Life Is Living

Life Is Living Celebrating Life through urban performance, intergenerational health, and environmental action. LIFE is Real. Celebrate your LIFE.

Key Presenting Partners have included:
Youth Speaks Inc. The Living Word Project
The Estria Foundation (Oakland)
Town Park (Oakland)
Riverside Church (NYC)
The Mitchell Center for Performing Arts (Houston)
The Farm (Houston)
Kuumba Lynx (Chicago)
Museum of Contemporary Art (Chicago)
Brave New Voices (Chicago and Philadelphia)
Philly Urban Creators

The cuts to SNAP food assistance are hitting our communities hard. We stay committed to taking care of each other, body ...
11/07/2025

The cuts to SNAP food assistance are hitting our communities hard. We stay committed to taking care of each other, body and soul.

So many of our partners and local organizations like Farms to Grow, Self Help Hunger Program, Alameda County Community Food Bank, East Oakland Collective, ANV Farms, Understory, APTP, Oakland LGBTQ Center, Mandela Grocery, Wahpepa’s Kitchen, Homies Empowerment, and more show up day after day to keep people fed.

If you need extra food assistance at this time, check out FoodNow.net. If you’re looking for ways to support, take a look at volunteering with Community Kitchens.



[lmage Description: carousel of yellow graphics with info about area food resources.]

Repost from
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With SNAP funding cut starting Nov.1st, we put together a comprehensive guide on where Bay Areans can get free/discounted meals & groceries. Please note not everything is there, and invite y’all to tag additional sources in the comments.
Created by: &
Special thanks to & for their reporting & guides
Additional thanks to & for DMs on local businesses and restaurants

Feeling incredibly grateful for our LIL Cohort! These fantastic folks are the heartbeat of our planning community, dedic...
10/23/2025

Feeling incredibly grateful for our LIL Cohort! These fantastic folks are the heartbeat of our planning community, dedicating their time and passion year-round to co-create the magic of LIL.

Our cohort includes: Keith K-Dub Williams at Town Park Skatepark, Bryan Massengale at Destiny Arts, Andrew Wilson at , Bethanie Hines at Bethanie Hines Photography, Evan Bissell, Needa Bee at The Village in Oakland, Korise Jubert at Town Futurist, Candice Davis and Hodari Davis at Edutainment for Equity, Eli Jacobs Fantauzzi at Fist Up Film Festival, YaVette Holts with BAOBOB Directory, Brett Cook, Ismael Plasencia at The Crucible, Panther Skate Plaza, Khalil Anthony at Bijou Film Festival, Emily Butterfly at Emily Butterfly Productions, Bijou McDaniel at Oakhella, Jennifer Johns at F.U.N. Manifesto, Joan Osato with The Living Word Project, and Jocelyn Jackson and Kamakshi Duvvuru with People’s Kitchen Collective.

Thank you for all that you do!
ftt .emilybutterfly



[lmage Description: Graphic with the title of LIL COHORT Thank you to our LIL Cohort for making Life is Living ‘25 possible. Under the title there are logos from cohort members specific organizations. The font is white on a background that looks like blue sky and white and pinkish clouds.]

Celebrating 18 years of love, joy, and community at the Life is Living festival! Grateful to for beautifully capturing ...
10/17/2025

Celebrating 18 years of love, joy, and community at the Life is Living festival!

Grateful to for beautifully capturing the spirit of this powerful day.

Here’s to creating safe and healthy spaces for us to live our lives together! ❤️

If you’d like to join in supporting LIFE IS LIVING and help keep it free for community, you can still make a tax deductible donation at the link in bio: fundrazr.com/lifeisliving25



[lmage Description: Carousel of Bethanie Hines photos from the Life is Living festival.]

Sending out a big Hella Solidarity thank you to our Life is Living sponsors! Life is Living is funded or supported in pa...
10/16/2025

Sending out a big Hella Solidarity thank you to our Life is Living sponsors!

