Jill Koenigsdorf

Crossing a Line

“Crossing a line” is a common phrase these days, a staple of the American vernacular. But what does it really mean? Dozens of local writers took a crack at the topic this fall, submitting moving personal essays about line-crossing experiences of love, loss, and more. Here, our top five picks—and our gratitude to everyone who sent us their work.

Read More
  • 1
  • 2

Faces of the East Bay

In the Philanthropic Swim

In the Philanthropic Swim

Rockridge residents John Bliss and Kim Thompson may live far removed the gritty flats of East and West Oakland. But this philanthropic couple see themselves as one with the citizens of Oakland, particularly those who are struggling financially, and they’re leading a campaign to get their “financially blessed” peers to invest in the community like they have by funding city programs to teach kids how to swim.