Oral historian Nancy Thompson recently gathered a dozen seniors from the North Oakland Senior Center to talk about their roles in history. These unsung heroes include Burl Smith, an accidental civil rights fighter; Angela McLinn, arrested à la Rosa Parks for refusing to sit at the back of a bus; and Dorothy Eng, who founded Oakland’s Chinese Young Women’s Society and helped fund college educations for Chinese-American women.

For many local women who are diagnosed with cancer, the Women’s Cancer Resource Center in Oakland is one of the first—and most useful—resources they discover. Now in its 23rd year, the nonprofit provides a wealth of indispensable free services to women with cancer throughout the East Bay, including information and referrals, reference materials, support groups, help with everyday chores, and classes in nutritious cooking, yoga, writing, and art. Through the stories of some of the Center’s clients and volunteers who contribute their time, we paint a picture of a true culture of community, and a robust life-affirming organization that women in crisis can rely on.