By My Eden Voice Staff
Want to receive the MEV Bulletin directly in your inbox? Sign up here.
In this month’s issue: Mercadito Fest comes back in October with a Halloween twist, we close out the Our Homes, Our Land workshop series, and we’ve got a full calendar of September events across the Eden Area.
El Mercadito Fest is Back — and It’s Getting Spooky!
Mark your calendar: Friday, October 2 from 5 – 9 PM at the Yoyo’s Botaneria parking lot.
The first Friday of October brings El Mercadito Fest back to the Eden Area, and this month’s theme is Halloween! We’ll have:
- Pumpkins to paint and take home
- A Halloween costume contest hosted by local clown Kiko el Payaso
- Food, art, and other local wares from your favorite Eden Area vendors
- Music and dancing
We can’t wait to see you there decked out in costume. Follow @elmercaditofest on Instagram for updates. See you on October 2!
El Mercadito photos courtesy of Rafael Ramirez-Gonzalez (@photo.raffys).
Our Homes, Our Land Wrap Up
August marked the final session of the Our Homes, Our Land workshop series, run in partnership with the Eden Community Land Trust.
More than three dozen Eden Area residents took part in these workshops! Together, we gained knowledge and skills we can use to move our rental housing and mobile home parks out of a speculative market where absentee landlords control the terms of our daily lives toward housing that is owned by the community, for the community.
Over the series, participants learned about:
- Community ownership models already thriving across the Bay Area
- Strategies for winning support from local government
- Resources available to build our own community ownership models right here in the Eden Area
This series was made possible by a grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. A huge thanks to Kristen Hackett, Nestor Castillo and Sandy Frost for creating and leading it.
Are you following us on social media?
Help us reach more of the community by following us on social media!
Upcoming Events
Check out our events page to view and add MEV’s events to your calendar.
- POSTPONED: Our Homes, Our Land Community Review of Learning + Future Plans – OHOL participants should stay tuned for more information distributed via email.
- Saturday, September 12: Gardening at La Huerta / Ashland Community Farm from 9 AM – 12 PM at the Alameda County Fire Station on 165th. La Huerta meets every second and fourth Saturday of the month to help around the garden, meet neighbors, and enjoy the community space.
- Saturday, September 26: Gardening at La Huerta / Ashland Community Farm from 9 AM – 12 PM at the Alameda County Fire Station on 165th. La Huerta meets every second and fourth Saturday of the month to help around the garden, meet neighbors, and enjoy the community space.
- Monday, September 28: Immigrant Justice Committee Meeting from 6 – 8 PM via Zoom. Email gladys@myedenvoice.org for more information.
- Friday, October 2: El Mercadito Fest from 5–9 p.m. at Yoyo’s Botaneria, 20925 Mission Blvd, Cherryland. Join us for Halloween festivities including pumpkin painting, a costume contest, food, and dancing.
Around the Eden Area
Do you have an event you’d like to see featured in a future My Eden Voice bulletin? Please email coordinator@myedenvoice.org.
- Wednesday, September 9: Free food distribution from 2 to 4 PM at the Wilma Chan Family Resource Center, 20450 Royal Ave, Hayward. Open to SLZUSD families and residents of Hayward Acres.
- Saturday, September 12 & Sunday, September 13: 54th Annual Castro Valley Fall Festival from 10 AM – 6 PM at Castro Valley Boulevard between Redwood Road and Santa Maria Avenue. Enjoy two days of free live entertainment, local artisans, food vendors, family activities, community organizations, and shopping from hundreds of exhibitors.
- Tuesday, September 29: Unincorporated Urban Forest Plan Community Workshop from 5:30 – 7 PM at the San Lorenzo Library, 395 Paseo Grande, San Lorenzo. Alameda County is creating a 50-year Urban Forest Plan for the unincorporated communities and they want your feedback about where to plant new trees! Please RSVP in advance onEventbrite.
- Wednesday, September 30: Free food distribution from 2 to 4 PM at the Wilma Chan Family Resource Center, 20450 Royal Ave, Hayward. Open to SLZUSD families and residents of Hayward Acres.
In solidarity,
– The My Eden Voice Team