GRAND OPENING!
Dec. 4, 2021 12pm-7pm
546 9th Street, Oakland
First a new brand, next a reimagined Dept. of Make / Believe, Chapter 510’s retail storefront.
As many of you know, the Dept. of Make / Believe is more than a store. It’s a magical portal through which Chapter 510 students enter our writing center, and a place for everyone to make believe with us—to donate or pledge to volunteer, write poetry, make wishes, log dreams, and help us imagine and manifest a more fantastic future for our young authors (and the world).
Our Grand Opening will be on Saturday, December 4 from 12pm–7pm in our new home within the historic Swan’s Market. Audiopharmacy DJ/Flute set by Teao Sense & Azeem Ward (audiopharmacy.com) and young author book signings between 2–4pm. There will be champagne and bookish activities for all in our Mini-Printshop.
All of our made-with-care products were designed by Oakland artists Perla Yasmeen Mélendez, e bond, and Dom Villeda, and printed with love by second-chance employer and merch-masterminds Social Imprints. You’ll find completely unique, fun, and functional items like our much-needed POET overalls, MAKE / BELIEVE jumpsuits and necklaces, Planifestation journals, PEOPLE OVER PAPERWORK mugs, spell-casting flair pens, color-changing pencils, glow-in-the dark T-shirts, POETRY IS POWER hoodies, hats with built-in loops for your favorite writing implements, enamel pins, books to help you dream and write, and most important of all, books written by Oakland youth in Chapter 510’s programs.
The beautiful Dept. of Make / Believe space was designed by Gensler Oakland, branded by IDW Studio, beautified by muralist Simon Tran and sign-painter Dom Villeda, and built out by RedBoot Construction.
You don’t want to miss out on this momentous day, and getting your hands on some limited-edition merchandise before it sells out!
Come make. Come believe. Come shop for beautiful, artisan-made gifts so young people can imagine a better world, and write that world into reality.
Donate to Chapter 510 beforE #GivingTuesday (Nov. 30), and receive a coupon for 15% off in the Dept. (good through December 23).