Photos by Miles Lassi. All photos can be viewed here.

"This space is a blessing."
⠀⠀–Dr. Ayodele Nzinga

One week ago today, a writing center was born. It came to our attention that we have been working for nine months on the build and beautification of our new home at 546 9th Street in Old Oakland. This does not feel like a coincidence.
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Thanks to all who came out to bless our space during Write Your Roots. To all the families, young writers, local poets and activists, players from the Oakland Roots, volunteers, supporters, fans, staff, and board.
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We wrote poetry, printed and made books in our Bookmaking Studio, recorded in our Sound Space, sent words flying through our Pneumatic tube, and saw poets of all ages come through our magic doors to take to the stage for our first poetry reading. We did it all, and the magic was palpable. We cannot wait for what is to come. All the books that will be written, made, recorded and published. And the community that will be be built through the power of writing.
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Thank you again to Gensler Oakland, Red Boot Construction, IDW Studio, Girls Garage, Simon Tran, Planted Design, e bond, Dom Villeda, Aeos One, the Oakland Roots, Beneficial State Bank, Square, and our brave and dedicated staff for making this DREAM REAL.

Infinite possibilities abound.

Come see the space yourself! The Dept. is open Tuesday–Sunday, 11am-6pm.

Blessing Poem for Chapter 510 Youth Writing Center
Written by Chapter 510 Staff

May this space always be filled with creative antics planted
Like seeds in every nook and corner
A space where intergenerational relationships of
Mycelial connection are fostered like roots of a tree

May this space always be filled with story and song
Poetry and purpose, passion and art
Blank pages that come alive every time
A young person’s imagination sparks

May this place be
A roaring crowd
Cheering on young budding poets
Holding hands high
As a young writer jumps into arms
Crowd surfing their way to their book launch

May this place be a space where love is a verb and
Beauty blooms from the stage to the curb
From the heart to the word
From the floor to the sky is no ceiling

May this place feel like a home away from home
Youth who gossip by the fireplace and lay their backs onto a teal daydream

May this space grow and change like the people it invites in
Always a space for laughter and writing,
The kind you bottle up to save for a rainy day,
For when you need a reminder
That there are good and true things left to make memories from

May this place hold the many truths that exist
In the city of Oakland and in the hearts of its youth
May this place be a space where
It is only the beginning of
A novel
A poem
A life-long love of writing
A life-long love
Of love over rules
Where
Young Oaklanders discover that
Their imaginationS are POWERFUL

May this place always be a
Homecoming for those who
Have written here
A sigh of safety and relief
A big, bold colorful embrace
A pillow made
In their liking

May this space be a place where tired comes to rest
Where hope is fed salty snacks
Where heartache gets water and a poet hat

May this place be a porch light left on
Be a heart
Be an open pasture for the mind to roam
May the plants teach greenery
May the windows keep their eyes open
Watching everything, keeping all the good secrets.

Blessing Poem by Ashante Ford, Marabet Morales, Tania Quintana, Jahan Khalighi, Margie Chardiet, Tavia Stewart & Janet Heller