Activist Nikki Henderson finds history, healing

When Los Angeles native Nikki Henderson moved to the Bay Area, she immediately felt at home in the "chill" East Bay.

Since January, the 25-year-old activist has been the executive director of People's Grocery, a nonprofit that sets out to improve the local food system in West Oakland. "Unlikely allies are formed if they sit down and have food together," she said.

When she's not changing the world one bite at a time, Henderson spends time at her favorite haunts in her adopted hometown.

California Hotel,

3501 San Pablo Ave., Oakland. "The California Hotel is a historic place in West Oakland. During the days of segregation, a lot of black performers would stay there when they were performing in San Francisco. Now it's low-income housing, and there's a movement to renovate it. In the backyard, People's Grocery has a garden. There are chickens, a greenhouse, a humongous mural and tons of gardening space. It's become a really beautiful place."

Brown Sugar Kitchen, 2534 Mandela Parkway, Oakland. "I've gained several pounds from how much food I eat at Brown Sugar Kitchen. Whenever I go there, I just can't ever order the healthy stuff. I have to get the po' boy sandwich or the chicken and waffles. It's all fabulous."

Black Dot Cafe, 1195 Pine St., Oakland. "The Black Dot Collective is a group that's been active in Oakland for a really long time. They're very much about African American cultural heritage and preserving the history and what's happened here. The cafe has an open-mike night, and a selection of any and all kinds of pastry."

Oakland Main Library, 125 14th St. "I am an avid reader who reads all kinds of books. I may reread 'Charlotte's Web' one day if I am looking for a touch of nostalgia, or I may read some hard-core sci-fi. It's very relaxing to read in the quiet with a bunch of other people who enjoy reading too."

Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St., Oakland. "I also like the library feel of the Oakland Museum, where people just chill and enjoy art. It reminds me of a natural history museum, only it's about the people, as opposed to earthquakes and things like that. Getting a chance to jump into another country for a minute and see the art and beauty of those people is wonderful."

Champa Garden, 2102 Eighth Ave., Oakland. "In East Oakland, Champa Garden has a menu that's Thai, Laotian and Vietnamese. I went to dinner there, and I loved it. Their recipes are pretty incredible. They have a pork ball salad that's very good."

Planetarium at California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. "I am a planetarium geek, and the planetarium at the Academy of Sciences is glorious and amazing. At most planetariums, the screens are flat, but this planetarium is an amphitheater, so the screen starts at the floor and goes back over your head."

Oakland Green Arts & Media Center, 2781 Telegraph Ave. "I've seen so many murals around Oakland that communicate so clearly that healing is possible, and that it's not only possible, it's happening. Every time someone walks by, especially if it's a mural celebrating a youth that has passed, it's a reminder that things are going to move forward, even though they don't feel like they will right now. The murals here - the whole building is pretty much a mural - are a great example of this and really show the healing that can happen."

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This article appeared on page L - 2 of the San Francisco Chronicle