Michael Orange recalls the exact moment he fell in love with Oakland - at artist Keba Konte’s "888 Pieces of We” exhibit.

“It was on August 8, 2008, and the brother showed 888 pieces of work,” Orange remembers.

Growing up on the island of Barbados, Sarah Kirnon learned about the meaning of community from the same woman who taught her how to cook: her grandmother, Miss Ollie.

Today, Kirnon’s new restaurant, located at Swan’s Market in Old Oakland, deliciously serves up both Caribbean-style cooking and community.

This is the first in our RealOakFolks multi-media project. Each month, we’re bringing you one to two profiles of Oaktown’s black culturemakers – a diverse group of folks who are leaving an indelible mark on the city we call home.

From the Wall Street Journal to the New York Times to Conde Nast Traveler, the city we’ve called home for years is getting plenty of ink these days.