Movement Strategy Center Staffers Recently Lent a Hand at Urban Peace Movement’s Scratch and Fade Event in Oakland

Two Black men cut to kids' hair with a third person and client tin the background.

Movement Strategy Center (MSC) has a robust work wellness program that promotes full body wellness for all staffers while educating new and long term staff alike on the tenets of transformative movement building and MSC’s mission and vision. As part of this program, staff were encouraged to volunteer in their local community. 

For some lucky Oakland-area staffers on the Operations and Human Resources teams, a group volunteer activity was planned for Urban Peace Movement’s (UPM) Scratch and Fade event.

Scratch and Fade was a day of self-love that included complimentary pampering services such as haircuts and manicures, and introduced new healing practices like reiki and acupuncture to members of all ages in the Oakland community. The day also featured massages, elder blessing sessions, journal decorating, clay projects, music, and activities for kids. The goal of the event was to remind folks to prioritize mental and physical wellbeing by introducing new holistic practices and tools.

Dejah Williams, MSC’s Human Resources Generalist, volunteered at the event and said “it was a great opportunity to connect with the community and elevate the importance of wellness in all shapes and forms. We were thrilled to greet everyone as they came in, see so many people take a step towards a healthier lifestyle, and hand out gift bags as folks left.”

As a fiscally sponsored project of MSC, UPM transforms both the culture and conditions that lead to urban violence, focusing on building youth leadership for peace on Oakland’s streets. In addition to movement building, UPM’s youth members work on policy and systems change, healing, and culture change.