Scroll down to access important information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and resources to support you, your family, and our community businesses and organizations during this challenging time. Information is regularly updated and sourced from District 2 Councilmember Nikki Bas, Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, CA Healthy Nail Salon Collective, Oakland Chinatown Improvement, and other community partners.
OACC is a member of the Oakland Chinatown Coalition, which “works for a strong, vibrant and healthy future for our neighborhood” by engaging in several different issues important to the community through monthly meetings and special projects. The Coalition was founded in 2011, consists of seventeen organizations and five individual members. OACC’s participation in the Chinatown Coalition demonstrates our commitment to cross-sector collaboration and the mutual goal of enhancing the vitality and stability of Chinatown.
OACC participates regularly in two free outdoor community event series in Oakland’s Chinatown: Lincoln Summer Nights and First Wednesdays at Madison Park, which are produced in collaboration with several other community organizations and individuals. These event series contribute to community building and are important avenues for revitalizing Chinatown. Lincoln Summer Nights was initiated by the Chinatown Improvement Initiative in 2016, and attracts hundreds of participants at each event, including families, young children, teens, adults, and seniors. In 2018, the events were held from 5-9pm on the first Friday of the month (June through October) at Lincoln Park and Recreation Center, and included a variety of free programming such as arts and crafts, interactive dance and sports, numerous free bike giveaways for kids, and performances by local groups. OACC also participates in First Wednesdays at Madison Park, which began in late 2017 and is held during the first Wednesday afternoon each month throughout the year.
OACC also participates in community events produced by the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce (e.g. StreetFest in August) and Oakland Museum of California (e.g. Lunar New Year).
#BLACKLIVESMATTER RESOURCES
Support the Movement:
Need some help?:
- warmline.org — talk lines to talk to someone before a mental health situation becomes a crisis
http://warmline.org/#california - openpathcollective.org — sliding scale therapy in-office and online sessions between $30 and $60 (between $30 and $80 for couples & family sessions)
- Trevor Project: for LGBTQ youth. Suicide prevention lifeline, call/text counseling
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help-now/ - National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/talk-to-someone-now/ - TEDTalk playlist: Talks to help you understand racism in America
https://www.ted.com/playlists/250/talks_to_help_you_understand_r - Vice.com article: self-care tips
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/g5pgmq/self-care-tips-for-black-people-struggling-from-painful-week
Recommended readings on relational racism, anti-racism, abolition, and Afro-Asian solidarities:
- Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP). “Solidarity Matters: Black History Month Through an Asian American Lens.” February 2, 2020.
- Black Women Radicals and the Asian American Feminist Collective. “Black and Asian-American Feminist Solidarities: A Reading List.” April 30, 2020.
- Class Trouble. “Notes on Abolition & Challenging the Rule of ‘Law and Order’ + Ways to Support Abolitionist Work.” May 27, 2020.
- Baker, Brea. “The Anti-Racist Reading List.” Elle. May 27, 2020.
- Kendi, Ibram X. “An Antiracist Reading List.” The New York Times. May, 29, 2019.
- Yam, Kimmy. “Officer who stood by as George Floyd died highlights complex Asian American, black relations.” NBC News. June 1, 2020.
- Lopez, Mark. “Segregated by Design.”
- 1968 Kerner Commission Report — history that puts in perspective of what is going on today.
- Anti-Racism for Asian Americans
- Confronting Prejudice: How to Protect Yourself and Help Others — how one can be an ally and an advocate for change, as well as how people experiencing discrimination can build resilience against these types of behaviors (source: Pepperdine University online Master of Psychology program)
Tools to address racial justice, police violence, and anti-Blackness in demanding accountability from our families and communities:
- Letters for Black Lives: a “crowd-sourced, multilingual, and culturally-aware” project collecting letters for non-Black people of color to amplify the Black Lives Matter movement in their communities
- The Translations Project: coordination with Letters for Black Lives, which translates the letters into numerous languages to access non-English speaking community members
- Colorin Colorado: educational resources for families and educators to talk about racism and violence.
- Guidance for Reporting and Writing About Racism
- Financial Literacy in the Black Community
COVID RELIEF FUNDS FOR ARTISTS
ARTogether Emergency Relief Fund – to support artists who have lost income and are most vulnerable. Consider supporting this fund if you aren’t in need of financial assistance. Applications open.
CERF+ the Artists Safety Net — The COVID-19 Relief Grant – provides $1,000 to artists working in craft disciplines who are facing dire circumstances due to food, housing, and/or medical insecurities as a result of the ongoing pandemic. Applications open August 10 – August 31, 2021.
Sweet Relief Musicians Fund – DONOR-DIRECTED FUND with a limited amount of funds available to be used specifically for musicians and music industry workers affected by the Coronavirus. Funds raised will go towards medical expenses, lodging, clothing, food and other vital living expenses to those impacted due to sickness or loss of work. Applications open.
