Darlene Rios Drapkin and Urban Transformation In the News

Temescal Street Cinema energizes district: Temescal Street Cinema, an outdoor film series, helps encourage a sense of community in the neighborhood. "It's like taking back the streets, creating a community event at night," says Darlene.

Temescal is where it's at: Business Improvement District helps turn 94609 into one of Oakland's trendiest ZIP codes (Oakland Tribune). Read the latest about Darlene transforming Temescal.

Bringing Life to a Neighborhood: Dia De Los Muertos in Fruitvale, California (Culturalheritagetourism.org). Darlene talks about the unique festival that has become one of Oakland's most successful events, helping demonstrate the value of cultures, creativity, and cooperation.

An Estuary Runs By It: The Flowering of Fruitvale (Baycrossings.com). An interview with Darlene about how the Fruitvale Main Street Program and the Unity Council helped revitalize a blighted community.

Oakland Emerging (Roadage.com). Darlene describes how the Main Street approach helped instill a sense of pride in the Fruitvale district.

Cities Trying to Limit Pay Phones: Oakland considers toughest law yet to thwart criminal element (San Francisco Chronicle). Pay phones are being attacked as the latest scourge in the urban battle against crime and grime.

Redwood City Downtown (PDF)