Art and culture are powerful tools for healing, connection, and resistance—guiding us to create safe spaces and Sanctuary that honor and nurture our beloved community.
Since its launch in February 2024, the Love Over Fear campaign has been a vibrant force in Oakland—bringing together art, culture, and community action. Rooted in the spirit of Sanctuary, the campaign expresses our collective call for love, safety, and community investment, using creativity as a powerful response to harm and injustice.
We’re excited to announce that our Instagram Live series has relaunched for its second year! 🎉 Amina Lei continues to host the Love Over Fear conversations, introducing our new series: Reaffirming Sanctuary—diving into what it means to love and protect our communities. 💜🏡
As part of this work, we’ve been uplifting conversations around the Sanctuary movement—featuring reflections from our staff who hold lived experience and continue to shape this vision from the inside out.
In February, we kicked things off with IM4HI’s Co-Executive Director Rev. Deborah Lee, who reflected on recent events and the broader fight for Sanctuary. Since then, we’ve been honored to feature:
- Danny Thongsy, sharing the power of Sanctuary through the lens of post-incarceration and immigration justice.
- Jose Ruben Hernandez, reflecting on what Sanctuary means for undocumented communities and the fight for belonging.
- Kelly Younger, speaking to how Sanctuary supports healing and stability for individuals directly impacted by detention and displacement.
Each story reminds us that the significance of Sanctuary lives in those most directly impacted.
✨ Check out these powerful conversations on our Instagram page and learn how you can be part of this movement.
📸 Save the Date: Love Over Fear Sanctuary Photo Exhibit
We’re thrilled to announce our second annual Sanctuary Photo Exhibit, opening this April 2025 in Oakland!
Curated by Oakland-based cultural strategist B Dukes, this exhibit will be hosted at Art Together in Chinatown, featuring work by artists directly impacted by immigration. Their art explores how Sanctuary shows up in their lives and cultural practices, offering healing and protection for themselves and their communities.
Opening Day: Sunday, April 20
Closing Reception: Monday, April 28 | 6–8PM — An evening of art, food, and celebration with featured artists!
📍 Art Together, Chinatown Oakland – 1200 Harrison St, Oakland, CA 94612
🔗 [Learn more about Art Together]
🎨 Featured Artists:
- Lalin St Juste
- Alfredo Calderon
- Marybeth Soriano
- Pablo Guerrero
- Guillermo Medina
- Chanthon Bun
- Amina Lei
- Katerine Giron
Love Over Fear 2023-2024 Recap: If You Missed Our Earlier Events, Catch Up Here!
2024 Highlights
This past year, we hosted Love Over Fear Oakland through IG live podcasts, photo exhibits and community concerts with the help of our Cultural Strategists!
If you didn’t have a chance to experience our earlier events, don’t worry—there’s still time to engage and explore the beautiful moments we’ve shared together. Here’s a quick look at what we’ve accomplished since the launch:
Instagram Live: Unveiling Love
Amina Lei’s podcast, Unveiling Love in Oakland: Stories of Community and Social Change, featureD powerful weekly conversations with Oakland leaders and community members. Catch up on the latest episodes or see the full video project available on our YouTube channel.
- Watch the first curated Unveiling Love video (8 minutes) here.
- Catch all the interviews here on our podcast playlist.
With the artistic vision and skills of Amina Lei, we created an Oakland Love Map that highlights parks, landmarks, organizations throughout Oakland that embody love and care for the city! Copies of the Oakland Love Map are available for the community to display in their homes, businesses, and organizations.
Interested in your own map? Stop by our upcoming exhibit on April 28 and pick up a copy!
Photo Exhibit: “Love Letter to Oakland”
Our first photo exhibit, Love Letter to Oakland, launched on September 10, 2024, at the Freedom Community Clinic in Fruitvale, Oakland. Curated by B Dukes, the exhibit highlighted community leaders dedicated to fostering safety and care in our city.
Community Concert Series
Francisco Herrera’s Love Over Fear, El Amor Vence El Temor concerts have been a resounding success! Our most recent concert on June 22, 2024, featured incredible performances by Dyna Erie, Marimba Cultura Maya Todosantera, DJ Freaky Emo, and an open mic session. These concerts continue to bring our community together and celebrate the spirit of Oakland.
- Watch our June Community Concert
- See photos from previous Love Over Fear concerts at the Fruitvale Plaza
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