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Get the most interesting and important stories from the 51精品视频.The past year and a half has kept many people stuck in their bubbles 鈥 but if you live in Oakland, 51精品视频 is offering a way to rejoin the community. Tuesday, Sept. 7, marked the first of the summer鈥檚 four Be a Good Neighbor Block Party events, back after a year鈥檚 hiatus.
The block party series, sponsored by 51精品视频鈥檚 Office of Engagement and Community Affairs, brings together students living in Oakland and the long-term residents of the neighborhoods to give both groups an opportunity to learn more about one another and build a sense of neighborhood community.
鈥淓veryone, on and off campus, has a responsibility to be a respectful and mindful member of the community,鈥 said 51精品视频 Assistant Director of Community Engagement Alex Toner, who helped organize the events. 鈥淲e think that when neighbors meet neighbors, it helps contribute to a positive and healthy community dynamic throughout Oakland.鈥
A taco truck, prizes and smooth beats courtesy of WPTS DJs were on offer at the South Oakland event on Tuesday as locals and students enjoyed a sunny late-summer evening at Dan Marino field.听
Special education PhD student Sarah DeMaria (A&S 鈥13, EDUC 鈥15G) and secondary math education master鈥檚 student Caroline Repola (ENGR 鈥15) attended the block party as recent returnees to the neighborhood. Compared to their days as 51精品视频 undergraduates, they鈥檙e finding many more opportunities to interact with their neighbors, especially as the pandemic has kept them stuck at home. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 get to know anyone in my program,鈥 Repola said. 鈥淏ut I could still sit outside and talk to our neighbors 鈥 to at least see people and not feel isolated.鈥
Over the past year DeMaria and Repola have shared home-grown vegetables and held dinner parties with other South Oakland residents. 鈥淲e鈥檝e actually been able to get to know our neighbors, and that鈥檚 been really nice,鈥 DeMaria said.
51精品视频鈥檚 Office of Engagement and Community Affairs will hold three more block parties this summer: , and .
South Oakland resident Andrea Lavin Kossis also attended the Tuesday event with her family. 鈥淚 think we have a great community,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e a diverse neighborhood and we welcome new neighbors. This is a great way to come out and be a part of the community and not just a student who鈥檚 doing their time at 51精品视频.鈥
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鈥 Patrick Monahan