| | | | | | | Happy New Year!
I hope you had a restful holiday season with loved ones. After a wonderful break with family, I’m grateful to be back in the office and out in the community as I begin my second year serving as your mayor.
Looking back on all that we accomplished last year, my Community Engagement Officer, Andrea Bernal, put together a great graphic detailing all of the ways we engaged with all of you. We are aiming for even more in 2026 and can’t wait to share all that we have planned!
Our first big event of 2026 was hosting a Day of Service on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which I share more about below. In this very dark time, seeing so many volunteers come together for a common purpose and sharing in the pride of service brought joy and light to us all.
Office hours will be returning next month, and I am also co-hosting office hours with Councilmember Shoshana O’Keefe on Thursday, February 19, 5:00 - 7:00 PM, at the North Shattuck Farmers Market. No appointment necessary - I hope to see some of you there!
In community, |
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| | Adena Ishii Berkeley Mayor
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| | MLK Day: Light in the Darkness
***Updated *** Call for Artists
Crowning A New Poet Laureate
Small Business Spotlight: Sweet Adeline
Nonprofit Spotlight: Youth Spirit Artworks
Resources: Grants for Artists and Festival Organizers |
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| MLK DAY: LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS |
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| | Last week, Berkeley came together in community to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The day began at the 15th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Breakfast, bringing together faith, civic, and community leaders to recognize individuals and organizations who exemplify Dr. King’s enduring spirit and Berkeley’s commitment to moving forward together. |
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There was also an incredible youth performance, scholarship awards were presented, and a keynote address by Denise Herd, Associate Professor of Public Health at UC Berkeley.
It was a morning filled with inspiring words and joyful connection. Watch the full celebration. |
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| | After the breakfast, our office organized a Day of Service to give the community opportunities to volunteer and give back We started off by joining up with our Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront Department at the Berkeley Marina, helping to pull weeds, plant, paint, and other tasks to maintain our beautiful open space. |
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| | It was an incredible turnout - over 100 volunteers joined us! Between the beautiful weather and the number of people in our community who chose to give their time on what would otherwise be a day off from work and school, our hearts were uplifted. |
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| | We concluded the day assisting with meal preparation and distribution at Dorothy Day House, where we were joined by a few more community volunteers. |
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| | Thank you to everyone who participated in our Day of Service! Stay tuned for additional opportunities to volunteer in our city through the Mayor’s new project, Berkeley Corps. |
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| | | Mayor Ishii is seeking artwork from the Berkeley creative community to be displayed in her office!
Work must celebrate the theme of Berkeley's regenerative culture, whether that is renewal, material reuse, or the art of giving new life.
All mediums and backgrounds are welcome. Applicants must be connected to the Berkeley community.
Selected works will be showcased in the Mayor’s office and considered for cash prizes and public recognition.
Deadline for submissions: Friday, March 13, 2026
A virtual informational session will be held on February 25, 2026 from 5:00 to 6:00 pm for interested applicants with further questions or clarifications on submission criteria.
Visit tinyurl.com/IshiiArt26 to learn more and make a submission. |
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| CROWNING A NEW POET LAUREATE |
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Last Tuesday was our first City Council meeting of the year, and we started off by thanking our outgoing Poet Laureate, Aya de León, and recognizing our new Poet Laureate, Hanan Masri,
A Berkeley teacher for nearly 3 decades, Hanan relished the opportunity to support young people in finding their creative voice, mostly at her school site of 25 years, Berkwood Hedge, the first racially integrated school in Berkeley. A certified herbalist and nutritionist, her work explores themes of land as an extension of ancestral longing, particularly the mitochondrial haunt of her mother's Palestinian-Lebanese lineage.
The poem Hanan read was so beautiful and moving. If you did not get the opportunity to watch the meeting, I recommend that you take a few moments to do so. The presentation begins 2 minutes into the recording.
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| | From cafes to manufacturers, Berkeley has no shortage of creative and innovative small businesses that add to the vibrancy of our city.
Continuing to shine a spotlight on some of those businesses, this month it's District 3: |
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| | | Located in the Lorin District of South Berkeley, Sweet Adeline Bakeshop has been serving up delicious cakes, cookies, pies, breads, and pastries since 2005. Whether you’re looking for a place to grab coffee and a treat or order a beautiful cake for a special occasion, Sweet Adeline is a place many Berkeleyans recommend.
Sweet Adeline Bakeshop 3350 Adeline Street
Wednesday - Sunday | 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
RECOMMEND A BUSINESS TO SPOTLIGHT IN A FUTURE NEWSLETTER |
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| | Berkeley is fortunate to home to a diverse and significant number of nonprofit organizations that provide vital support and services to the community and raise awareness about important issues.
This month, we’re starting off by spotlighting an organization in District 3: |
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| | | Youth Spirit Artworks (YSA) was founded in 2007 in response to the challenges faced by Alameda County’s transitional-age youth impacted by adversity, economic hardship, and housing instability. YSA provides holistic engagement, intervention, and opportunity by offering transitional housing and leadership development through Art as Therapy and by celebrating Youth Empowerment rooted in community, beauty, land, history, and freedom.
RECOMMEND A NONPROFIT TO SPOTLIGHT IN A FUTURE NEWSLETTER |
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| | | Grants for Artists and Festival Organizers
Artists and festival organizers can apply for one-time grants to support their work and strengthen the arts culture of Berkeley. Individual artists in Berkeley can get $5,000 for original work and a public presentation. This year’s grants are for dance, folk and traditional arts, literary arts, music, and theater. Festival organizers can apply for up to $7,000 to put on events in Berkeley. Events can be new and small in scale or an established festival.
Organized by the City of Berkeley’s Civic Arts Program, these grants support a culturally vibrant and diverse arts ecosystem in our community.
Grant deadlines are March 4 and March 11. View grant guidelines on the application portal and apply by the March deadlines. |
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| | If there are events or resources you would like the Mayor's office to share, please email mm...@berkeleyca.gov. |
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