froSkate in Oakland
On September 23rd, 2022 froSkate hosted a “Meet Up & Board Drive” at Town Park Skatepark in West Oakland, California. Founder and CEO Karlie Thornton wore a bandana that said “All Love, No Hate” and upon entering the skatepark Thornton’s kindness welcomed me into the space. Local skaters brought in brand new and used boards, trucks, wheels and stickers. Around 20 children received help setting up their new skateboards thanks to the event.
Since 2019, froSkate has hosted over 70 events in Chicago including meet-ups and giveaways. The group has made an impact on the local community by providing a welcoming space for BIPOC — especially queer, femme, and non-traditional skaters. The organization got its start as a few friends skating together but later turned into a larger group chat with people from the community. Thornton realized it would be a good idea to create a proper Instagram account for the group and things quickly took off. Now, froSkate even has their own pair of Nike Dunks designed by both Thornton and Vice President L Brew.
At a froSkate event there’s a certain level of warmth that invites you in as if you were reuniting with an old friend. Coincidentally, just across the parking lot there were dozens of tents and a sea of people due to a reunion. Smiles and reggae greeted me as I entered the space and connecting with the people there came naturally.
Children of all ages ran over from the reunion at the park and ended up getting a skateboard. Boards with scratches and boards wrapped in plastic were laid out around the floor. Fueled by Liquid Death and an eagerness to help the local skateboarding community showed up in droves. After each child picked a board there was a friendly face ready to help put it together like a Build-A-Bear workshop.
One thing is getting a board set up and another is actually learning how to ride. After some of the kids had their skateboards ready to go, they had some doubts about riding them. However, more experienced skaters ended up teaching the new group of skaters some of the basics and pretty soon the kids were cruising all around the park.
As the day went on Thornton worked at the table giving away stickers and inviting children to set up boards. Towards the end after most of the boards were given away she spent a lot of time helping kids drop down from a ramp or push off of a board the first time.
Although, froSkate is based in Chicago the level of commitment and connection to the Oakland community at this event felt natural and effortless. Several children and parents expressed their gratitude as they walked away with the look of pure bliss on their faces.