The Brief
- The Fruitvale district has been the heart and soul of Oakland’s Latino community since the mid-1900s.
- Oakland volunteers collecting oral histories from activists to tell the story of the Fruitvale.
OAKLAND, Calif. – Rich with authentic cuisine, lively events, and people from all over the world, the Fruitvale is known as the heart and soul of Oakland’s Latino community.
“Today it represents over 50% of our Latino population,” said Visit Oakland’s CEO Peter Gamez.
It’s been the epicenter for Hispanic heritage since the 1950’s, after many were displaced during the construction of the Nimitz freeway.
Keeping history alive through storytelling
Oakland natives like Regina Contreras Chavarin are working to maintain the Latin roots through the Fruitvale History Project, an archive of stories from the activists on the ground.…