Community
Historic Landmark Status Boosts Push to Restore Iconic West Oakland Train Station
The 16th Street Train Station in West Oakland, a historic landmark that has stood as a silent witness to over a century of cultural and industrial evolution, is now one step closer to restoration. Recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the station’s new status has ignited hope and momentum for its revival. This milestone, celebrated by preservationists and community members alike, could be the key to unlocking the funding and support needed to breathe new life into this iconic structure.
A Moment of Celebration and Reflection
“I am ecstatic,” said Feleciai Favroth, treasurer of the Oakland Heritage Alliance, which spearheaded the station’s nomination for historic designation. “This could be the key to make the station a viable rehab project.” Favroth’s enthusiasm is shared by many who have long advocated for the station’s preservation, recognizing its profound historical and cultural significance.
The listing on the National Register of Historic Places not only honors the station’s legacy but also makes it eligible for a 20% federal income tax credit for restoration costs. Similar incentives have played a crucial role in reviving other Bay Area landmarks, such as Oakland’s Fox Theater and Richmond’s Ford Assembly Plant. “The bottom line of the tax credit is it just makes things much more financially feasible and attractive for developers,” said Kara Brunzell, an architectural historian who worked on the nomination.
A Daunting Financial Challenge
Despite this significant achievement, the road to restoration remains steep. The station requires an estimated $50 million for seismic retrofitting and restoration—a daunting sum that has stymied previous efforts to save the building. “Just because we’re on the registry doesn’t mean the station is saved,” Favroth cautioned. Over the decades, multiple owners have attempted to restore the station, but none have secured the necessary funding.
The current owner, City Ventures, has proposed a 77-unit townhome-style development called “Signal House” around the station site. However, the plan, under review since May 2023, does not include the station’s rehabilitation. City Ventures has hired OE Consulting to explore fundraising options for the station’s repairs. According to OE Consulting, the search is on for an “anchor funder”—a major donor willing to provide the initial funds to kickstart the restoration and allow the community to decide the station’s future use.
A Vision for the Future
The Oakland Heritage Alliance is now focused on securing funding for a feasibility study to explore the station’s potential. “You have to do something that’s financially viable because that’s the big thing nowadays with historical preservation. ‘Can the asset financially sustain itself?’” Favroth explained. Proposed ideas for the station’s reuse include an event venue, offices, a technology hub, or a business incubator.
Brunzell emphasized the station’s architectural and historical significance, comparing it to Grand Central Station in its grandeur and solidity. Designed in the Beaux Arts style by renowned architect Jarvis Hunt and opened in 1912, the station was a key hub for both local and long-distance trains during the heyday of rail travel. “You could come into the station from distant parts on the Southern Pacific, get off on the ground floor, walk upstairs, and get on a local streetcar to take you to your hotel. That was really important and unusual for the time,” Brunzell said.
Honoring African American History
The 16th Street Train Station is also one of the first to be designated under a new category that recognizes the history of African Americans in California. For Favroth, the station holds deep personal significance. Like many African Americans, her family has a direct connection to the station. Her aunts passed through it when they migrated to Oakland from Louisiana in the 1940s during the Great Migration. “I wanted to be able to honor their history and their memory,” Favroth said. “And this station has a strong tie to our history.”
The station served as a gateway for thousands of Black families seeking new opportunities in the West, and its surrounding neighborhood became a vibrant center of African American culture, commerce, and activism. Restoring the station is not just about preserving a building—it’s about reclaiming a piece of history that reflects the resilience and contributions of the Black community.
A Community Effort
The push to restore the 16th Street Train Station is a testament to the power of community advocacy and collaboration. From preservationists and historians to local officials and developers, a diverse coalition is working to ensure the station’s future. While challenges remain, the historic designation has provided a critical boost, offering both recognition and financial incentives to support the restoration effort.
