From Asphalt to Art: How JLID & Oakland Roots Brought the Community Together to Paint the Town Mosaic

From brushstrokes to bold colors, this mural is a celebration of Oakland, our Historic Waterfront District, and our partner, Oakland Roots. Over three days, neighbors, volunteers, and artists transformed a transit gateway into a vibrant symbol of creativity and connection. This is more than paint on pavement—it’s a reflection of the people who care deeply about their city and each other.

Mosaic Mural at 2nd & Alice — **Photo Credit: Jim Pire**

How It Started

This project began with a simple idea: create something bold with Oakland Roots that celebrated their presence not only in Oakland, but here in Jack London—home to their proposed stadium site at Howard Terminal. The initial concept was a traditional wall mural, inspired by their Longfellow piece, but discovering OakDOT’s Paint the Town program sparked a new vision. A mosaic-style intersection mural felt like the perfect pivot.

We selected 2nd & Alice, right in front of Amtrak Plaza, as the mural site. Its visibility, proximity to transit, and location near other public art made it the ideal spot to celebrate Oakland’s creativity and spirit.

The Collaboration

Oakland Roots jumped on board and brought Capitol Corridor in as a partner. They then connected us with artist @kalonstah and @wall.management to bring the artwork to life. From there, JLID led the charge, handling the application process, securing approvals, and building community support to get this project off the ground.

Through outreach, flyers, and social media, we invited neighbors to get involved and watch their community come alive with color. This project was a true collaboration, uniting a professional design team with the energy of volunteers and neighbors.

The Process

Over three days, this busy intersection transformed. With 70 gallons of paint, 30+ rolls of tape, countless brushes and rollers, and nearly 45 hours of work, volunteers and neighbors came together to create something special.

Volunteers painting the mural in the early stages. — **Volunteers and artists working on the mural on Day 2.**

People stopped by to ask questions, snap photos, and cheer us on. Some stayed to help, while others simply stood back to soak in the atmosphere of community in action. It was a project that turned a piece of asphalt into a source of pride.

The Impact

JLID Staff, Artists, and Volunteer Posing with Mural — **Photo Credit: Jane Juban**
**Pictured Left to Right: Walt (JLID Ambassador), Richie (JLID Staff), Jane (Volunteer), @kalonstah (Lead Artist), Mace (Artist) with finished mural.**

Many neighbors told us this is the energy Oakland needs more of, projects that bring people together, spark conversation, and create beauty. This mural became more than just paint on the ground; it was proof of what’s possible when organizations, artists, and residents unite for their city.

Thank You

This project wouldn’t have been possible without:

Oakland Roots for their leadership and commitment to Oakland
@kalonstah and @wall.management for their creativity and skill
OakDOT for making community-driven art possible through Paint the Town
Capitol Corridor for their partnership
Mr. Espresso and Plank for keeping the crew fueled on Day 3
All the amazing volunteers and community that showed love and support

What’s Next

This mosaic mural is just the beginning. We hope this inspires others, especially here in Jack London, to organize their own Paint the Town projects and/or creative events. JLID is committed to supporting ideas that make the district vibrant, beautiful, and deeply rooted in community.

If you’ve got a vision for public art, placemaking, or events, we’d love to hear from you. Let’s keep building this momentum together.