Love Life: The City of Oakland Motto

During Love Life Week, the city will host and uplift community events during the week of October 16th that underpin the message of valuing life, uplifting love, & honoring those who spread love and help to stop violence in our communities in their work.

LOVE LIFE WEEK 2023

10/3 - City Council Meeting Presentation

A presentation of Love Life Week’s events and a resolution introduced by Councilmember Reid to designate the third week of October at Love Life Week.

10/16 - Oakland Love Life Kick Off Press Conference

10/18 - Oakland Love Life Community Day of Service

In collaboration with the Department of Violence Prevention, MACRO, TRYBE, and LoveLifeCompany, the city will support a day of community service, which will include feeding those in unhoused encampments in Oakland and sponsoring a supply kit giveaway.

10/19 - Oakland Love Life Community Healing Summit

Led by the Office of Inspector General, the Summit convenes a panel of civic and community leaders passionate about restorative justice, violence prevention, and public safety to have a dialogue about coming together to create collective solutions.

10/20 - Oakland Love Life Day of Celebration

The 2nd annual celebration will uplift the city’s official motto of “Oakland Love Life”, with music, art, culture, honoring community leaders, community resources, food and fun. This year's event will include a presentation of “Oakland Love Life Hero Awards” by Mayor Sheng Thao, live performances from Digital Underground, Kev Choice, Oakland Poet Laureate Ayodele Nzinga, and special guests.

In April 2016, the City of Oakland adopted an official city motto in memory of 16-year old Lo'Eshe Lacy. Lo'Eshe in Nigerian Igbo means "love life," a rallying cry to embody Oakland love.

LOVE LIFE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT (abridged version)

We acknowledge that in service to our beloved city of Oakland, and all its citizens, adhering to the city of Oakland’s official motto, “Oakland Love Life” we enter into this space committed to embody love as our guiding principle.

We acknowledge Love Life as our motto as we denounce violence in all forms and the conditions that create it.

We acknowledge that when we demonstrate love, we also exhibit respect and kindness towards each other.

We commit to acts of love as an intentional force to generate tangible solutions, in regards to all of our actions.

We recognize as leaders, we must set an example and precedent for those in community who have entrusted us with these duties.

We welcome and appreciate all contributions to this space, and even when expressing disagreement, we request that we lead with love in your heart.

We seek to find common ground, and tangible solutions that demonstrate love for our city, its residents, and all constituents.

We acknowledge that when we lead with love we are able to uplift a thriving city rooted in equity, equality, justice, inclusion, and opportunity for all.

We commit to the action of “Love Life” as our motto and mantra.

LOVE LIFE ACKNOWLEDGMENT (LONG VERSION)