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Let’s Read Oak Park
Underground Books
Let’s Read Oak Park takes place on the 2nd Saturday of each month and is a FREE reading & exploration event for children ages 5-12
About this event
Elementary school aged children explore books and participate in hands on activities with an emphasis on cultural themes. Students will engage in interactive book readings, and select a free book of their choice to take home and encourage reading together as a family!
Space is limited to 12 per event so sign up today!
Oldest Suburb of Sacramento
1887
What started as the small vision of developer Edwin K. Alsip and the Oak Park Association, grew into Sacramento’s first full-fledged suburb.
Beginning in 1887, with an initial division of 56 whole or partial lots, Oak Park gained a reputation as a community build by hard-working citizens.
In the early 1900’s, most residents had blue collar jobs working for the railroads, state fair, canneries and the highway commission. During this time most residents were White, with scattered Blacks and Mexican Americans.
40 acres Art & Cultural Center Grand Opening
May 2003
St. HOPE’s largest economic development project opened with Underground Books, Uncle Jed’s Cut Hut, Starbucks and the Guild Theater.
40 Acres is the jewel of the SHDC efforts in the Oak Park community. The building was the historic Woodruff Hotel which was build in 1922 and was renovated by St. HOPE Development company in 2003.
The 23,000 sq. ft. mixed use facility includes:
- Guild Theater
- Underground Books
- Old Soul Coffee House
- Coopers Wine Bar
- Upper Room Apartments
Sacramento-area bookstores celebrate their day with tour for bibliophiles (April 30)
The Sacramento Bee
Underground Books manager Georgia West, commonly known as “Mother Rose,” of Oak Park, admires a photo of a child with “Black Santa” during the second annual Christmas in Oak Park event Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, at the bookstore and neighboring The Guild Theater. “For kids to see a Santa Claus that looks like them for a change … I mean any Santa is good, but I just think we need some options,” West said. “It’s a diverse community, and so we want diversity, we want everybody to come,” she added, “but I just think, for us, this is a great option and a great event.”
Guild Record Studio Grand Opening
The official grand opening of Guild Record Studios held last month on February 25th brought a large turnout of local creatives and also served as a listening party for Sacramento’s own, TIP Vicious for his upcoming EP “No Sleep”, which was produced and recorded at Guild Studios.
The Guild Record Studio is managed by Guild Theater Director, Dru Burks, and studio Engineer, Bobby “Babagazoo” Reed. The studio offers affordably priced recording sessions and membership packages for vocal recording, music production, podcasting, voice overs, mixing and mastering.
Free Movie Matinee
Looking for something to do on the weekend? Come one, come all to the Sunday Movie Matinee at the Guild Theater on the 1st Sunday of each month at 2pm. Bring your family, friends or come by yourself to watch (or rewatch!) some of the most popular feature films on the big screen. St. HOPE is pleased to present these family friendly movies that are FREE for the entire community!
Movie Schedule:
March 6 “Hidden Figures”
April 3 “Black Panther”
May 1 “A Wrinkle in Time”
‘A place where we can show Black excellence’: Inside Sacramento region’s only Black-owned bookstore
KCRA - February 3, 2003
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
The Sacramento region’s only Black-owned bookstore can be found in the heart of Oak Park.
Underground Books opened its doors in 2003 to fill a need in its community: There are no public libraries in Sacramento’s Oak Park neighborhood.
“If people don’t benefit, if the community doesn’t benefit, then we’re doing something wrong,” Cassandra Jennings told KCRA 3.
Sacramento Is Home To California’s Best Soul Food Restaurant
February 4, 2022
Sacramento is home to the best soul food restaurant in the state of California, according to a recent report from LoveFood . The website set out to find the best food every state had to offer.
“Nothing beats the comfort of soul food. Here are the best restaurants celebrating the African-American tradition, where many of the recipes have been passed down through generations,” reads the report. “Expect the likes of collard greens, beans, cornmeal in many forms, along with crispy catfish, pork and tender fried chicken.”
Let’s Read Oak Park
Launch of New St. HOPE Reading Initiative
With a new focus on racial injustice, there is a spotlight on the sobering statistics in the reading levels between black and white students. In 2019, The Nation’s Report Card from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) found that just 15% of Black 8th graders were at or above reading “proficiency.” About half didn’t even reach the “basic” reading benchmark.