As the project moves forward, the focus will be on balancing historical preservation with modern needs, ensuring that the station becomes a sustainable and inclusive space for the community. For West Oakland, the restoration of the 16th Street Train Station represents more than just the revival of a building—it’s a chance to honor the past, inspire the present, and build a brighter future.
The Bridge is a section of the STM Daily News Blog meant for diversity, offering real news stories about bona fide community efforts to perpetuate a greater good. The purpose of The Bridge is to connect the divides that separate us, fostering understanding and empathy among different groups. By highlighting positive initiatives and inspirational actions, The Bridge aims to create a sense of unity and shared purpose. This section brings to light stories of individuals and organizations working tirelessly to promote inclusivity, equality, and mutual respect. Through these narratives, readers are encouraged to appreciate the richness of diverse perspectives and to participate actively in building stronger, more cohesive communities.
https://stmdailynews.com/the-bridge
Community
5 Meaningful Ways to Make a Difference This Holiday Season
Make a Difference This Holiday Season: Hunger relief is often top of mind during the holidays, and there are many ways to make a meaningful difference. Consider these ideas.
5 Meaningful Ways to Make a Difference This Holiday Season
(Feature Impact) The holiday season brings people together and often inspires them to think about how they can support others. Yet for many families, this time of year can bring added pressure as they balance the cost of food and other everyday essentials.
According to Feeding America’s latest Map the Meal Gap study, published in 2026, nearly 48 million people in the United States, including 14 million children, experience food insecurity.
Hunger relief is often top of mind during the holidays, and there are many ways to make a meaningful difference. Each year, Charles Schwab employees come together through Season of Giving to support local nonprofits and help make the holidays brighter for those in need.
Consider these ideas from Charles Schwab Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing financial literacy and strengthening communities.
Give What’s Needed Most
When giving to a local food bank, pantry or other nonprofit, start by finding out what the organization needs most. Many organizations share lists of priority items, while monetary donations can give them flexibility to direct resources where they will have the greatest impact. A little planning can help make every contribution count.
Turn Giving Into a Group Activity
Invite family, friends, neighbors or coworkers to get involved with you. Organizing a donation drive, packing meals or volunteering together can multiply the impact while creating a meaningful way to connect during the holiday season.
Share Your Time and Talents
There are many ways to contribute beyond making a donation. Consider volunteering your time or putting your skills to use for an organization that could benefit from them. From sorting donations and packing meals to helping with special events or administrative projects, your time and expertise can make a meaningful impact.
Support Organizations in Your Own Community
The holidays are an opportunity to learn more about the organizations serving your neighbors every day. Look for local nonprofits addressing needs that matter to you, whether that is hunger, housing, education or another community priority. Supporting organizations close to home can help strengthen the networks people rely on throughout the year.
Keep Giving Beyond the Holidays
The spirit of giving doesn’t have to end when the holiday season is over. Consider turning a one-time contribution into an ongoing commitment, whether by volunteering periodically, making recurring donations or continuing to support an organization with a mission that resonates with you.
Learn more about the work being done to advance financial literacy and strengthen communities at schwabmoneywise.com/foundation.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
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Fifty volunteers joined Diana Gregory Outreach Services and community partners on November 5, with support from AARP, State Farm, and BHHS Legacy Foundation.
PHOENIX — Fresh produce and community support came together Thursday morning, November 5, 2026, as Veggies for Veterans distributed 700 grocery bags during an event hosted by the Phoenix VA Health Care System.
The Diana Gregory Outreach Services (DGOS) program brought together 50 volunteers to help provide veterans with nutritious food. Each bag contained a variety of 13 fruits and vegetables, according to the event results supplied by organizers.
The effort also received a contribution from Peddler’s Son, which donated a five-pound bag of Idaho potatoes and a bag of grapes for each veteran.
AARP, State Farm, and BHHS Legacy Foundation Lead Financial Support
AARP, State Farm, and BHHS Legacy Foundation were the event’s three largest financial sponsors, helping make the distribution possible.
