By JR Valrey, The Minister of Information The Oakland International Film Festival, one of the Bay Area’s premiere events, will take place this year from September 16-25, screening dozens of films created locally, nationally, and internationally. All of the films will be available online, and … Continue readingThe Oakland International Film Fest Sept 16-25, ‘21 Has Expanded Virtually
By JR Valrey, the Minister of Information JR Today is the first day of “full contact” schooling, for the Oakland Unified School Districts’ 2021/22 year, since pandemic restrictions were put into effect, in March of 2020. There is a mixed level of excitement to return … Continue readingThe First Day of Full Contact School in Oakland, After Lifting Covid Restrictions
By JR Valrey, The Minister of Information I’ve been the host for Small Stage Sesh, since it began. It is a live music showcase that happens every Monday at D’Wayne Wiggins’ Compound in East Oakland, and one of the perks of the job, is that … Continue readingLODDY DOLLY the Bay Area R&B Sensation Speaks
By JR Valrey, the Minister of Information Reminiscent of the great crooners like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Donny Hathaway, Ty Astor is a very talented vocalist that I met at D. Wiggs’ Small Stage Sesh, on a Monday, in East Oakland. Ty Astor stood … Continue readingTy Astor is the Future Sound of RnB from the Bay
By JR Valrey, The Minister of Information The San Francisco Black Film Festival is one of the most anticipated, social, and cultural events that happens annually, in the San Francisco Bay Area. Every year, hundreds of movie-goers, filmmakers, actors, actresses, and industry professionals gather at … Continue readingThe New Director of the SF Black Film Festival Speaks on this Year’s Festivities and Her Father’s Passing
by JR Valrey, The People’s Minister of Information Imam Jamil Al-Amin formerly known as H.Rap Brown was one of the most dynamic Black revolutionary organizers coming out of the 60’s-70’s, in this country, after doing work with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, the Black Panther … Continue readingSon of Prisoner of War Imam Jamil Al-Amin Speaks on the Political Imprisonment of His Father
By JR Valrey, The Minister of Information School’s all over San Francisco have been opening in phases, as society’s fear of the corona virus is starting to subside. Now that students have been stuck in distance-learning for over a year, there are a host of … Continue readingThe Quagmire Behind Re-Opening San Francisco’s Public Schools: an interview with SFUSD Board Member Kevine Boggess
By JR Valrey, the Minister of Information There is nothing more exciting to local food connoisseurs, than the birth of a new Black ran restaurant, in Oakland, by Oaklanders. While Epec Food is not exactly a full-on restaurant, it has a multi-faceted food business service … Continue readingOakland Food Connoisseurs Welcome the Black Owned “Portobela Pop-up” To Downtown
Black Owned Live-Performance Venues in Oakland Struggle to Financially Breathe By JR Valrey, The People’s Minister of Information Oakland nightlife has been severely affected by the Covid pandemic, which was evident when the premiere live-performance jazz club, Yoshi’s, in Jack London Square, created a … Continue readingBlack Owned Live-Performance Venues in Oakland Struggle to Financially Breathe
By JR Valrey, the Minister of Information Morgan J is a gifted vocalist from Stockton, that I met at Pillow Session, a performance production that is put on weekly at D’Wayne Wiggins from Tony Toni Tone’s compound, in Deep East Oakland. Morgan J’s seductive, airy, … Continue readingTalented Stockton songstress Morgan J Is Making Her Voice Heard All Over Northern Cali