By Tanya Dennis

Oakland’s Department of Violence Prevention (DVP) is sponsoring a second round of Town Nights events beginning June 16 throughout the city of Oakland to support community and family-oriented activities in areas that have been identified as hot spots for violence. Town Nights’ successful outreach began last November, kicked off with free turkey dinner giveaways, basketball tournaments, COVID-19 services and much more.

The mission of the DVP is to decrease violence in specific communities that have been identified as hot spots in Oakland. The events are hosted by grassroots community organizations.

Adamika Village founder Daryle Allums explains why their Town Nights event at Sunnyside Park is unique and different. “Adamika Village is a victim-led organization, so everything we do is in honor of loved ones lost to violence or to honor their families,” Allums said. Last winter, their event was hosted at Castlemont High School, and paid tribute to Michael Franklin, Castlemont’s star basketball forward who lost his life in a double-homicide on Edes and 90^th Avenue in 2018. They dubbed the school, whose mascot is the knight, “Mike’s Knight’s.”

This year, Allums says, “I chose Bernice Carter Park, also known as Sunnyside Park, because this is the place I sold my first piece of crack. I’m back to build up what I destroyed and tore down.”

Allums has orchestrated beautification and restoration of Sunnyside Park in anticipation of the four weeks of activities. “We’re replacing basketball rims, weeding the community garden that now has weeds 8 feet high, we’re painting over graffiti, and giving stipends to the community to assist us [in cleaning] out the sand box on the 15^th [of June] from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. I’m going back to my community to clean it up because I left a toxic residue,” Allums said.

The Sunnyside Park Town Nights event is unique from the others, Allums says, because they plan to give away cash money and prizes. “We are asking people to dress in African attire, and we’re giving away free dashikis to the first twenty people that come.”

Each night will begin with what Allums terms the “African Way,” with a blessing of the park and activities with libation, African dancers and drummers. Games and activities will feature the city’s biggest obstacle course for “Wipe Out” with Whipple balls and water guns, with one winner walking away with a $100 prize. Double Dutch, dance contests and a DJ challenge are other activities participants can look forward to. Red, black and green liberation peace flags will be mounted at each corner of the park and Adamika Villages’ Credible Messengers will patrol for safety.

The main attraction of each Town Nights event will be a basketball tournament with people bringing their five-on-five team for a chance to win $1,000, winner take all. Free food will be provided by Amazing Bar Be Cue, a group comprising mothers and fathers that have lost their children to community violence. Town Nights are from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. and will be hosted four consecutive Fridays, June 17, June 24, July 1 and July 8.

Allums, in reflection, shared that, “at Town Nights, we honor our lost loved ones. Last year it was Michael Franklin. This year, Evry Season Town Nights is in honor of my son, Keandre Allums. Sunnyside Park is where he grew up at, this was his safe place because everybody knew him. He was little D.”

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