Encouraging Words
Many times, we find it hard to keep going, forget that we have a divine purpose in this world, or need to be reminded of how valuable we ARE. We want to remind our community that we ARE important, we do have a purpose and we are SO brilliant, even if we may be feeling otherwise.
Encouraging Words
We want to remind our community that we ARE important, we do have a purpose and we are SO brilliant, even if we may be feeling otherwise.
Community Healing Festival Postponed!
We are so excited to host our first Healing Festival! Our goal is to create a celebratory environment to encourage the healing process from traumatic experiences. To support this initiative, attendees can engage in: art therapy, dance therapy community healing circles, and more!
Recreational Arts
Mask Necklaces
We are so proud of how great our Mask Necklaces look!
Mask Necklaces
We painted mask necklaces made from clay. We also designed our own paper masks with cool markers.
Mask Necklaces
We are so proud of how great our Mask Necklaces look!
Mask Necklaces
We are so proud of how great our Mask Necklaces look!
Mask Necklaces and Crafts
We painted mask necklaces made from clay. We also created a second face mask necklace made from foam, string, beads and googly eyes!
African Masks - Cultural Arts
African masks are traditional art forms, used in celebration ceremonies, social gatherings, in representation of mythological heroes, as well as to honor important figures. They are usually made from wood, pottery, textiles, copper and bronze. In exploration and connection to our cultural roots, we've created own African masks, using paper mache.
African Masks - Cultural Arts
The Process
We created the shape of our masks and facial features from recycled newspaper. This is the first step in our creative process.
African Masks - Cultural Arts
The Process
We created the shape of our masks and facial features from recycled newspaper. This is the first step in our creative process.
African Masks - Cultural Arts
We decorated our masks with jewelry and decorative dressings to show royalty and divinity.
African Masks - Cultural Arts
We decorated our masks with jewelry and decorative dressings to show royalty and divinity. Our hairstyles represent our uniqueness
African Masks - Cultural Arts
Our hairstyles represent our uniqueness. We alsol decorated our masks with jewelry and decorative dressings to show royalty and divinity.
African Masks - Cultural Arts
We decorated our masks with jewelry and decorative dressings to show royalty and divinity. Our hairstyles represent our uniqueness
Legacy Magnets
In celebration of African American legacy Month, we created magnets to highlight influential African American leaders. We used African fabric & jewels to embellish our creations.
Legacy Magnets
A beautiful view of all of our magnets on our refrigerator.
So great to see the l
In celebration of African American legacy Month, we created magnets to highlight influential African American leaders. We used African fabric & jewels to embellish our creations.
Collaborative Creativity
It is important to work with one another creatively. This builds community, teamwork and togetherness within our art space.
Collaborative Creativity
It is important to work with one another creatively. This builds community, teamwork and togetherness within our art space.
Community Art Making
It’s good to work together on a piece! This builds community, teamwork and togetherness within our creative space. This one is a group collaboration that we are super proud of!
Pumpkin Decorating
Such a great turn out we had! So many youth, families and community members came out to decorate pumpkins; in celebration of the holiday and Fall season.
Pumpkin Decorating
Such a great turn out we had! So many youth, families and community members came out to decorate pumpkins; in celebration of the holiday and Fall season.
Pumpkin Decorating
It is so wonderful to see parents engage with their children through participation!
Pumpkin Decorating
It is so wonderful to see parents engage with their children through participation!
Celebrating African American Legacy Month - Cultural Arts
We PROUDLY celebrated African American Legacy Month by creating our own Egyptian crowns! ❤️���� It is imperative to teach our children that we derive from KINGS & QUEENS, rather than chains & oppression. Therefore, we created Nefertiti & Pharaoh inspired CROWNS to reflect our royal roots & legacy!
Celebrating African American Legacy Month - Cultural Arts
The creative process is the most important.
Celebrating African American Legacy Month - Cultural Arts
A beautifully finished Pharaoh crown.
Celebrating African American Legacy Month - Cultural Arts
It is imperative to teach our children that we derive from KINGS & QUEENS, rather than chains & oppression. Therefore, we created Nefertiti & Pharaoh inspired CROWNS to reflect our royal roots & legacy.
Celebrating African American Legacy Month - Cultural Arts
A beautifully finished Nefertiti style crown.
Celebrating African American Legacy Month - Cultural Arts
A beautifully finished Nefertiti style crown.
Celebrating African American Legacy Month - Cultural Arts
Creating together allows for community fellowship and inspirational idea sharing.
Celebrating African American Legacy Month - Cultural Arts
Stylish!
