CBS News Black History Month
February, 2026
We’re thrilled to see the HEAR HERE Community Billboard truck and Commons Archive featured on CBS News for Black History Month. A huge thank you to CBS for uplifting our work and our vital partnership with the residents of the Harrison Hotel. Watch the Tribute!
Journeys to Albany: Paths for Belonging
Exhibition: February – April, 2026
‘Journeys to Albany: Path to Belonging’ explores the diverse histories of Albany, California. As a thought partner, Commons Archive reimagined community engagement through driveway gatherings and block parties, collecting family photos and oral histories.
This exhibit celebrates global migration and the resilience of immigrants in an intentional, community-held space. Learn more about the project and upcoming events: pathtobelonging.net
Harrison Heroes :: We Are Neighbors Together
2025 – 2026
We Are Neighbors Together: The Harrison brings voice and visibility to residents of one of downtown Oakland’s last single-room occupancy (SRO) buildings. Led by Commons Archive in partnership with LifeLong Medical Care and The Oakland Lowdown, this project transforms the hotel’s street-level windows into public galleries. Featuring large-scale story murals and community open houses, we celebrate the dignity of our neighbors while sparking vital conversations about housing and resilience. Murals are on display 24/7,
Emerging Writer Fellowship @Louis Place
Spring, 2026
at Louis Place is a Black-led, liberatory powerhouse for writers, artists, and dreamers. Operating with cooperative values and horizontal leadership, this artist-led community turns solitary writing into a collective act of resistance. From daily co-writing to project exchanges, they center disability justice and accessibility, ensuring caregivers and marginalized voices have a seat at the table. It’s more than a network—it’s a global engine for radical creativity and shared accountability.
California Revealed Partnership!
2024 – 2026
Commons Archive, our long-term multimedia local history project, has joined the ranks of California Revealed, a comprehensive online archive of CA history. Hundreds of community stories, videos, and transcripts that have been shared with us over the years are now accessible to everyone, world wide! And we’re so excited that the Golden Gate Library Local Collection is now digitized as part of our presence in the archive. Stay tuned for more exciting initiatives with California Revealed.
Writing the Golden State: The New Literary Terrain of California
Book Launch & Publication: August, 2024
Writing the Golden State explores California through twenty-five essays that look beyond the clichés of the “California Dream,” portraying a state that is deviant and recalcitrant, proud and humble, joyful and communal. During the chaos of the COVID Pandemic, we co-authored an essay to uplift Fred Williams story. A longtime North Oakland neighbor, Fred Williams is a second generation Black business owner and staunch believer in the power of community.
African American History & Engagement Project (AAH&E)
2023 – 2025
We’re honored to be art of AAH&E. The African American History & Engagement (AAH&E) project is a partnership between California State Parks and the California African American Museum (CAAM) to research, document, and interpret Black community histories in approximately two dozen state parks. The project brings together memory keepers, stakeholders, scholars, artists, designers, Parks staff and volunteers, and a curatorial team. Sue has been the curatorial team’s Community Engagement & Design Specialist.
We Are Neighbors Together: The Island
2023 – 2024
With support from Berkeley Civic Arts, the HEAR HERE Community Billboard truck, a vehicle for neighborhood engagement and empowerment, is teaming up with the Self Help Hunger Program to provide voice and visibility to unhoused neighbors’ experiences. When the Sky is Your Roof will uplift voices not usually heard, especially those impacted by gentrification, displacement, and homelessness—this will be “a healing medicine for those releasing their stories”. Learn more about SHHP’s founder ‘Aunti’ Frances Moore, a born activist and Black Panther Cub.
Kanna Arts Festival
September, 2023
Tabi Wa Sumika/Journey Itself Home presented at the 10th annual Kanna Festival in Gunma, Japan. Tabi Wa Sumika was exhibited in Onishi’s Town Hall Community Center, a stunning round glass building designed by internationally renowned architects Ryue Nishizawa and Kazuyo Sejima. Read more about the Kanna Festival.
One Day / One Action
June, 2023 – December, 2023
One Day / One Action is a community-wide multilingual social media-based public art project created for the city San José, California designed to connect the community with the critical issue of our climate crisis. Storytelling, the heart of One Day / One Action, compels people to engage and share their actions collectively moving us toward a more environmentally conscious way of life. One Day / One Action stories unfolded live via social media in 2023 from Summer Solstice to Winter Solstice. Learn more at www.1day1action.org
“A Public Art Project Brings Oakland Neighbors Together, One Story At A Time”
August 2023
In a short essay sponsored by the Kenneth Rainin Foundation, Commons Archive community engager LaDasha Berry and longtime neighbor Terri Woodfolk Nelson talk about the project’s impact on North Oakland neighbors. Also featured is a documentary video where project partners reflect on the significance and origins of the HEAR HERE Community Billboard truck. Read More