Elisha Nichole Greenwell, the founder of the Black Joy Parade, is originally from Sacramento but moved to Oakland after college. She wanted to make a celebratory statement for the black community by the black community.

It was amazing. It’s still a young parade. It doesn’t have any cynicism about it, and it still has the energy of its founder. It’s a combination of symposiums and parades and concerts, and reflective of how this parade is distinguishing itself.