OTHER COVID-19-RELATED RELIEF FUNDS
Oakland Indie Alliance COVID Recovery Fund – currently raising money to support Oakland’s independent businesses that have been negatively affected by COVID in the form of $10,000 grants. Priority will be given to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) owned businesses in distribution.
API Council COVID-19 Emergency Fund – Help ensure food security and safety for our low-income API families and seniors.
SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES
Oakland’s Open – a crowdsourced list compiled by the Oakland Chamber of Commerce of organizations providing modified services during COVID-19. Email officemanager@
Good Good Eatz – 好好吃 – Launched by Chinatown Improvement, Good Good Eatz is dedicated to featuring Chinatown folks who continue to serve up delicious goodies and comfort food during this COVID-19 pandemic. Follow their social media to see who is open for business!
Oakland Chinatown Chamber Foundation is accepting PayPal donations to help families in Chinatown.
The Mayor has asked any business owners affected by events to contact her office directly at (510) 238-3141. Staff is available to provide guidance and assistance in English, Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin.
OTHER COMMUNITY AID
API Council’s Free Legal Assistance Program – English flyer. Chinese flyer.
Register for free COVID-19 Testing – Testing sites include drive-thru and walk-in options. Accessible to anyone who lives or works in Alameda County.
City of Oakland Food Distribution Information – Information about food distribution points in Oakland. Please note eligibility requirement information of each site.
Stop Hate and Racism! Stop AAPI Hate Reporting Center – Launched by the Asian Pacific Planning and Policy Council and others to collect and track incidents of anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander hate, violence, and discrimination in California and throughout the country. These incidents will help inform future policy discussions.
OUSD Free Lunches – “Grab and Go” breakfast and lunch meals will be available for all OUSD students or families and any Oakland child under 18. Check the linked website for pick-up locations and updates.
Comcast Internet Essentials COVID Free Service Announcement – Comcast Launches New Internet Essentials Programs as Nation Gears Up for the Academic Year. The program also includes two months of free Internet service for new Internet Essentials customers. Internet Essentials COVID 19 – Service Application
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
A huge thank you to the Oakland Chinatown Coalition for the following information. This act was passed by Congress to address the needs of small business owners, certain small non-profits, and employers during this time. Access official overview of the CARES Act.
To keep up to date on when these programs become available, please contact your local Small Business Administration (SBA) District Office. Email direct questions to CARES.Act.Help@gmail.com. Please leave your name, phone, and preferred language.
Below are two programs (EIDL & PPP) that fall under the CARES Act.
- EIDL: Economic Injury Disaster Loan & Emergency Economic Injury Grants
Provides an emergency advance of up to $10,000 to small businesses and private non-profits harmed by COVID-19 within 3 days of applying for the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). When you are filling out the EIDL application you must check the box at the end of the application to apply for the $10,000 advance, before submitting your application online. This advance does not need to be repaid under any circumstance. It can be used to keep employees on payroll, to pay for sick leave, meet increased production costs due to supply chain disruptions, or pay business obligations, including debts, rent, and mortgage payments. Loans are available for up to $2 Million and have a fixed rate of 3.75% for 30 years. You do not have to accept the loan if offered even if you have accepted the $10K advance.
English/Chinese translation of the application. One can use this to fill in their answers but entries must be typed into the above Online Form.
- PPP: Payroll Protection Program
A loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.
You can apply through any existing SBA 7(a) lender or through any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution that is participating. Other regulated lenders will be available to make these loans once they are approved and enrolled in the program. You should consult with your local lender as to whether it is participating in the program. Program information in Chinese.
Apply for the Paycheck Protection Program with an eligible lender.
A rough Chinese translation of the application form.
Click here and enter your ZIP Code to find a lender near you.
COVID-19 Resources in Korean – Korean Center, Inc. has a page dedicated to anything one might need to know about our current situation from general health guidelines to food assistance. They also have information on the CARES Act and the Payroll Protection Program, these documents are linked below for convenience.
KCI COVID-19 landing page (코로나19에 대한 유용한 정보)
CARES Act (in Korean)
PPP (in Korean)
CA Arts Council’s COVID-19 News & Resources
CalShakes COVID-19 Resources for Artists and Technicians
Mental Health Interventions: How to Respond to a Behavioral Crisis
Resources to Help Empower Asian and Pacific Islander Communities
VIRTUAL ARTS & CULTURE RESOURCES
Gamelan Sekar Jaya – Virtual Balinese Dance, Singing, and Flute Classes
Welcome to all experience levels. Class fees are on a sliding scale.
Leela Institute of Kathak – Virtual Kathak Dance Classes
Leela Academy provides Kathak classes for all ages and for all experience levels.
ARTogether – Women’s Craft Circle