Happy Pride Month! Pride Month is an annual celebration where we come together to honor and uplift the LGBTQ+ community. It serves as a powerful reminder that every individual deserves to live authentically, without fear, or prejudice. By celebrating Pride Month, we affirm our commitment to creating a world where love, respect, and inclusivity triumph over discrimination and bigotry.
Take the Capitol Corridor to the largest Pride celebrations in Northern California! Sit back, relax, and head to the Café Car for our special pride drink this month! Take advantage of our Take 5 for $5 deal and book your trip with friends and family today: https://www.capitolcorridor.org/take5/
San Francisco (Emeryville/ Richmond Station): San Francisco Pride Celebration- Market Street from Embarcadero to City Hall
6/24 – 6/25 https://sfpride.org/
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, which recognizes the contributions and impacts by members from the community. Transportation plays a huge role in revitalizing, reshaping, and defining communities – especially when it comes to public transportation. Transportation is all about improving mobility, connecting people and places to each other, and making communities accessible. The AAPI community has played a big role in improving public transportation and equity in today’s society.
The Unforgotten Heroes of the Transcontinental Railroad
The Gold Rush attracted many settlers to the US, but also persuaded Chinese workers to come for a better life and opportunity. From 1863 and 1869, roughly 15,000 Chinese workers helped build the Transcontinental Railroad, which connected the East Coast and West Coast of the United States, facilitating economic expansion. Chinese workers made up most of the workforce, working on roughly 700 miles of train tracks between Sacramento, California, and Promontory, Utah. By the 19th century, more than 2.5 million Chinese citizens had left their country and were hired in 1864 after a labor shortage threatened the railroad’s completion.
Even though many Chinese workers were offered a new opportunity, they worked under excruciating conditions. Chinese workers received 30-50 percent lower wages than whites for the same job, earning only $26 a month. They also had the most difficult and dangerous work, including tunneling and the use of explosives. This resulted in an eight-day strike in June 1867. The strike ended without pay parity after Central Pacific (employer) cut off food, transportation and supplies to the Chinese living in camps, but working conditions improved following the strike.
It is important to recognize the sacrifices and establishments of Chinese workers during this time. The Transcontinental Railroad would not have possible without them. They also established a strong Asian community in California, especially San Francisco. Chinese immigrants fought against discrimination for decades and created a better society for all Asian communities in the US.
Read about a story of how a Stanford student discovered that his ancestor, Lim Lip Hong, helped build the Central Pacific Railroad, the westernmost portion of the Transcontinental Railroad.
AAPI Events Near You:
To celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, take the Capitol Corridor to the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento! It is a short and easy walk from our Sacramento Station and features the Chinese Railroad Workers’ Experience. This permanent exhibit provides a glimpse of the Chinese workers who built the western portion of the nation’s first Transcontinental Railroad.
Visit Chinese Railroad Workers’ Experience web page here
Sacramento Station:
California State Railroad Museum: Chinese Railroad Workers’ Experience Exhibit
This Earth Day, it’s important for everyone to appreciate this beautiful world. Our daily choices can have a huge impact on the health and well-being of both ourselves, and our planet. So today on Earth Day, and every day, consider riding Capitol Corridor to work or exploring a new area of Northern California.
Why Public Transportation is Important
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is one of the seven greenhouse gases the Air Resources Board (ARB) is responsible to monitor and regulate in order to reduce emissions. Transportation is the single largest source of CO2 in California, which is primarily comprised of on-road travel. Less than 5% of Californians commute by transit and 19% in the Bay Area. By taking the train, your travel is 31% more efficient than a passenger car. These small actions can inspire others to do the same, which can promote the longevity of our environment.
Earth Day Events
Take the train the celebrate Earth Day in Northern California and the Bay Area! Skip the traffic/parking hassles and learn more about how you can make a difference. Whether it’s taking public transportation or using energy efficient appliances, we can help climate change one step at a time.