Volunteers represented all three organizations, along with the Archer Ragsdale Arizona Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. Arizona Community Foundation and Santander also contributed volunteer support.
AARP Arizona State Director Dana Marie Kennedy attended the event. AARP’s participation included volunteers and an outreach table featuring candy and AARP-branded giveaway items for attendees and veterans.
Together, the financial contributions, donated food, and volunteer service supported an event centered on veterans and their access to fresh produce.
A Special Guest With a Remarkable Service History
Among those attending was 106-year-old Major Fannie Griffin McClendon, whose military career connects the gathering to an extraordinary chapter in American history.
McClendon served during World War II with the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, widely known as the “Six Triple Eight.” The historic unit of Black women soldiers helped process a massive backlog of military mail in Europe.
Her service continued beyond World War II. The Library of Congress documents her later career in the Air Force, including service as a squadron commander.
Her attendance offered an opportunity to recognize a veteran whose career helped break barriers for Black women in the military.
More Than a Bag of Groceries
Veggies for Veterans’ purpose extends beyond the food distributed at an individual event. The program focuses on helping veterans access fresh produce while creating opportunities for connection and community support.
Grocery costs, transportation, and mobility can make obtaining nutritious food difficult. Bringing produce directly to veterans through VA and community settings is one way the program works to address those barriers.
The November 5 distribution also reflected the collective work behind that support: an organization coordinating the effort, a VA host, financial sponsors, a food donor, and volunteers contributing their time.
With 700 bags distributed and 50 volunteers participating, the event demonstrated how community partnerships can translate into practical support for veterans.
Readers interested in learning more about the program, volunteering, or exploring ways to support its work can visit Diana Gregory Outreach Services.
Reporting note: Event results, sponsor recognition, donations, volunteer participation, and attendee information were supplied for this recap. Historical background on Major McClendon is supported by the Library of Congress.
Sources and Further Information
- Diana Gregory Outreach Services — Veggies for Veterans
- Phoenix VA — November 5 Veggies for Veterans event listing
- Library of Congress — Fannie Griffin McClendon
Last Updated on November 7, 2026 by Daily News Staff
New hybrid event aims to give grieving audiences meaningful holiday viewing, with films from more than 25 countries and a mission centered on love, loss, and emotional truth.
A new film festival debuting in late 2026 is taking a different approach to holiday entertainment. Grief Fest™: The Grief Film Festival, created by My Grief Angels Inc., is being introduced as what organizers believe is the world’s first film festival dedicated entirely to grief, remembrance, resilience, and healing.
The hybrid festival will run in two segments: November 25–29, 2026, during Thanksgiving week, and December 24, 2026, through January 3, 2027, during Christmas and New Year’s. Top Honors films will be announced on December 31, 2026.
Organizers say the timing is intentional. Research cited in the announcement shows that grief and loneliness are major holiday stressors for many Americans, making the season especially difficult for people coping with loss. In that context, Grief Fest™ is positioning itself as an alternative to the flood of traditional feel-good holiday programming.
The festival is open to short films, features, documentaries, experimental work, AI-generated projects, and VR experiences. It is described as inclusive, non-religious, and LGBTQ+ friendly, with submissions already received from more than 25 countries. All films will be presented in English, either spoken or subtitled.
Grief Fest™ will be available both in person and virtually through Film Festival Plus, making it accessible to audiences worldwide. The launch of GriefFest.com also includes Lumen, a multilingual AI guide designed to help filmmakers and attendees navigate the festival in their preferred language.
Rather than focusing on industry prestige, organizers say the festival is centered on community and emotionally honest storytelling. For audiences who feel unseen during the holidays, Grief Fest™ is aiming to offer something rare on the seasonal screen: recognition.
Source: PR Newswire
Related Reading
- Grief Fest: Official festival site
- My Grief Angels Inc.: About the nonprofit behind the festival
- Film Festival Plus: Virtual access platform
Catch the latest in movies, TV, music, pop culture, and live events in STM Daily News’ Entertainment section.
