Town Alive
The future of Oakland is built where people gather.
An initiative from the City of Oakland, sponsored by Councilmember Rowena Brown.
Town Alive
Oakland has always been a city of creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation. From neighborhood festivals and local businesses to groundbreaking technology and cultural movements, our greatest strengths emerge when people come together to create, connect, and imagine what's possible.
Thanks to the vision and leadership of Oakland City Councilmember Rowena Brown, Town Alive was established to help reimagine how Oakland's commercial corridors and public spaces can support a thriving local economy while strengthening community, culture, and opportunity. Through landmark legislation championed by Councilmember Brown, the City of Oakland created a framework for new approaches to downtown activation and economic innovation. The Oakland Fund is honored to partner with the City as the initiative's lead implementation partner, working alongside government, community organizations, businesses, residents, artists, institutions, and philanthropy to help bring that vision to life.
Town Alive reflects a simple belief: vibrant cities are built by investing in both the places where people gather today and the opportunities that will shape tomorrow. By combining cultural activation with future-focused economic innovation, we are helping Oakland create more vibrant neighborhoods, stronger commercial corridors, and greater opportunity for residents and small businesses alike.
How It Works
The program launches with two pilot components. Together, these pilots are designed to make Oakland's economy more vibrant, inclusive, and future-ready.
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Great cities create places where people want to gather.
Entertainment Zones help transform commercial corridors into vibrant destinations by making it easier for residents and visitors to experience Oakland's restaurants, arts, music, and cultural life. By supporting events, encouraging foot traffic, and creating welcoming public spaces, Entertainment Zones strengthen small businesses while helping neighborhoods feel more connected, vibrant, and safe. Read more here
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Technology should work with communities—not happen to them. Responsible AI Activation Zones help Oakland residents, workers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses build the knowledge, skills, and voice to shape an AI-enabled future while advancing equity, opportunity, and public trust along the way. Together, we're building a model for community-centered innovation that ensures emerging technologies strengthen neighborhoods, expand opportunity and access, and reflect the values of the people they serve.
Why Town Alive?
Economic development and community belonging are deeply connected. Thriving small businesses create jobs. Vibrant public spaces strengthen community. Emerging technologies create new opportunities—but only if everyone has access to them.
Town Alive brings these pieces together through one vision: creating an Oakland where innovation, culture, and community reinforce one another to build a stronger local economy and a more vibrant city.
A Model for Public Innovation
Town Alive demonstrates what's possible when government, philanthropy, community organizations, businesses, and residents work toward a shared vision. Councilmember Brown provided the vision and legislative leadership. The City of Oakland established the policy framework. The Oakland Fund brings together the partnerships, strategy, implementation capacity, and long-term stewardship needed to help that vision become reality.
Together, we're building a model for how cities can activate public spaces, support local businesses, embrace emerging technologies responsibly, and create lasting economic opportunity.