Sacramento Station:
Sacramento Earth Day Festival
– April 23, 2023, at Southside Park, Sacramento, 11:00am-4:00pm
The ECOS-hosted Sacramento Earth Day is the largest Earth Day celebration in the Sacramento region. It’s free, and it provides thousands of attendees with information on sustainability. This year’s theme is GROW NATIVE. More information here
Davis Station:
The World Earth Festival
– May 12-14, 2023 at the UC Davis Quad, Friday: 12pm-10pm, Saturday: 10am-10pm, Sunday: 10am-6pm
The Whole Earth Festival began in 1969 as a small art class project (“Art Happening”) on the UC Davis Quad. The students used art to teach visitors about the realms of activism, wellness, and environmental sustainability in an interactive and creative way. More information here
Martinez Station:
John Muir Birthday and Earth Day Celebration
– April 22 · 10am – 4pm, John Muir National Historic Site
A wonderful fun filled family day in the sun, at the grounds of the John Muir National Historic Site, which includes his 1880s Victorian home and an authentic 1849 Mexican Adobe, along with his orchards and vineyard. There will be food and live music along with many displays relating to history, ecology, and nature. More information here
San Francisco (Emeryville/Richmond Station):
Earth Day San Francisco
– April 22, 2023. 11am-6pm, located on 9th Avenue and Lincoln Way, at the County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park!
Come to San Francisco’s annual Earth Day celebration, as we continue to raise awareness of the environmental and social issues effecting our planet. This beloved and renowned street fair entertains while inspiring people to make more creative and sustainable choices in the way they live their lives. More information here
Ferry Building Earth Day Activities
– Sunday April 23rd from 10:00am – 4:00pm
Join us in the Marketplace for a ‘Ferry Family Day’ of kids and family activities! Make a ‘Grow Buddy’ using soil and seeds, upcycle everyday objects to create new works of art, and paint stones to give as gifts or leave your mark in the park. More information here
Oakland Jack London Station:
Earth Day Celebration
– Jack London Square on Saturday, April 22nd, from 11am – 1pm
During the event, attendees will receive a FREE mini Earth Day planting kit (while supplies last) located at the redemption table in the plaza near Plank and will enjoy photo opportunities with an Earth Day themed backdrop. More information here
San Jose Diridon Station:
Earth Day: Water Conservation Discussion, Performance, and Film Screening
– Saturday, April 22: 1pm- 3pm, Chopsticks Alley Art Gallery
Join the AAPI Community for a screening of “A Fleeting Moment,” an animation film, performance, and discussion on water conservation to celebrate Earth Day. More information here
Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society and has been observed annually in the month of March in the United States since 1987. International Women’s Day has been observed each year place on March 8th since 1911. Many countries around the world celebrate the holiday with demonstrations, educational initiatives, and customs such as presenting women with gifts and flowers.
Women have made important contributions to the growth and development of the United States, particularly in the field of transportation. Here is a list of a few honorable mentions:
Harriet Tubman: Helped more than 300 slaves reach freedom through the Underground Railroad.
Susan Morningstar: First woman on record employed by a railroad company.
Eliza Murfey: Patented 16 devices for improving railroad car axles. These devices were used to lubricate the axles with oil, which reduced derailments caused by seized axles and bearings.
Rosa Parks: Refused to obey bus driver James Blake’s order that she give up her seat to make room for a white passenger, sparking the Montgomery County Bus Boycott led by Dr. Martin Luther King. Parks became an icon of resistance and an important symbol of the modern Civil Rights Movement.
Leah “Rosie” Rosenfeld: Filed and settled a sex-discrimination suit against her employer that resulted in a change to California’s women’s protective laws and opened senior positions at the railroad for women.
Elizabeth Hanford Dole: Sworn in as the first woman to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation.
Jolene Molitoris: Became the first female to head the Federal Railroad Administration.
Sarita Britt, Cindia Chambers, and Debra Franks: San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) selected its first female superintendent(s).
