By Adelaide Chen
Oakland’s ReGeneration Church is popular with college students and singles for its rock n’ roll sermons and acceptance of all denominations.
But lately, another program is becoming popular among families who live in the area but who are not officially part of the church — martial arts.
Known as the Taekwondo Ministry, the Korean martial arts class brings the gospel to youth as early as the age of five.

Adelaide Chen
Franklin Elementary is one of the few schools in Oakland where Asians – many born outside the United States – make up the largest racial group. Combined with the Latinos, the district considers half the school’s students as English Language Learners.

By Adelaide Chen
The nightlife in Oakland’s Eastlake area has never thrived, but it existed quietly. Among the local businesses today, many of the Vietnamese and Chinese restaurants close early, before 8pm.
If it wasn’t enough that the a string of robberies scared away customers in the evenings a few months back, business for the 20 or so restaurant owners have been hit by another factor–the downturn in the economy.