A few weeks ago, Aki and I attended a fund raiser at a non-profit Historical Park in Oakland, CA called Peralta Hacienda. The “centerpiece” of the park is the 1870 Peralta farm house (now a museum). But the vision of the organization is “Every Human Being Makes History”. Unfortunately, this historic community resource is now in peril after the sudden loss of federal funding.
Peralta Hacienda is what remains of the 45,000-acre tract given to Luis Peralta by Spain in 1820. This huge Rancho San Antonio encompassed most of what is now Oakland and other East Bay cities.
But the historical park traces the entire history of this region of California. Starting with the native Ohlone, to Spaniards, Mexicans, “Americanos” who came hunting gold, to the many people from all over the globe who now make this area their home.
It is indeed a perfect example of how every human being makes history.
A dedicated group has worked since the late 1970s to secure funding and establish the six-acre park, opened to the public in 1996. In addition to preserving the history of the once vast Rancho, the group sought to create open space to serve the surrounding community.
Today, Peralta Hacienda Historical Park encompasses the Peralta house, gardens, creek and outdoor exhibits. They host events, and youth and community programs designed to make history come alive and celebrate all of our rich, varied identities.
The reason for this month’s fund raiser was a letter from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. On April 8, 2025, they suddenly nottified Peralta Hacienda that their entire $250,000 grant was terminated, effective immediately!
As part of the DOGE effort, the letter explained that “your grant is no longer consistent with the agencies priorities and no longer serves the interest of the United States”. See news story here.
Peralta Hacienda is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2017, it was awarded a National Medal for Museum and Library Service, one of only five in the United States.
To hear that a place teaching school kids about the history of where they live “no longer serves the interest of the United States”, is astounding. Needless to say, Peralta Hacienda is now scrambling for alternate funding.
On the other hand, these developments prove the truth of their vision that indeed, every human being makes history.
Sometimes it is big important people who make history. But the rest of us get to make history too. We make it every day by our decisions and how we react to events. We even change history by doing nothing.
The idea that every human being makes history is as empowering to adults as it is to children, maybe even more so. It reminds us that we are not helpless.
Here at Yumbini, we are happy to support Peralta Hacienda and other needy organizations. And we strive to enable consumers to make thoughtful decisions about the food they eat. For the sake of their own health, as well as the planet.
Q: What is Peralta Hacienda?
A: A historical park in Oakland California teaching California history.
Q: What does it have to do with Yumbini?
A: We recently supported them by attending and donating Yumbini to their fund raiser.
Q: Why did Peralta Hacienda have a fund raiser?
A: They received notice from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services that their entire $250,000 grant has been terminated immediately because it “no longer serves the interest of the United States”.
Q: How can I help Peralta Hacienda?
A: You can volunteer or make a donation here.
