Fourteen Oakland nonprofits are getting more than $350,000 to secure long-term, affordable spaces as commercial rent in the city continues to rise.
LOL
ABOUT LOL
Liberating Ourselves Locally (LOL) was the first queer and trans Black, Indigenous, people of color (QTBIPOC) -centered, social justice -focused Maker Space in the US.
Made in 2011, merged with Peacock Rebellion in 2017, and led by a QTBIPOC crew of hackers, healers, artists and activists, LOL shared space, tools and skills for community to gather, learn, play, experiment, and build while working on projects they love, for self-determination and community power.
We closed LOL in December 2021. Follow our socials or hop on our email list to find out how to plug in to our other programs. We're always hatching something ;)
FAQ about Closing LOL
Why did LOL close?
A mix of reasons, but mostly to hold to our values of disability justice: It was too risky for our crew to cram people into LOL in COVID times. Our crew is immune-compromised & we want to keep them safe and protected.
Plus: Our people got displaced. None of Peacock Rebellion's crew live in the neighborhood anymore. A ton of our core artists got displaced from Oakland; some left the Bay.
We’ll still be around making art online & in-person in community spaces; using art & tech for organizing; and making it easier for QTBIPOC to make art with less strings and more cash.
What will happen to the LOL space?
The Liberated 23rd Ave. building's awesome land trust (Oakland Community Land Trust - OakCLT) is working to find another tenant that’s aligned with the values of the building's residents.
Will Peacock Rebellion/LOL still be involved with the Liberated 23rd Ave. land trust after you leave?
No, that power should be held by the people who live there. We raised $40,000 and transferred it to the land trust for complete control by the residents <3
What will happen to Peacock Rebellion after LOL closes?
We’ll still be around making art online & in-person in community spaces; using art & tech for organizing; and making it easier for QTBIPOC to make art with less strings and more cash.
What if I still want to do tech things with LOL ppl?
Check out the amazing:
- QTPOC in Tech, started by former LOL member Ai
- Equality Labs, founded by the sibling of former LOL steering committee member Theeba and featuring LOL co-founder Praveen
- GameHeads and TekPerfect, both with leadership from LOL co-founder Alfonso
- PARTEE 4 Justice, co-founded by LOL co-founder Jen-Mei
- Palante Tech Coop, co-founded by former LOL steering committee member Jack
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News from LOL
July 3, 2020
Tenants and members of community groups in front of the 23rd Avenue building in east Oakland acquired by its tenants in partnership with Oakland Community Land Trust. (Credit: Luba Yusim)
“It is such an incredible feeling to know that this isn’t just preserving a queer, trans, people of color-centered space for the next 5, 10, or 15 years — we’re thinking about this for the next 100 years,” says Peacock. “When [these marginalized groups] are rapidly being displaced [elsewhere], to feel that we’re staying is a powerful political act.” - Written by Aline Reynolds
July 3, 2020
"On the corner of 23rd Avenue and International Boulevard in East Oakland, there’s a colorful mural painted on the side of a building with the phrase “CULTURE IS A WEAPON” written in bold letters. In the center of the mural is an image of a raised fist in front of flames, surrounded by portraits of Black Panther party members, musicians, farmworkers and indigenous people. While the mural is surrounded by fences on all sides, its size and color make it a landmark in the San Antonio neighborhood bordering Fruitvale.
July 3, 2020
A shoutout in Redefine Magazine's article about Models of Space Preservation and Creation from Oakland and Seattle written by Vivian Hua.
July 3, 2020
In May 2018, Eri and Devi were on KPFA at the 18th Annual Malcom X Jazz Arts Festival in San Antonio Park.
July 3, 2020
Tonight, we explore the importance of space. Whether we’re talking about living space or our social surroundings, if you don’t own or manage the venue, you may be in a precarious situation.
May 17, 2017
The #Liberate23rdAve campaign to ensure our block's survival is on Autostraddle. Yay for queer and trans people of color fighting displacement! Check out the article here.
Peacock News
