Oakland Soul: Cafe Gabriela
Represents the soul, essence and spirit of Oakland. This business or artist appreciates diversity and creativity, is confident in their individuality and humbly supports their brothers and sisters. This cafe full of heart serves fresh food and uses local coffee, bread, and pastry suppliers, who share Cafe Gabriela's commitment to offering high quality products from local conscious businesses. Cafe Gabriela supports community organizations and non-profits, hosts fundraisers, and offers its space and walls to promote local artists - all while feeding patrons socially-responsible food.
Represents the soul, essence and spirit of Oakland. This business or artist appreciates diversity and creativity, is confident in their individuality and humbly supports their brothers and sisters. This cafe full of heart serves fresh food and uses local coffee, bread, and pastry suppliers, who share Cafe Gabriela's commitment to offering high quality products from local conscious businesses. Cafe Gabriela supports community organizations and non-profits, hosts fundraisers, and offers its space and walls to promote local artists - all while feeding patrons socially-responsible food.
Oakland Soul: The New Parkway Theater
Represents the soul, essence and spirit of Oakland. This business or artist appreciates diversity and creativity, is confident in their individuality and humbly supports their brothers and sisters. The New Parkway Theater considers the long-term health of its customers and neighbors by shaping its business practices to promote community and by connecting strangers who might not otherwise meet. Showcasing programming that is welcoming to everyone, The New Parkway's films appeal to a wide range of Oakland residents. The theater rents out their space for free to non-profits, hosts weekly events all free of charge, and promotes local filmmakers who capture the many viewpoints of Oakland and the Bay Area.
Represents the soul, essence and spirit of Oakland. This business or artist appreciates diversity and creativity, is confident in their individuality and humbly supports their brothers and sisters. The New Parkway Theater considers the long-term health of its customers and neighbors by shaping its business practices to promote community and by connecting strangers who might not otherwise meet. Showcasing programming that is welcoming to everyone, The New Parkway's films appeal to a wide range of Oakland residents. The theater rents out their space for free to non-profits, hosts weekly events all free of charge, and promotes local filmmakers who capture the many viewpoints of Oakland and the Bay Area.
Job Creator: Zachary's Chicago Pizza
An independent business that has a positive effect on the region by consistently providing good jobs for residents of the Bay Area, employs 50 people or more, is socially responsible and/or environmentally sustainable. Zachary's Chicago Pizza has not only created over 100 jobs in Oakland, but it also fosters a community of employees and customers who are passionate about supporting local business through local dining. Zachary's is a 100% employee-owned company, and its employees are the only investors through the company's ESOP program. The CEO started out as a dishwasher and recently celebrated his 30th year of employment! |
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Social Changemaker: Regina's Door
This socially responsible business or individual incorporates positive social change into their mission, operations, and/or measures of success. They use creative approaches to give back to the community and address economic and environmental issues. Regina's Door is a boutique specializing in vintage dresses and consignment pieces. It serves the community everyday by working with the Bay Area anti-sex-trafficking organization, Love Never Fails, and has successfully aided in the launch of the second safe house for sex trafficking survivors in the state of California. This business is truly dedicated to rehabilitation and education by providing a safe space and healing workforce training for youth involved in domestic sex trafficking.
This socially responsible business or individual incorporates positive social change into their mission, operations, and/or measures of success. They use creative approaches to give back to the community and address economic and environmental issues. Regina's Door is a boutique specializing in vintage dresses and consignment pieces. It serves the community everyday by working with the Bay Area anti-sex-trafficking organization, Love Never Fails, and has successfully aided in the launch of the second safe house for sex trafficking survivors in the state of California. This business is truly dedicated to rehabilitation and education by providing a safe space and healing workforce training for youth involved in domestic sex trafficking.
Greenie: American Steel Studios
An environmental champion who works to improve our community through sustainable practices, products or services. This local business or individual reduces waste or consumption, creates green products or provides green services.
American Steel Studios provides affordable work spaces for artists and innovators who incorporate waste reduction into all aspects of their work. The 170+ tenants who inhabit this workspace include metal workers, furniture designers, woodworkers, jewelry designers, fabricators, and clothing designers. Since 2006, American Steel has been getting people to rethink what we view as trash by repurposing, upcycling, and restorying pieces to better condition than they were in in their original state.
