Oakland was where I found my edge and my rhythm. I went to middle school there, with the memory of the '91 fires still fresh in the air and the hills reminding us how quickly things can change. I ate way too much Zachary’s deep dish in Rockridge before I realized dairy and I weren’t exactly friends, and I remember when First Friday was just a handful of galleries, some turntables, and a whole lot of cheap red wine. Oakland has always pulsed with creativity, resilience, and soul—and it's played a big part in shaping how I show up in the world: real, rooted, and always down for something unexpected.