Life is Living is funded or supported in part by sponsors including Akonadi Foundation, Rainin Foundation, Ruth Foundation for the Arts, Stupski Foundation, Oakland Roots and Soul Foundation, Oakland Ballers, Kingmakers of Oakland, Beneficial State Bank, Office of Carroll Fife, OMCA, Becker Boards, Ike Smart City, individual donors, and more.

Your generosity and belief in our mission made it all possible!

If you’d like to join in supporting LIFE IS LIVING and help keep it free for community all year round, you can still make a tax deductible donation at the link in bio: fundrazr.com/lifeisliving25



[lmage Description: Colorful gradient flyer with logos of all the sponsors of Life is Living 2025. Carousel of Bethanie Hines photos from the festival.]

📸

We want you to picture yourself at Life is Living tomorrow: Start your day with a FREE BREAKFAST (11am-12pm) in deliciou...
10/11/2025

We want you to picture yourself at Life is Living tomorrow:

Start your day with a FREE BREAKFAST (11am-12pm) in delicious solidarity from and root in revolutionary service in the BPP ZONE.

Ground in the love of our ancestors with blessings and ALTAR from , offering by , and a community altar by .

Add your mark to COMMUNITY ART projects, including a community photo collage , mural design project , featured art along the fence , .

Roll through the WHEELS ZONE with , , and demo at 1pm, all to beats by .

Level up your skills with in the MAKERS ZONE, make buttons with , and live SilkScreening with this year’s logo with !

Buy from our MARKETPLACE of 40 incredible BIPOC small businesses ! And find resources and giveaways in our 10+ COMMUNITY RESOURCE tables.

Tend to your mind and body in the WELLNESS ZONE with , and !

Treat the whole family to activities in the KIDS ZONE and BASEBALL FIELD.

And finally our no-skip HELLA SOLIDARITY lineup on the MAIN STAGE, from 11am-4pm!
WE CAN’T WAIT TO CELEBRATE LIFE WITH YOU.

Life is Living - Saturday, October 11 from 11AM-4PM at Lil Bobby Hutton Park.



[lmage Description: Photos of community from past life is living festivals.]

Photo credit

It’s time to PLAN YOUR DAY AT LIL 2025!! Day of Schedules are here: Hella Solidarity Main Stage with MC RyanNicole kicki...
10/08/2025

It’s time to PLAN YOUR DAY AT LIL 2025!!

Day of Schedules are here: Hella Solidarity Main Stage with MC RyanNicole kicking things off at 11:00AM, Africa in Oakland & Friends Dance Zone schedule will have you moving your body all day. Free Breakfast in the legacy of the BPP provided by and happens 11AM-12PM. All are welcome!

More times to keep in mind: On the BASEBALL FIELD 11am-1pm, Let the Kids Play Soccer Activities & 2pm - 4pm, Champion Oakland Ballers Baseball Activities. WHEELS ZONE 1pm, Scraper Bike Demo.

Saturday, October 11 from 11AM-4PM at Lil Bobby Hutton Park.

foundation ballers





[lmage Description: First graphic is Life is Living Plan Your Day At The Park on a dark pink background followed by graphics of Hella Solidarity Main Stage and Africa in Oakland Dance Zone schedules on orange and pink backgrounds]

Honoring our ancestors at LIL 2025 ✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿We will hold a community altar at the park as a place to honor beloved revoluti...
10/08/2025

Honoring our ancestors at LIL 2025 ✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿We will hold a community altar at the park as a place to honor beloved revolutionary and recent ancestor Assata Shakur, as well as each of our community ancestors including (but never limited to) Rashad Pridgen, Marvin Boomer, Hodari Blue, Tony Coleman, Stephen Gaines aka Zumbi, Oscar Grant, Nia Wilson, Dwayne Wiggins, Bobby Hutton, Palestinian lineages, Congolese miners, Sudanese refugees, Haitian maroons, and many more.

PLEASE BRING AN ITEM WITH YOU TO ADD TO ONE OR BOTH OF THE COMMUNITY ALTARS.