Celebrating Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is a non- religious, week long celebration that begins December 26th - January 1st. It is customary to celebrate by lighting 7 candles, one for each day to represent a principle. Each candle is placed in a special candle holder called a Kinara. Today we made our own Kinaras, in celebration of African heritage.
Celebrating Kwanzaa
These Kinaras support seven candles for Kwanzaa. Each candle represents a principle in Swahili. Principles are: Umoja - Unity, Kujichagulia - Self-Determination, Ujima - Collective Work and Responsibility, Ujamaa - Cooperative Economics, Nia - Purpose, Kuumba - Creativity and Imani - Faith
Celebrating Kwanzaa
These Kinaras support seven candles for Kwanzaa. Each candle represents a principle in Swahili. Principles are: Umoja - Unity, Kujichagulia - Self-Determination, Ujima - Collective Work and Responsibility, Ujamaa - Cooperative Economics, Nia - Purpose, Kuumba - Creativity and Imani - Faith
Celebrating Kwanzaa
These Kinaras support seven candles for Kwanzaa. Each candle represents a principle in Swahili. Principles are: Umoja - Unity, Kujichagulia - Self-Determination, Ujima - Collective Work and Responsibility, Ujamaa - Cooperative Economics, Nia - Purpose, Kuumba - Creativity and Imani - Faith
Celebrating Kwanzaa
These Kinaras support seven candles for Kwanzaa. Each candle represents a principle in Swahili. Principles are: Umoja - Unity, Kujichagulia - Self-Determination, Ujima - Collective Work and Responsibility, Ujamaa - Cooperative Economics, Nia - Purpose, Kuumba - Creativity and Imani - Faith
Celebrating Kwanzaa
These Kinaras support seven candles for Kwanzaa. Each candle represents a principle in Swahili. Principles are: Umoja - Unity, Kujichagulia - Self-Determination, Ujima - Collective Work and Responsibility, Ujamaa - Cooperative Economics, Nia - Purpose, Kuumba - Creativity and Imani - Faith
Accordion Artist Books
These Accordion Artist Books are foldable and ideal to draw in, write poetry, paste pictures and decorate.
Accordion Artist Books
These Accordion Artist Books are foldable and ideal to draw in, write poetry, paste pictures and decorate.
Accordion Artist Books
She was so persistent! Although, she didn’t understand the instructions, she kept trying, and asking for help. Eventually she successfully created her Accordion Artist Book. It is so important to ask for help when we need it, a skill that many of us are still working on, and that’s okay! We can learn from the youth ��
Accordion Artist Books
It is so refreshing when staff and teachers participate in our projects! This further motivates and encourages the youth. Way to go!
Celebrating African American Legacy Month - Cultural Arts
"Black Boy Joy" "Black Girl Magic"
We continue to uplift our children through art and educate them about influential leaders who helped to pave the way for African Americans today.
Celebrating African American Legacy Month - Cultural Arts
We continue to uplift our children through art and educate them about influential leaders who helped to pave the way for African Americans today.
We continue to uplift our children through art and educate them about influential leaders who helped to pave the way for African Americans today.
Empowerment Mural
Together we stand, divided we fall. We are powerful, intelligent Kings and Queens and we should always treat ourselves, and each other as such. Each of us painted and decorated a fist & crown, to represent this important message.
Empowerment Mural
Together we can.
Empowerment Mural
Together we stand, divided we fall. We are powerful, intelligent Kings and Queens and we should always treat ourselves, and each other as such. Each of us painted and decorated a fist & crown, to represent this important message.
Empowerment Mural
Together we stand, divided we fall. We are powerful, intelligent Kings and Queens and we should always treat ourselves, and each other as such. Each of us painted and decorated a fist & crown, to represent this important message.
Empowerment Mural
We are powerful, intelligent Kings and Queens and we should always treat ourselves, and each other as such. Each of us painted and decorated a fist & crown, to represent this important message.
Mixed Media Monoprints
Monoprinting - a form of printmaking that utilizes lines or images, but can only be made once; unlike most printmaking, which allows for multiple originals. Check out our Mixed Media Monoprints!
Mixed Media Monoprints
Mixed Media Monoprints
Creating art together allows us to fellowship
Monoprinting - a form of printmaking that utilizes lines or images, but can only be made once; unlike most printmaking, which allows for multiple originals.
Print Creations
We created beautiful cards using this Monoprint technique.
Community Read Aloud
It is great when we can come together to simply listen to stories.
Read Aloud
We encourage reading by hosting Read Alouds for the community. These interactive events feature puppet shows and free books to excite and spark the interest in books!
Community Read Aloud
Reading together
Community Read Aloud
The more we read to our youth, the more they will be accustomed and excited to read.
