Top Ten Social Launches TTS Speaker Series featuring City of Oakland Mayor Jean Quan and Activist, Writer, and DJ Bobbito Garcia

On March 24th, 2011 Top Ten Social launches the TTS Speaker Series at Marion E. Green Black Box Theater inside Oakland School for the Arts.  Guest speakers will include Oakland Mayor, Jean Quan; Bart Police Chief, Kenton Rainey; Director of Redevelopment for the City of Oakland, Gregory Hunter; and, activist, writer, and DJ, Bobbito Garcia.

The purpose of this event is to open a dialogue that allows Oakland’s community leaders, the community itself, and interested parties to share their thoughts on the promise and prospects of the city’s future, and to interface about cultural, political, and social shifts that have occurred in Oakland’s recent past.

The speakers will relate the ways in which, whether in times of municipal upheaval, or in times of relative peace, they have each, respectively, managed to achieve forms of personal and professional success as a result of their direct or indirect engagement with Oakland. The city has given each of the speakers quite a bit to think about and the goal of this event is to provide a platform where they can share their thoughts with the community and, most importantly, listen to the thoughts that the community desires to share with them.

Oakland has always been (and remains) an ever-evolving and culturally diverse city that is indeed unique but could easily serve as a model for other American cities that have navigated the rough waters of economic and social dynamics that living in such an ethnically rich area tend to engender. In respect of this, Top Ten Social hopes that the vital commentary generated by the TTS Speaker Series will extend the reach of its cathartic and thought-provoking power to other cities with which we feel a great sense of solidarity, and for which we feel a wealth of community love.

AC Transit Director, Joel B. Young will be moderating this Guest Speaker Series event.

The speaker series is sponsored by a host of community organizations including MVMT, Michael D Communications, Forest City, & Oakland School for the Arts. Hibiscus will be on hand to make sure you’re prepared with a well nourished appetite.

The TTS Speaker Series launches Thursday, March 24 at the Marion E. Green Black Box Theater (inside Oakland School for the Arts), 531 19th Street, 6-9 p.m., Free with RSVP by March 22nd to connect@toptensocial.com

For additional information visit www.toptensocial.com and follow TTS on twitter @toptensocial