From the radical Trust Your Struggle collective family, Franklin at REVOLT Silkscreen will do LIVE silkscreening at the park with this year’s logo!

PLEASE BRING ONE ITEM PER PERSON TO DO A LIVE SILKSCREENING.

We’ll have one small screen and one large screen, so bring something small but mighty like a onesie or bandana or something larger like a T-shirt. Even better, be green and bring something thrifted or that you already own.

Saturday 11-4PM - Lil Bobby Hutton Park - love, joy and Hella Solidarity!



[lmage Description: photo of two people from Revolt Silkscreen standing near a silkscreen. Another colorful photo of a community altar for ancestors from a previous LIL festival]

‘25 mainstage is about that homegrown come up 🔥🔥🔥Whether you’re vibing, stepping or locking... we got you and this year...
10/07/2025

‘25 mainstage is about that homegrown come up 🔥🔥🔥

Whether you’re vibing, stepping or locking... we got you and this year’s line up will absolutely TURN YOU ON!!

We’re bringing the hitters everyone will surely be talking about next day and beyond!!
It’s about fresh new floss with that steady simmer... if you’ve seen anyone of these artists get down then you know what we’re on about. Like for real, this line up is custom made for you to say “I remember that time when they played at Lil Bobby Hutton Park for FREE!!”

LIFE IS LIVING SOLIDARITY MAIN STAGE

Jenn Johns
MC Ryan Nicole
DJ Kream and Young Ella Baker
West Oakland Middle School Band
Lovey
Audiopharmacy
Lil Shlurp Shlurp
Twisted Universe | Ajai + M’Kai

Shout out to our Brave New Voices championship team from Youth Speaks who will grace the stage with their spoken word! And the young ones of Young Gifted & Black from Edutainment for Equity who always bring ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE!

Sat • Oct 11 • 11AM-4PM • FREE
Lil Bobby Hutton Park (1651 Adeline, West Oakland)
Click the link in our bio to get your free tickets!



[Image Description: Image of our beloved Rashad standing tall during a mask work performance at LIL wearing colorful textiles and a sequin mask, against a pink and yellow gradient background. Names of performers in overlapping white text.]

Photo by


shlurp.shlurp

@twisted.cant.fix.it




You know when you show up to Life is Living we’re gonna be ready for ya with all the good times! The Life is Living 2025...
10/04/2025

You know when you show up to Life is Living we’re gonna be ready for ya with all the good times! The Life is Living 2025 Zones are here, and we’re thrilled to celebrate with Hella Solidarity!

This year’s festival is packed with opportunities to connect and uplift our community. Join us for a day filled with love, movement, music, play, and healing. Full day’s schedule soon come!

Check out what’s in store:

• Hella Solidarity Main Stage 🎤
• Community Resources 🤝
• KUUNGANISHA Marketplace 🛍️
• Free Breakfast Zone 🍽️
• Africa in Oakland & Friends Dance Zone 💃🏽
• Community Altar 🙏🏾
• Wellness Zone 🧘🏾‍♀️
• Community Art 🎨
• Wheels Zone 🚲
• Makers Zone 🔨
• Kids Zone 🎈

Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 11 from 11AM-4PM at Lil Bobby Hutton Park.

Which Zone are you most excited to explore? Share with us in the comments below! 👇🏾



📸Slide 4 - , Slide 11 - , and the rest of the amazing images are from

Let’s hear it for COMMUNITY! Our Community Tables Zone is packed with essential information and resources aimed at nouri...
10/02/2025

Let’s hear it for COMMUNITY! Our Community Tables Zone is packed with essential information and resources aimed at nourishing our community.

Stop in on our Resource Table filled with info and goods from Dr. Bronners, OFD Emergency Management Services, Black Sanctuary Gardens, MECA, and more.

Also repping in the CT Zone with resources, activities, and giveaways for the community will be: ANV Farm, Black Renaissance Project, CAGBN, Coyote Media Collective, CURYJ, Divine Radiance, EBALDC, EBMUD, EBPREC, Edutainment for Equity - Exhibit A, Kingmakers, Oakland Rising, Tamarack Free Library, The Village in Oakland, West Oakland Public Library, Youth Speaks, and more.