Free Drive Through Covid-19 Testing Site at Sac High
Sponsored by St. HOPE and EventMD
Life’s most persistent and urgent question is “What are you doing for others?” said Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In an effort to serve and respond to the needs of our community St. HOPE is teaming up with EventMD to provide a drive-through COVID Testing Site at Sacramento High School starting Saturday, January 15th. Both PCR and Antigen rapid testing will be available weekly on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from 9 AM to 2 PM. Please get vaccinated and tested to keep yourself and others safe.
A Video and Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
A Call to Action
As we reflect and celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. let us recommit to continue with courage and conviction to build our own legacy for equity and justice for all.
Underground Books: Gift Ideas
December 16, 2021
Still need ideas for gift giving? Ashley Williams is in Sacramento at Underground Books giving you great book gift giving ideas.
Increasing Access to College
Sac High Seniors recently participated in the annual Cash for College workshop to apply for Federal grants and loans to pay for college. During the Cash For College event hosted by Sac High, advisors assisted students with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the California Dream Act (CADAA), unlocking financial resources and making their dreams to attend college become a reality.
Colour of Music Festival Debuts in Sacramento November 10-13
We are thrilled to welcome the Colour of Music Festival to Sacramento! Since 2013, the Colour of Music Festival has showcased the talents of black classical musicians and composers and highlighted their impact and historical significance on American and world culture. The Festival began with performances in Charleston, South Carolina and is now bringing some of the top black classical musicians, trained at some of the most prestigious music schools, conservatories and universities in the world, to Sacramento.
This is the Highest Rated Restaurant in Sacramento
KFBK News
It’s easy to get caught up in going to the same restaurants and eating the same kinds of food. But in a great foodie city like Sacramento, you’re probably missing out on some world-class food.
Luckily, Yelp has compiled a list of the highest-rated restaurants in the Sacramento area you can check out.
So which local restaurant is the highest-rated in Sacramento?
According to Yelp, it’s Fixins Soul Kitchen In Oak Park.
‘Getting the recognition it deserves’: Community prepares for Juneteenth celebrations in Sacramento
KCRA 6.17.21
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Juneteenth celebrations in Northern California are scheduled throughout the weekend.
The president and CEO of the Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce said not only does it mark a celebration for the emancipation of slaves in 1863, but it’s also a celebration for those who finally learned of their freedom two years later.
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Events Around Sacramento Celebrate First Nationally Recognized Juneteenth
CBS 13 Sacramento 6.19.21
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – Several events celebrating Juneteenth happened across Sacramento on Saturday.
There were calls for not only action, but reflection, bringing both joy and determination in the fight for progress.
READ MORE:Fourth Stimulus Check: Will You Get Another Relief Payment?
Events varied from soul music and dancing in Oak Park to art and vendors all highlighting black beauty and business at one of the longest-running Juneteenth festivals in Sacramento on June 19, 2021, which was taking on new meaning.
This Sacramento day party keeps selling out. Here’s how to get your ticket to ‘Algorhythm’
6.2.21
“Algorhythm,” a new social networking day party, promises live DJ sets and culture every first and third Saturday of the month at St. Hope’s Esther Park.
Hosted by BaseOne.FM, a group of four millennial DJs, who started streaming their music sets on the live video app Twitch in August 2020. Now, the day party attracts a diverse group of Sacramento’s young professional and creative scene, selling out nearly every time.
As St. HOPE president and CEO steps down, a familiar face is taking on the position
Sacramento Bee 6.9.21
Jake Mossawir is looking forward to focusing on the next chapter of his life, his family, as he expects to become a father to a baby girl this fall.
The St. HOPE President and CEO announced that he is stepping away after six years with the organization in an email to St. Hope students and families.
Mossawir and his wife are expecting a daughter and plan to relocate to Texas to start their family.
Sacramento area’s independent bookstores celebrate coming through the pandemic with a special event
The Sacramento News and Review
Young people get into their book groove at Crawford’s Books in Sacramento.
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From Davis to El Dorado Hills, the struggle to protect local book culture from a black swan event was waged by workers and customers alike
Underground Books Gets New Look
The Sacramento Observer
(OAK PARK) – Every closed door isn’t locked. A local Black bookstore used its time closed during the pandemic wisely, completing a remodel and rebranding campaign.