Oakland ~ Gregory Joe Bledsoe, an elementary school teacher and recording artist in Oakland for 22 years, didn't like hearing negative lyrics his students would recite.

So, he started writing poetry and songs with positive messages.

Then, in response to the rising rate of Oakland homicides and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, he decided to start a "musical peace" festival.

Today, Bledsoe is the driving force behind the third annual Oakland Street Peace Festival, to be held from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at Lakeside Park, Bellevue Street and Grand Avenue, near Children's Fairyland.

"This is about bringing peace into peoples' lives," said Bledsoe, who earned his teaching credential at San Jose State University and graduated from Hastings School of Law in 1977. He subsequently turned to singing as a profession.

In the 1980s, Bledsoe was performing at state fairs, jazz festivals and college campuses. In schools, his program, "Instruments On Parade," was designed to expose students to music.

Saturday's entertainment will be provided by the musical groups Source of Light and Fire Water, as well as Mary Watkins, a pianist.

Among participating organizations are the Police Athletic League and community-based nonprofits -- the LoveLife Foundation, and Guns, Violence and Teens -- which are working to curb the violence by offering positive programs for young people.

Several hundred people attended Bledsoe's first Street Peace Festival, held in 2002 at Eastmont Town Center in East Oakland. Last year, attendance grew to a thousand when the festival was moved to Lake Merritt.

"Our festival has always brought out the peaceful side of Oakland," Bledsoe said. "We have not had the problems you have seen with Carijama or Festival at the Lake. Youth are not a majority, and the positive message of personal responsibility does not inspire antisocial acting out, and the crowd disperses quickly."

Bledsoe said the festival attempts to connect residents with information on how to lead healthy lifestyles and features motivational speakers.

"The goal is for people to leave feeling uplifted with information they can use to improve their lives," he said.

Some booths will be run by personal trainers, others will provide information about nutrition or housing opportunities. There will also be representatives from the Alameda County Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.

The Oakland Tribune: Cityside
Leanne McLaughlin, Managing Editor
(510) 208-6447
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