Alexis Madrigal: Oakland Against the World

Journalist and author Alexis Madrigal will discuss his new book, , a sweeping portrait of Oakland through the life of environmental justice activist Margaret Gordon. At once a neighborhood story and a lens on urban America, the book traces Gordon’s fight for cleaner air and healthier communities in West Oakland while grappling with the forces of racialized capitalism, gentrification, and global economic change. Madrigal’s talk will explore what Oakland—and cities everywhere—owe to their residents, whether or not they own property, in an era of profound transformation.

Alexis Madrigal is a journalist based in Oakland, co-host of KQED’s Forum, and a contributing writer at The Atlantic, where he co-founded The COVID Tracking Project. He is the author of Powering the Dream: The History and Promise of Green Technology and The Pacific Circuit (MCD x FSG, 2025). Madrigal previously served as editor-in-chief of Fusion and as a staff writer at Wired.

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Host or Publisher California College of the Arts