During the Covid epidemic, Alameda mother and artist Deirdre Freeman acted on her belief about the power of spreading love and kindness in the world when she made some 600 pieces of art, mostly depicting hearts, and attached them to phone polls around town. A year ago, she went further and launched the Kindness Coalition here in Alameda. She and Burt Presberg describe the joy and wonder their work has brought to our community and their conviction of its immense ripple effect.

It's difficult to find your soulmate through online dating and other traditional strategies, according to Jennifer Zundel, a relationship coach. She believes you must first explore your assumptions about your ability to love and be loved, break old patterns of behavior and become your authentic self. Listen to her describe her approach, which is based on the book, "Calling in the One: 7 Weeks to Attract the Love of your Life."

More and more people are affected by the alarming attacks on the social safety net, but, for seniors, the climbing costs of housing, food and health care are especially difficult to manage. Caitlin Chan, the executive director of Legal Assistance for Seniors, describes what her nearly 50-year-old organization does to support Alameda County's elderly population, with free advice on many issues.

Alamedans marched from Chochenyo Park to City Hall during last Saturday's (Oct. 18) national No Kings protest where a few thousand voiced their opposition to the regime President Donald Trump has installed in Washington, D.C. Island City Beat marched with them and listened to their anger, their hope and their desire that our citizens will come together to resist the corruption and sustain democracy.

On this episode of the Island City Beat podcast, we meet Jeramie Andehueson. Jeramie is the founder of Alameda Pride which he brought to life in 2019. His organization was created to provide a safe, inclusive space for Alameda's LGBTQ+ community. We will get a glimpse of the many ways that Alameda Pride is making a difference in lives of many people here on our Island.

The amazing Keegan Tatum is an outstanding local presence in social media. He astutely applies his psychology training to analyze political identities. He's a brilliant raconteur on the big political scene and a great interview. Tune in for a fluent and flowing conversation with the engaging and articulate Keegan Tatum!

The Alameda city council passed a rent control program in 2019 following five years of pressure and struggle by Alameda's renters who faced rapid rent increases that began in 2014 and forced many long-time residents out of the city.

City Rent Program director Bill Chapin goes over the basics of this program, which is now located in the City Attorney's office. Rent program staff receive some 750 calls a month providing this important service for both renters and landlords.

The divide between "red" and "blue" political points of view in the United States is causing many to despair about our nation's future. But a national organization, Braver Angels, is trying to join the two sides by helping people come together to listen and talk in safe and structured settings. Paul Norris and Leslie Lopato say the group offers workshops, skills and many opportunities to sit down with people you think you have nothing in common with -- and come away surprised and uplifted.