Celeste Hamilton Dennis, Author at The Oaklandside

A Black man stands on a brick and concrete slab in front of four large plaques in the middle of a lawned and tree-lined cemetery on a hill, with homes in the background.

Arts & Community

‘This history is in our backyard’: East Oakland memorial honors victims of Jonestown massacre

by Celeste Hamilton Dennis Nov. 17, 2023, 2:00 p.m.Nov. 17, 2023, 8:10 a.m.

Jonestown survivor John Cobb has tended the monument at Evergreen Cemetery for over a decade. He hopes more people will visit.

An illustration shows two open doorways. Inside one is a dental chair and dentist's equipment. Inside the other is a sofa and a floor lamp.

Health & Environment

A clinic in Oakland’s Chinatown brings mental health care to dental patients

by Celeste Hamilton Dennis Aug. 15, 2023, 11:00 a.m.Aug. 15, 2023, 10:03 a.m.

Asian Health Services is pioneering the practice of getting patients to open up—and not just for a fluoride rinse.

A woman lifts her hands to the sky while sitting on the floor of a large open studio space with her back to the camera next to a young girl in a pink sweatshirt. Another child can be seen in a mirror also holding their arms up to the sky.

Arts & Community

At this East Oakland salon, violence prevention starts with self-care

by Celeste Hamilton Dennis Aug. 14, 2023, 4:00 p.m.Aug. 16, 2023, 1:57 p.m.

Hair stylists are often a shoulder to cry on for their clients. The Self-i.s.h. Society is taking it further by offering onsite therapy, healing circles, massage, and more.

Sakhone Lasaphangthong wears a vest identifying himself as a community ambassador on the street in Oakland's Chinatown neighborhood.

Arts & Community

A day in the life of an Oakland Chinatown community ambassador

by Celeste Hamilton Dennis May 1, 2023, 9:35 a.m.May 1, 2023, 9:35 a.m.

Sakhone Lasaphangthong spent 20 years in state prison. Now he’s helping to increase public safety in the neighborhood through a nonprofit, Family Bridges.

Volunteer chefs keep Oakland’s pandemic-era free fridges full of hearty meals

by Celeste Hamilton Dennis Dec. 6, 2022, 9:00 a.m.Dec. 5, 2022, 3:57 p.m.

“Everyone deserves a well-cooked meal”: Community Kitchens’ volunteers stock town fridges with love

Arts & Community

‘We’re reattaching people’: Mobile history project connects neighbors in North Oakland

by Celeste Hamilton Dennis Nov. 14, 2022, 2:00 p.m.Nov. 14, 2022, 1:29 p.m.

Led by longtime residents, the project is helping to bridge the past and present in one of Oakland’s most quickly changing areas.