Omni Commons is a collectively owned and operated community building in Oakland, California, housing many organizations performing critically-needed grassroots work and mutual aid efforts essential to the future of a healthy and thriving community. Providing wide-ranging services from AA meetings, surplus food distribution, to generic insulin research, internet access for the unhoused, and offering gathering spaces of different sizes suitable for many uses, Omni makes full use of one of the few remaining large event venues in the area.
Member collectives and tenants include:
- Acta Non Verba’s Beetbox CSA (formerly Phat Beets) — food distribution
- Chiapas Support Committee — supports the autonomous Zapatista group
- Community Liberation Programs (formerly Workers Community Kitchen) — food distribution
- Counter Culture Labs, Open Insulin, Real Vegan Cheese, Bay Area Applied Mycology — citizen science
- East Bay Food Not Bombs — food distribution
- FYE Collective — creative collaboration
- Global Women’s Strike — campaign for care work compensation
- Liberated Lens — producing community media
- Myriad Outreach Projects, Building Community Collective, Meals On Onewheels, Direct Action for Farmworkers — food distribution, food equity
- Oakland Privacy — defends the right to privacy
- Sudo Mesh, People’s Open Network, Disaster Radio, Build Your Own Internet, Laptops For All — internet access and internet privacy for the unhoused
- Sudo Room — repair and maintenance of electronics and appliances; weekly coding night on Mondays for women and non-binary folks
- Free Store — clothing and household goods
- Town Fridge (East Bay) — food distribution
- Village of Love — support services for the most vulnerable
Omni Commons was founded in 2014 by individuals and collectives who shared a vision of creating a more equitable commoning of resources and meeting of human needs. Since its inception, Omni Commons has hosted many local progressive organizations and is more committed than ever to continue our mission of transformative justice by supporting organizations that strengthen human relationships and promote human dignity. Our member collectives contribute to the greater social welfare of the Bay Area through issues that are important to the health and development of our local community: science, art, food, mental health, physical health, social justice, technology, creative reuse, waste reduction and much more. Critically, these activities are only possible with the availability of affordable physical space which can support in-person resource sharing and grassroots social development.
Omni Commons has reached crunch time in its private mortgage on the building; it must raise $900,000, otherwise the building may be foreclosed upon, causing more than 10 collectives to lose the place they call home. We’ve worked hard to get in the best position to raise this money—by improving cash flow, hosting more events and tenants, and seeking more grants—but the pandemic slowed our progress considerably, since people became wary of booking in-person events. Event bookings have picked up since then, but the loan is due very soon. Every dollar we earn here will go towards the $900,000 we need to raise. If we raise the full amount, we can be debt-free! If we don’t get enough, we may lose the building.
NOW is the time when Omni needs you most! Please help us continue the important work that is being done here by contributing to Omni today. No amount is too small and is greatly appreciated. Feel free to share our message with your family and friends!
You’re welcome to visit us at 4799 Shattuck Avenue in Oakland, and check out our site
here.
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