An environmental champion who works to improve our community through sustainable practices, products or services. This local business or individual reduces waste or consumption, creates green products or provides green services.
American Steel Studios provides affordable work spaces for artists and innovators who incorporate waste reduction into all aspects of their work. The 170+ tenants who inhabit this workspace include metal workers, furniture designers, woodworkers, jewelry designers, fabricators, and clothing designers. Since 2006, American Steel has been getting people to rethink what we view as trash by repurposing, upcycling, and restorying pieces to better condition than they were in in their original state.
Innovative Newcomer: Qeyno Labs
A business or artist that started in the last three years that excites and inspires with a creative new idea, perspective, model or solution. Qeyno Labs is the only business of its kind. After merely a year and a half of honing its mission, Qeyno has already impacted over 200 high potential youth from low-opportunity backgrounds by providing them with tools to transform their lives - and while building a pipeline for them into STEM career paths. Qeyno Labs has created a groundbreaking hackathon platform for often excluded young people to solve problems that directly affect them using technology. Qeyno Labs is now replicating its model across the US.
A business or artist that started in the last three years that excites and inspires with a creative new idea, perspective, model or solution. Qeyno Labs is the only business of its kind. After merely a year and a half of honing its mission, Qeyno has already impacted over 200 high potential youth from low-opportunity backgrounds by providing them with tools to transform their lives - and while building a pipeline for them into STEM career paths. Qeyno Labs has created a groundbreaking hackathon platform for often excluded young people to solve problems that directly affect them using technology. Qeyno Labs is now replicating its model across the US.
Ripple Effect: Concept 47
A business that supports the local economy by buying their supplies and services from other local vendors, creating a “ripple effect” as money circulates within the community. Concept 47 is a beauty lifestyle boutique that carries natural and organic beauty products, home goods, and unique finds from over 70 local craftspeople and artisans. Owner Stevonne Ratliffe is committed to only offering items are kind to your body, the earth, and your wallet. Concept 47 features rotating art shows, networking events, and vendor meetups. It is known in the maker community as a space where local artists and entrepreneurs can connect, share supplier information, and pool resources. Ratliffe herself sells her own beauty product line in the store. 
Ripple Effect: OwlNWood
A business that supports the local economy by buying their supplies and services from other local vendors, creating a “ripple effect” as money circulates within the community. |
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OwlNWood is a vintage clothing and local wares shop in Uptown Oakland featuring a diverse range of products from over 20 vendors, the majority of them representing the Bay Area. The products are carefully curated to reflect a creative blend of local design, international brands, and secondhand goods. Owner Rachel Konte shares her merchandising expertise with vendors, and offers free vending spaces to artists, giving them a brick-and-mortar platform to showcase their work. OwlNWood also serves the community by hosting monthly art and music gatherings in its beautiful space.
Pillar: Geoffrey's Inner Circle
A long-established Oakland business or artist with deep roots in the community and long-standing ties to the people, culture and history of The Town. This person or business mentors newbies and is renowned for their contributions to Oakland’s living history. Geoffrey's Inner Circle has seen Downtown Oakland through multiple eras and many changes. To know its story is to understand a bit more about the history of Oakland. An Oakland cornerstone, Geoffrey's has opened its doors for parties, political events, press conferences, fundraisers, and public gatherings for five decades. It has remained strong through unstable times and has been an advocate in the African American business community. You can always catch owner Geoffrey Pete walking and talking with the people of the neighborhood, waving and smiling to all who pass by.
A long-established Oakland business or artist with deep roots in the community and long-standing ties to the people, culture and history of The Town. This person or business mentors newbies and is renowned for their contributions to Oakland’s living history. Geoffrey's Inner Circle has seen Downtown Oakland through multiple eras and many changes. To know its story is to understand a bit more about the history of Oakland. An Oakland cornerstone, Geoffrey's has opened its doors for parties, political events, press conferences, fundraisers, and public gatherings for five decades. It has remained strong through unstable times and has been an advocate in the African American business community. You can always catch owner Geoffrey Pete walking and talking with the people of the neighborhood, waving and smiling to all who pass by.
