Oakland’s 'golden moment': Oscars, Grammys and Olympic wins shift narrative
Oakland's moment in the spotlight
Oakland is experiencing a wave of positive recognition following major wins from locals, including an Olympic gold medalist and Oscar winner Ryan Coogler.
OAKLAND, Calif. - Ryan Coogler opened his Academy Award acceptance speech Sunday with a message that resonated beyond Hollywood.
"I’m from Oakland-Richmond, California, and we can talk a lot," he said, drawing cheers from the audience.
"The narrative has changed. We’re having what we’re calling a golden moment," said Peter Gamez, president and CEO of Visit Oakland.
In recent months, a steady stream of negative headlines about Oakland has been replaced by positive news on a global stage.
Ryan Coogler shouts out Bay Area in Oscar speech
Director Ryan Coogler gave a heartfelt shout-out to his hometowns during his Oscar acceptance speech for Best Original Screenplay for the film Sinners.
Big wins on global stage
What we know:
Oakland native Alysa Liu won gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
"I’m so lucky to grow up here and still live here today," Liu said at a recent celebration at Oakland City Hall.
Singer Kehlani, also from Oakland, won two Grammys in February for best R&B performance and best R&B song. Coogler added to the momentum with an Oscar for best screenplay.
Mayor Barbara Lee said the city’s recent successes reflect a long-standing reality.
"It feels really hopeful for me, joyful, recognizing I’m the mayor of a city that deserves the best," Lee said. "That deserves joy and deserves to highlight the beauty in our city."
Oakland's celebration for hometown Olympian Alysa Liu
Thursday was a celebration of Oakland native and Olympian Alysa Liu and her two gold medals at this year’s Winter Olympic Games, putting "Town bizness" on full display.
Legacy of talent
Dig deeper:
Longtime residents say Oakland has always produced nationally and internationally recognized talent, including Sheila E., Tom Hanks, the Pointer Sisters, Joe Morgan, Bill Russell, Marshawn Lynch and Rickey Henderson.
"We have talent in the city," said Noel Gallo, the District 5 representative on the City Council. "You have the [Oakland School for the Arts’] music program down the street, and their students are performing on Broadway. But we don’t talk about that."
Oakland native Sheila E. honored with Hollywood star
Iconic drummer and Oakland native Sheila E. has made history once again becoming first female solo percussionist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. KTVU talked with her Thursday about the achievement.
Shifting the narrative
Big picture view:
Public relations experts say consistent positive exposure can help reshape public perception.
"When you have a negative perception or a crisis, all it takes is a couple of positive stories to start changing the perception of a brand or an area," said Briana Gallo, an account executive with PRxDigital, a South Bay public relations firm. "It doesn’t happen overnight, but with time and consistency, you can really start to see a shift in perception of a city or a community."
Looking ahead
What's next:
City leaders say they plan to build on the momentum.
"This summer, we’re going to have the World Cup in the Bay Area. We have the Australian team choosing Oakland as their home base," Gamez said.
World Cup matches begin June 13 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.]=
Also of note, Autumn Arkapaw, a Danville native, won an Oscar on March 15 for best cinematography for her work on "Sinners," becoming the first woman to win the award.