incarcerated and system-impacted youth ages 14–26, working to end youth incarceration in California. It runs the Oscar Grant Youth Power Zone in Fruitvale.

6. Wood Street Commonswoodstreetcommons.org

   We stand with all poor and houseless people and are working with others to build a movement in Oakland for housing as a human right.

7. Punks with Lunchpunkswithlunch.org

   Volunteer-run group serving lunches, hygiene supplies, syringe access and Narcan to unhoused people at weekly fixed-site and mobile outreach in West Oakland.

8. Moments Cooperative and Community Spacemomentscooperative.com

   Volunteer-run cooperative bookstore and community space in downtown Oakland for QTBIPOC artists and organizers, with a book and zine shop, artist residencies and a community fridge.

9. Omni Commonsomnicommons.org

   Community center at 4799 Shattuck Ave in Oakland, started by collectives out of Occupy Oakland. Since 2024 the building has been owned by the CALLI community land trust and hosts community groups and events.

10. Chiapas Support Committeechiapas-support.org

    A grassroots collective organizing mutual aid and solidarity initiatives in support of Zapatista communities in Chiapas, Mexico. They coordinate direct support for autonomous education, resource sharing, and community organizing while building connections between Oakland and Indigenous movements through cultural events and political education at the Omni Commons.

11. Anti Police-Terror Project (APTP)antipoliceterrorproject.org

    Oakland-based group working on alternatives to policing. It runs the MH First mental health crisis response and a People's Clinic, and supports families affected by police violence.

12. Tamaracktamarackoakland.com

    Collectively run social center, bar, and free radical library at 1501 Harrison St in downtown Oakland, hosting political education events, benefit shows, and film screenings.

13. POOR Magazinepoormagazine.org

    Poor people-led and Indigenous-led media, art and education group in Oakland. Runs Poor News Network, Roofless Radio, PeopleSkool and POOR Press.

14. Vital Artsvitalarts.org

    Oakland nonprofit founded after the 2016 Ghost Ship fire. Offers artist displacement prevention grants, an artist legal cafe, and other support for Bay Area artists.

15. EastSide Arts Allianceeastsideartsalliance.org

    Grassroots arts organization of color in East Oakland. Runs a debt-free cultural center with a theater, gallery and studio, plus Bandung Books and an archive project.

16. Love and Justice in the Streetsloveandjusticeinthestreets.com

    All-volunteer group that takes supplies and money straight to unhoused people in Oakland encampments and supports residents during encampment evictions.