EAST BAY
U.S. Rep. Lateefah Simon, D-Oakland, was ceremonially sworn in Jan. 7 in Washington, D.C., by her longtime mentor and friend, Vice President Kamala Harris, with whom Simon has shared a decades-long friendship and professional relationship grounded in their shared commitment to public service. Simon’s friends and family joined her in the vice president’s ceremonial U.S. Senate office for the swearing-in ceremony.
“I am so honored to have my mentor and former boss, Vice President Kamala Harris,” Simon said. “Since our time together in the district attorney’s office in San Francisco, the vice president has played an integral role in shaping my public service career, and I have learned so much from her.
“She has also paved the way for women across the nation like me who aspire to serve their country at the highest levels. It was a special moment to stand with her today, look her in the eye and begin my journey as the Congresswoman for California’s 12th District.”
Harris and Simon first met in the late 1990s, when Harris served as a San Francisco assistant district attorney and Simon worked for the Young Women’s Freedom Center. In 2005, then-District Attorney Harris recruited Simon to head the “Back on Track” program, which offered first-time, nonviolent offenders alternatives to incarceration — providing a second chance for participants.
The program became a nationally recognized initiative and the basis for multiple programs across the nation. Simon replaces former longtime U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee in representing California’s 12th Congressional District, which includes Oakland, Piedmont, Emeryville, Berkeley, Alameda, Albany and parts of San Leandro.
— U.S. Rep. Simon’s office
PIEDMONT
Annual MLK celebration Monday at Alan Harvey Theater
Notable educator and human rights advocate Ericka Huggins will be the featured speaker at this year’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday at Piedmont’s Alan Harvey Theater. She will be in conversation with Hunter Fasteau, a student at Piedmont High School and co-president of the African Affinity Student Union.
Huggins spent 14 years as a leading member of the Black Panther Party and in 1976 became the first Black person to be appointed to the Alameda County Board of Education. More recently, she taught at San Francisco State University; California State University, East Bay; and in the Peralta Community College District.
Now in its 28th year, the King Celebration is hosted by the Piedmont Anti-Racism and Diversity Committee (PADC) and the city of Piedmont. The program will also feature performances by the Oakland Youth Chamber Chorus and Destiny Arts Junior Dance Company, as well as showcase student artwork and writing.
Corrina Gould of the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust will also offer a Native American land acknowledgement. Admission is free, and tickets can be reserved online at bit.ly/4hhN1ow.
— PADC
OAKLAND
Montclair Cares Club seeks new members to benefit district
Montclair Village embodies so much of what we all love about Oakland: unapologetic creativity, diversity and a palpable sense of community. As the Montclair Village district continues to celebrate generosity and community, consider supporting Montclair Village in 2025 by becoming a member of the Montclair Cares Club, which aims to support the small businesses of Montclair Village while creating a platform for community care.
Funds raised through the Montclair Cares Club annual membership fee of $120 go toward uplifting our neighborhood through beautification, artistic commissions, safety improvements like the holiday season safety ambassadors, the curation of admission-free events and more. The result is a more vibrant community year-round.
Please support for Montclair Cares Club and help usher in 2025 equipped to serve the community! Join the Cares Club at montclairvillage.com/montclair-cares-club.
— Montclair Village Association
Journalist, author Wong to visit Montclair Library Feb. 25
Journalist and author William Gee Wong will visit Oakland’s Montclair Library branch at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 25 to show slides and discuss his new memoir, “Sons of Chinatown: A Memoir Rooted in China and America.”
Kirkus Reviews calls the book an “intimate story of a Chinese American family making a life in Oakland.” A book-signing will follow courtesy of Montclair Village store A Great Good Place for Books. This event is sponsored by the Friends of Montclair Library.
— Friends of Montclair Library
Public invited to self-guided tour of Laurel District murals
The Laurel District is home to more than 50 public art pieces spread along MacArthur Boulevard from 35th Avenue to High Street. This year, the Laurel District Association invites the public to explore the murals and learn about the artists on The Laurel’s curated display of art, designed as a self-guided tour through the district.
The district’s merchants welcome visitors to stop into the local shops, restaurants and services found along the way. Stop by neighborhood favorites like Sequoia Diner and Crumble & Whisk for breakfast bites. Shop local at stores like Mischief and Mizaan Boutique. Stay in the neighborhood for a day of self-care by visiting salons like Vetiver and Hype Salon or fitness studios Left Coast Yoga and Body Mechanix.
There are tons to explore in The Laurel. Come out for the tour and see where the day takes you. Visit laureldistrictassociation.org/mural-tour to learn more.
— Laurel District Association
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