This is what radical care looks like!

🗓️ Life is Living
📍 Saturday, Oct. 11 • 11 AM - 4 PM
🌳 Lil Bobby Hutton Park

Join us as we build a stronger community together!

Are y’all ready for the continuation of this year’s phenomenal LIL25 main stage lineup?! Still more amazing displays of ...
09/30/2025

Are y’all ready for the continuation of this year’s phenomenal LIL25 main stage lineup?! Still more amazing displays of the energy and vibrancy of our Culture for this year’s powerful Solidarity Stage:

✨MC Ryan Nicole, a rapper and poet who co-wrote and co-starred in the recent hip-hop musical Co-Founders at American Conservatory Theater.

Main stage DJs curated by DJ Kream:

✨DJ Kream aka Bijou is a community organizer, event producer, and creative from Oakland, CA who is making waves from the U.S. to Mexico with her signature genre-bending DJ style.

✨DJ Young Ella Baker: With 13 years behind the decks, she has become a staple in the Bay Area music scene. A resident DJ and booking manager at Fluid510, she’s played major festivals like Oakland Pride, SF Pride, Soulovely, and Juneteenth Celebrations.

✨Young, Gifted, & Black (YGB) is made up of Black children ages 6-14 who are interested in performing on stage, learning Black History, becoming Black heroes and representing our ancestors as teachers for future generations.

✨2025 Brave New Voices Champions Team Bay Area Youth Speaks - get ready for some amazing youth poetry and spoken word - this is going to be an electrifying performance!

✨West Oakland Middle School Band is a musical ensemble at WOMS, right around the corner from Lil Bobby Hutton Park. They perform for the school and at community events and are ready to bring their sonic power to the stage!

Sat • Oct 11 • 11AM-4PM • FREE
Lil Bobby Hutton Park (1651 Adeline, West Oakland)

Click the link in our bio to get your free tickets!



[lmage Description: Images of five different artists who will be performing. MC Ryan Nicole, DJ Kream, Young Ella Baker, Young, Gifted, & Black, Brave New Voices Championship Team, and West Oakland Middle School Band against colorful backgrounds with their names overlapping white text.]






gummangla



LIL25 main stage lineup is fire - our Culture on full display! You can catch performances from a few familiar and new fa...
09/27/2025

LIL25 main stage lineup is fire - our Culture on full display! You can catch performances from a few familiar and new faces.

On deck for this year’s powerful Solidarity Stage are:

✨Lovey, a music artist, actor, writer, and poet born and raised in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, currently based in Oakland.

✨AudioPharmacy (AP), a band blending hip-hop and Indigenous rhythms representing the power of Love, Music, and Collective Liberation.

✨LiL Shlurp Shlurp, made up of brothers Desmond (vocals) and Davis (production) blurring lines of genre and quality as they hone and fine tune their sound into intensely sweet and abrasive songs.

✨Twisted Universe, an experimental duo consisting of: M’kai ever spreading light, an Oakland braised DJ, musician, audio visual storyteller and cultural curator; and Ajai Kasim, a multidisciplinary creator whose work spans music, visual storytelling, fashion design, and millinery.

✨Jenn Johns, our headliner, renowned as a dynamic vocalist, innovative songwriter, and inspiring producer, her impact transcends these titles, embodying a unique fusion of music, visual arts, and theater.

Sat • Oct 11 • 11AM-4PM • FREE
Lil Bobby Hutton Park (1651 Adeline, West Oakland)

Click the link in our bio to get your free tickets!



[lmage Description: Images of five different artists who will be performing. Jenn Johns, Lovey, Lil Shlurp Shlurp, Twisted Universe, and AudioPharmacy against colorful backgrounds with their names overlapping white text.]


shlurp.shlurp
.cant.fix.it

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Oakland, CA
94601–94615, 94617–94624, 94649, 94659–94662, 94666

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