Janice Li: First queer woman of color to be elected president of the Bay Area Rapid Transit Board (BART)
Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. It honors people from all periods of U.S. history, from the enslaved people first brought over from Africa in the early 17th century to Black Americans living in the United States today. It is important to commemorate the history, heritage, and contributions of those who sacrificed their lives to establish a better society and justice for all.
The Underground Railroad to Freedom
The Underground Railroad was not an actual railroad, but rather a group of individuals and small networks of people working together to help others escape slavery in the south to freedom in the north. Although there wasn’t a literal train, they often used the language of train/transit infrastructure. For example, stops and safehouses were known as Stations, the guides who led the escapees to different stations were known as Conductors, and folks who hid escaped slaves in their homes were known as Station Masters.
American abolitionist and social activist, Harriet Tubman, the most famous conductor stated, “I was the conductor of the Underground Railroad for eight years, and I can say what most conductors can’t say — I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger.” She rescued about 70 people within 13 trips to Maryland. Together, Black and White abolitionist helped nearly 50,000 to 100,000 enslaved people to escape slavery through the Underground Railroad. When Black abolitions and escapees were caught, they were forced to return to slavery, tortured, or even killed. The Underground Railroad symbolized hope and freedom for many enslaved people.
Learn more about the Underground Railroad here.
Learn more about Harriet Tubman here.
Black History Month Activities Take the Capitol Corridor to celebrate Black History Month! Learn more about its origins, stories, and cultural/social impact in today’s society.
Richmond Station:
Black Girls Tea Party Location: Veterans Memorial Hall, 968 23rd St., Richmond, Date: 2/18. 1pm-4pm
Enjoy an afternoon of tea, pastries and culture in honor of this year’s Black History Month. This event is about the girls, but feel free to bring any gentlemen to accompany you! $35. More information here
The city of Oakland is home to Black families with roots all over the globe, with some who go back generations and some who just landed. We’ll celebrate them all at the Black Love edition of Oakland First Fridays, a monthly street festival that hosts local art, food, drink and retail vendors, 73% of whom are Black and Brown owned. Free admission. More information here
Afro Soca Love: Day Marketplace and Night Carnival Location: 341 13th St., Oakland, Date: 2/10-11, 11am-6pm
Come out Friday night for the 21+ Night Carnival, a culturally immersive music experience featuring the sounds of soca, afrobeat, reggae, salsa, reggaeton, hip hop, rhythm and blues. The Saturday marketplace features Black-owned food, drink and retail vendors, plus live music and DJs. Free marketplace admission, carnival tickets $5-$150. More information here
6th Annual Black Joy Parade Location: 20th St. at Franklin St., Oakland. Date: 2/26, 12pm-7pm
Come out for the sixth annual parade and festival to celebrate the past, present and future of the Black experience, featuring more than 200 Black-owned vendors, two stages of Black performances and activities for the whole family at Lil Joy for kids, Games n’ Grooves and Healing Village, as well as the largest Black Joy Parade procession in the country. Free admission. More information here
San Francisco (Emeryville Station):
Museum of the African Diaspora Location: 685 Mission St., San Francisco, Date: All month, free 2/11
The Museum of the African Diaspora is celebrating Black History Month with a month of special programs including film screenings, fashion and food. Event prices vary, but on Feb. 11, admission is free to all. More information here
STEM Kitchen + Garden: Wine Tasting Location: 499 Illinois Street San Francisco, Date: 2/23
Sample wines from across the Bay Area at this free tasting event highlighting Black vintners. More information here
San Jose-Diridon Station:
History San José and the African American Heritage House Location: History Park, 635 Phelan Ave., San Jose, Date: Every Thursday in February, 5pm-7pm
History San José and the African American Heritage House are presenting this weekly workshop series using WRAP (wellness recovery action planning) methodologies and the principles of Kwanzaa as a framework to explore Black history and culture, culminating in a Black History Month celebration on Feb. 24. Free admission. More information here
