(Editor's note: Our continuing series that looks at Oakland Local's picks for people/organizations to watch in 2011.  Read the whole story...

(Editor's note: The following is part of our continuing series that looks at Oakland Local's picks for people/organizations to watch in 2011. See all profiles in this series.)

Jason Harvey is a jack-of-all trades: chef, Farmer's Market manager, youth educator, garden builder, as well as the executive director of a vibrant East Oakland food justice organization, Oakland Food Connection. Harvey's many skills are all focused on one goal: “To educate youth and adults about the process of food from seed to table.”

(Editor's note: Our continuing series that looks at Oakland Local's picks for people/organizations to watch in 2011. See all profiles in this series.)

In the club, in the streets, in corporate towers … the steady burn of corruption eats our world. Flames of shame and disrespect climb higher.

But wait, what’s that? Bursting through cerebral dams – dj fflood’s sound saturates, washing dancing masses clean of preconceived limits. His musical potions are healing waves of reverb and swirling pools of quick and tender tempo.

(Editor's note: Our continuing series that looks at Oakland Local's picks for people/organizations to watch in 2011. See all profiles in this series.)

Elaine Brooks would be a hero of mine even if she hadn’t traveled the world and lived in places I’ve yet to go like Tunisia, South Africa and Wisconsin; traveling to Pakistan and Iran and Iraq by VW bus.

Yes, and even if Brooks didn’t know a bit about being a single parent and raising a biracial family on her own (like me) and even if she hadn’t taken a chance on a later marriage and becoming grandma to even more kids (unlike me).

(Editor's note: Our continuing series that looks at Oakland Local's picks for people/organizations to watch in 2011. See all profiles in this series.)

Christoper Shein is the Bay Area's resident permaculture design guru and for the last 10 years, he has taught the Permaculture Design class at Merritt Community College’s Landscape Horticulture Department, inspiring hundreds of students to build new gardens and integrate permaculture's principles of sustainability into surrounding landscapes.

Shein just signed a contract with Timber Press to write a permaculture gardening book in 2011, with the working title of "The Edible Gardener's Guide to Permaculture."

(Editor's note: Our continuing series that looks at Oakland Local's picks for people/organizations to watch in 2011. See all profiles in this series.)

If there was an all-star team for community organizers, Tony Coleman would be a front-runner for Oakland's MVP for 2010.

Despite maintaining a low-profile -- Coleman is much more likely to be wearing a hoodie than a business suit and gators, and you won't find him cozying up to elected officials in luxury boxes during A's games or schmoozing at $1000-per-plate galas -- he's been quite visible where it really counts, in the streets. Refreshingly down to earth, he nevertheless speaks, and takes action, with drive, fervor and an earnest commitment to the causes he's passionate about: justice, accountability, unity, economic sustainability, anti-violence and community empowerment.