Ahamad Fuwad

Dec 28, 2024 | theguardian.com | Ahamad Fuwad

Poornima Ramarao greeted everyone with a smile as they offered condolences for the death of her son Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI researcher and whistleblower who was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on 26 November. “I am not grieving,” she told a small group of friends at a vigil held for Balaji in Milpitas, California, a city about 50 miles (80km) south-east of San Francisco.

Nov 15, 2024 | oaklandnorth.net | Amy Jo Osborne |Xavey Bzdek |Neha Gopal |Ahamad Fuwad

The East Bay Regional Park District began during the height of the Great Depression with a ballot measure asking voters to institute a property tax for the purpose of creating a park system. Despite the hard economic times, voters overwhelmingly agreed to tax themselves so they could have more parks. Ninety years later, about 25 million people a year enjoy what has become the largest park district of its kind in the nation, a network essential to the active, outdoor East Bay lifestyle.

Nov 14, 2024 | oaklandnorth.net | Xavey Bzdek |Neha Gopal |Ahamad Fuwad

Over 70 people gathered outside the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center near Lake Merritt Wednesday to celebrate the first anniversary of the creation of the Lakeshore LGBTQ Cultural District — bringing a moment of joy to many who felt discouraged by last week’s election of Donald Trump as president.

Nov 13, 2024 | oaklandnorth.net | Neha Gopal |Ahamad Fuwad |Richard Grant |WanYu Yao

On a recent Friday night at All Out Comedy Theater in Uptown, comedians Wonder Dave and Kristee Ono wandered about the stage telling stories of troubled minds. The stories — and minds — were their own, and involved things that people usually hide behind the curtain: confrontations with demonic, pre-sober selves, nomadic journeys into family trauma, the slow burn of relentless overwork.

Nov 9, 2024 | oaklandnorth.net | Ahamad Fuwad |WanYu Yao

Oakland voters have recalled Mayor Sheng Thao. With more than 65,000 votes tallied, 64% have said yes to a recall, prompting the need for a special election to elect a new mayor in a few months. In a statement acknowledging her defeat Friday night, Thao said, “I am deeply proud of the progress we created together and I am committed to ensuring we stay on track by supporting a smooth transition. It isn’t about me. It never has been. It has always been about Oakland.