Welcome to the
Discover Downtown
text
where every corner tells a story and every smile feels like home.
The Uptown Downtown Oakland Community Benefit Districts is more than a clean-and-safe program. We’re your neighbors, restaurants, organizers, and advocates working to keep our streets welcoming and our community thriving. We’re here to make sure our downtown remains a place you love to explore, discover, and share with friends.
Business Spotlight:
As part of our business spotlight series, we highlight the entrepreneurs, dreamers, and doers who make our districts shine. Our latest spotlight celebrates Modern Coffee, a women-owned and operated coffee shop in downtown Oakland. When Kristen (with invaluable support from Martina) opened Modern’s doors in 2009, she saw a gap in the market — plenty of chains making fast coffee, but nowhere locals could get a quality drink that actually felt like their neighborhood spot in the middle of a busy workday.
So she built one. Founded on the belief that great coffee shouldn’t be complicated or cost a fortune, Modern has spent over a decade serving downtown Oakland with a rotating selection of single origin coffees and blends, all chosen for their balance, body, and depth of flavor. Downtown Oakland has changed a lot since 2009, but Modern’s commitment to a warm, welcoming atmosphere and a great cup of coffee remains exactly the same.
If you’ve ever been greeted with a smile, received directions to your next stop or seen a street corner spotless — you’ve met one of our Ambassadors. This 57-person team works seven days a week, from 7 AM to 11 PM, providing maintenance, hospitality, safety, and beautification services.
Our Ambassadors are the caretakers of downtown, offering buddy escorts, giving directions, tidying up spills, removing graffiti, and making sure everyone feels at home.
Need (non-emergency) assistance? Give us a call at (510) 898-8592. Our Ambassadors are here for you. In case of emergency, call 911.
Annual Numbers:
Progress doesn’t happen by accident — it’s the result of hard work and collaboration. Here’s how we’re making a difference together:
1.2 million
pounds of trash
picked up
Over
50,000
19,984
6,000
linear feet of urban greenery
planted and maintained in 2025
115,827
hospitality support,
like providing directions
750k+
unique people reached
through our marketing initiatives
These numbers aren’t just statistics — they represent safer streets, thriving businesses and a vibrant downtown that’s welcoming to all.
Stay tuned to our blog for interviews with muralists, chefs, and shop owners, event recaps, and neighborhood guides. Here’s an excerpt from the latest post:
A Rhythmic Oasis: Oakland Central’s Dancing On The Plaza
As the sun dipped low on August 29th, 2024, Frank Ogawa Plaza transformed into a hub of Brazilian Samba and Caribbean Rhythms, where strangers became dance partners and self-expression reigned supreme. Seasoned dancers moved alongside those rediscovering movement — one attendee hadn’t danced since before she started using a walker, yet there she was, swaying to the beat with rediscovered joy.
Want to submit a blog covering an event or cultural moment, pitch ideas to:
Give (and get) a taste of Oakland with the OakCentric gift card. Valid at dozens of downtown businesses, it’s an easy way to treat yourself or surprise someone special while supporting local shops, restaurants, and services.
Have an idea for an event, a mural or a community partnership?
Want to volunteer or learn how to support our work?
Drop us a line through our contact form or email us at:
Together, we’re building a downtown that’s cleaner, safer, and more alive than ever.
Our ambassadors are available to help with buddy escorts, litter removal, umbrella escorts, graffiti removal, power washing, or reporting a crime.
Call or Text (510) 898-8592