Civic Love — on July 12 — is a joyful, all-ages block party happening on 23rd St. and Broadway, celebrating Oakland’s creativity, culture, and community care. It also happens to be the very first public activation of the city’s newest downtown parking lot-turned-park: a small but powerful example of urban transformation and what becomes possible when we reimagine public space for connection and collective joy.

At its heart, Civic Love is about civic engagement in its most human form—showing up, making art, dancing in the street, and practicing care for one another. In a moment of deep uncertainty and disinvestment, Civic Love is a reminder that civic imagination is a tool for resilience—and that belonging begins with gathering.

WHAT: Civic Love Block Party, featuring Jazz Mafia, Prospect Band, and community-led programming
WHEN: Saturday, July 12 | 11am–4pm
WHERE: 2270 Broadway (at 23rd St, Oakland)