About this Event
“Love is an expression of power. We can use it to transform the world.” -Ericka Huggins
Join us on Sunday, June 7th in Oakland and online for Love & Liberation: Movement Wisdom for These Times with beloved elder, educator and activist Ericka Huggins (featured in the recent biography Black Panther Woman: The Political and Spiritual Life of Ericka Huggins), hosted in conversation by poet & educator desmarie jackson, alongside the heart-opening voices of Wildchoir.
Across generations, our movements for love and justice have been led by people who refuse to give up on truth, dignity and the possibility of transformation. We are blessed to learn from and inherit their courage, wisdom, sacrifice and stories. Yet many of us are still asking how we can stay grounded and hopeful in a time marked by exhaustion, polarization, grief and uncertainty. What can sustain us when the work feels endless and overwhelming? What practices can help us stay open, connected and alive in the midst of struggle?
Through storytelling, reflection, and conversation, Ericka Huggins will share insights from a lifetime devoted to healing, liberation, spiritual practice, and collective care. Together, we will explore what radical love is asking of us in this moment, the role of inner transformation in social change, and how we can continue showing up with courage, compassion, and clarity for the long journey toward healing and justice.
In these tender and challenging times, come gather in the power of community. Be nourished by song, wisdom, and shared presence as we connect with the deeper forces that sustain our movements for liberation: love, spirit, resilience, and our profound belonging to one another.
IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL: Oakland & Bay area folks...come out in person and bring a friend. For folks in other locations, be part of the magic by joining us live on Zoom.
WHAT: THRIVE SUNDAYS are an opportunity to connect with a diverse and inspiring group of activists, healers, artists and caring souls; to be uplifted by music, singing, poetry, and story; and to experience the transformative power of community in service to a world of love & belonging.
WHEN: Sunday, June 7, 2026 from 4pm - 6pm PT / 7pm - 9pm ET (arrive on time!)
WHERE: Uptown Body & Fender event space - 401 26th St, Oakland, CA 94612 (near 19th St Bart Station)
Or virtually on Zoom (link shared when you register)
COST : A $10 - $20 contribution is suggested. Youth and students (ages 14 - 24) are welcome to attend for FREE by emailing your name to: [email protected]
INVITE A FRIEND: Feel free to bring your family and friends.
VOLUNTEERS for In-Person: We are seeking volunteers to help with the set-up and break-down of this event. If you are available to arrive early or stay late, please let us know at: [email protected]
Children: Little ones are welcome to attend. We will not be offering childcare during this event but there will be a space with art supplies and games where they can hang toward the back of the event room.
We look forward to gathering!
In partnership,
the Thrive team
(A video recording of this event will be shared with everyone that registers.)
Accessibility: This venue is wheel chair accessible. Closed captioning will be offered for our virtual participants. Please contact [email protected] with additional accessibility needs and questions. Thank you!
Health Practices for our In-Person Participants
As we gather for in-person community events (while maintaining the option for virtual participation), we recognize that there is a wide range of health considerations and risk tolerance levels.
To support the health & safety of our entire community, we engage in the following practices:
- We invite folks to wear a mask if they feel called to and we provide masks and hand sanitizer at our Welcome Table.
- For anyone experiencing symptoms that could be associated with a contagious sickness, please do not attend in person and join us virtually.
Thank you for your understanding and partnership. Clarifying questions can be sent to: [email protected]
Guest Speaker: Ericka Huggins is an educator, former Black Panther Party member, and political prisoner, human rights activist and poet. For 37 years Ericka has lectured in the United States, and internationally on human rights, Restorative Justice and the role of spiritual practice in sustaining activism and promoting social change. She highlights the importance of inclusive grassroots movements that honor the voices of the marginalized, especially youth. Ericka’s work as a speaker and facilitator is based in her belief in the greatness of each human heart. She believes that each of us has the ability to look there for the answers to questions about the future of our world. She is featured in the recent biography by Mary Frances Phillips titled Black Panther Woman: The Political and Spiritual Life of Ericka Huggins.
Learn more at: https://www.erickahuggins.com
Guest Moderator: desmarie jackson is a transmasc, Black Mexican American educator, poet and deejay based in Oakland, CA. des participated in Thrive's Rooted and Rising young adult cohort in 2024 and is deepening his cultural work in the Bay Area. Most notably, he hosts JOTERÍA, a monthly dance party for Black, Indigenous, POC queer and trans community to liberate their bodies through movement. They are also the author of “Some Body Song,” a self-published coming of age zine on trans being.
Wildchoir is a diverse group of vocalists, artists, activists, educators, healers, and community organizers who join together in big harmony. They celebrate the confluence of their many cultures & identities, including African-American, Latinx, Asian-American, Native American, Middle-Eastern, immigrant, Jewish, & queer. Their music illuminates the joy, pain, and beauty of what it means to be human in this time of systemic transformation.
They have performed with nationally-acclaimed artists for social change including Rising Appalachia, Climbing Poetree & MaMuse. They also frequently share the stage with progressive heroes of our time, such as Bernie Sanders, Ericka Huggins, Joanna Macy, and Fania Davis. Their music has inspired thousands at marches, conferences and festivals across California, most recently at Bioneers, Lightning in a Bottle, Institute for Noetic Sciences, the North America Permaculture Convergence, the Women's March, and the Rise for Climate March.
Learn more at: https://www.wildchoir.org
THRIVE is a community, network and movement building Beloved Community for these times. We bring people together at the intersections of meaning, belonging, music, the arts and social change. Started in Oakland, CA as Thrive East Bay, we have also grown into the Thrive Network as we work to build a world of love and belonging where everyone thrives.
We are guided by the following core principles:
THRIVING LIVES - We support each other in overcoming personal challenges and injustice, and creating lives filled with purpose, joy, and creative expression.
LOVE IN ACTION - We let love guide us toward compassion, gratitude, empathy, and community among diverse groups of people.
SHARED LEARNING & PRACTICE - We seek to expand our critical awareness and evidenced-based understanding of the world, and to grow together through shared inquiry and transformative practices.
SYSTEMIC CHANGE - We unite to build equitable systems where we can flourish as individuals, as communities, and as a planet.
Learn more at: https://www.thrivenetwork.org
Donate to support the work of Thrive at: https://www.thrivenetwork.org/donate
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
401 26th St, 401 26th Street, Oakland, United States
USD 7.18 to USD 23.18
