We Are Oaklandish: Brandan Barlow, Oaklandish Team Member

I moved to Oakland in 2013 to start over. Growing up in Riverside, there wasn’t much to do because of the limited resources. After graduating from college, I reached a point where I felt like my life was on auto pilot and I was eager to try something new. It didn’t take me long to become acclimated to my new city. It felt like home almost immediately.

I used AC Transit as my tour guide, taking the bus aboard allowed me to see many sides of the East Bay, meet new people and go new places. I quickly discovered that Oakland has an energy that radiates originality.

It’s a city that’s culturally diverse and celebrates unity. People are proud to call this place their home. I look forward to Oakland’s ‘First Fridays’ every month because it’s a block party that goes down in ‘The Town.’ It’s an immersive art and community experience unlike anything I’ve experienced before moving here. I’m fascinated by the street artists, musicians, performers, and local culinary artisans. 

I’m grateful for the opportunity to work at Oaklandish. It’s a place where you can be yourself and a company, that like Oakland, embraces individuality. I enjoy telling our customers about our unique store concept and watching them connect with our store merchandise. It’s a humbling feeling to be recognized by the general public outside of work because I work at Oaklandish.

Brandan is and Oaklandish team member who started his life fresh in The Town.

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Oakland is diverse and Oakland is proud. 'We Are Oaklandish' is a storytelling project created to highlight just that.

These are stories that shed light on the different experiences, memories, and opinions of the people in the city we all love. They are people who give our city its oddball spirit, its passion for justice, and its creative vigor. They lift us up with laughter, peace, nourishment, and authentic hard work.

They make us proud to call this town our home. They are Oaklandish.

Read more: We Are Oaklandish