Conversations at The Lake Merritt

The Oakland Neighborhood Project

With a reputation as one of the more violent cities in the country, Oakland has more than its share of problems. But as is often the case, there is a disconnect between image and reality. Oakland is not just the violence and murder in the headlines, not just high-end food establishments written up in the New York Times, and not just the trendy—affordable alternative to San Francisco. Oakland is the people, the communities, the businesses, and the neighborhoods that make it up.

The Oakland Neighborhood Project is a photography project designed to let the people in Oakland's neighborhoods tell their stories in their own words. Over a period of 12-18 months, I will identify and photograph one person, family, or group in each of Oakland’s 146 neighborhoods. Each photo session takes place in that person’s neighborhood and will feature that person or persons holding a sign with their message to the rest of the world written on it. This project that is my small contribution to changing Oakland’s image both internally and externally.

Stephen Texeira is an Oakland-based photographer focusing his photographic skills on people (portraits, events, performance, and street photography), with a special focus on his hometown of Oakland.