Holiday Read Aloud
We are dedicated to supporting literacy and reading practice to disadvantaged youth and communities. We seek to encourage reading by hosting Read Alouds for the community. We gave away plenty of free books to keep to encourage reading and children busy during the Winter break.
Family Read Aloud
We want to encourage families to read to their children at an early age! Reading helps children learn to expand their vocabulary, pronounce words and improve sentence structure.
Free Books
We gave away free books to encourage reading to our children
Family Read Aloud
We want to encourage families to read to their children at an early age! Reading helps children learn to expand their vocabulary, pronounce words and improve sentence structure.
Family Read Aloud
Free Books and Diapers
We want to encourage families to read to their children at an early age! Reading helps children learn to expand their vocabulary, pronounce words and improve sentence structure. We gave away free books and diapers to further encourage our initiative.
Free Diapers
We gave away free books and diapers to further encourage our initiative.
Free Book Table
We have organized a section of free books at the Self Sufficiency Center on Enterprise Way, as well as the San Pablo location, both in Oakland!
Free Book Table
We are so happy that each time we come back to restock, the books are completely gone! We love the immense interest that our community is showing for these books!
Free Book Table
Reading is so important, but we know that it can be a financial burden to buy books for our children and ourselves. By providing these free books, we can alleviate this burden, as well as promote reading, reading practice and early literacy, where we need it the most.
Study Hall
These Queens are a part of our Academic Mentoring program. We regularly meet for study hall at the library to complete assignments, catch up on our work and check out books!
Study Hall
This Queen is a part of our Academic Mentoring program. We regularly meet for study hall at the library to complete assignments, catch up on our work and check out books!
Study Hall
Sometimes we feel more comfortable completing our work in a bean bag chair! We believe in providing alternative study environments, to allow autonomy in the way we choose to complete our work.
Study Hall
To help keep us organized for the school year, we are creating our own reusable, dry erase calendars. In this way, we can keep our responsibilities and assignments organized in a visible place. Organization is an excellent practice that our youth can carry on into adulthood.
Study Hall
"Lucille Stay Focused"
This is Lucille's completed dry erase calendar. She can write her assignments and responsibilities on this calendar every month. She also reminds herself to "stay focused" as we enter into the academic school year.
Study Hall
Designing calendars, to help keep us organized for the school year. In this way, we can keep our responsibilities and assignments organized in a visible place.
Study Hall
Designing calendars, to help keep us organized for the school year. In this way, we can keep our responsibilities and assignments organized in a visible place.
Study Hall
Designing calendars, to help keep us organized for the school year. In this way, we can keep our responsibilities and assignments organized in a visible place.
Study Hall
Proud of our calendars. These will help us remain organized during the school year.
Career Planning and Support
Treasure, a high school Sophomore, expressed her interest in creating her own lip balm and owning her own cosmetic line. With our support, she sold cupcakes to raise funds to buy the supplies to practice making lip balm. Go Treasure!
Career Planning and Support
Fund Raising For Business Supplies
Treasure is selling homemade cupcakes, gently used clothing, bookmarks and plants to raise funds to purchase business supplies.
Career Planning and Support
Fund Raising For Business Supplies
Career Planning and Support
Fund Raising For Business Supplies
Making sales, yayy!
Career Planning and Support
Fund Raising For Business Supplies
Only $1, you can't beat that!
College Road Map Workshop
We advocate for higher education by hosting informative workshops for Bay Area high school students. During our interactive, hands-on workshops, students receive the opportunity to research colleges of their interest, learn specific information about the college admission process, and create a vision board to reflect their their academic, career and personal goals.
College Roadmap Workshop
Students listened intently and recorded informative notes. Key topics included: the importance of maintaining a reputable G.P.A., PSAT, SAT and ACT test prep, financial aid, recommendation letters, scholarship and college scout tools, as well as academic goal setting.
College Road Map Workshop
Students listened intently and recorded informative notes. Key topics included: the importance of maintaining a reputable G.P.A., PSAT, SAT and ACT test prep, financial aid, recommendation letters, scholarship and college scout tools, as well as academic goal setting.
College Road Map Workshop
Students had the opportunity to research colleges of their interest, according to: location, population, and demographics. Students we able to research scholarships and grants that they were eligible to apply for. Students also identified potential majors and minors of study.
Student Vision Board - Treasure 9th Grade
Students visually expressed their academic, career and personal goals by creating vision boards. Students cut up recycled magazines to create a visual representation of their dream careers and goals.
Student Vision Board - Nour Hadid 9th Grade
We created vision boards to remind us to stay focused, encouraged and determined to accomplish our academic, career and personal goals.
Vision Board
Students visually expressed their academic, career and personal goals, by creating vision boards. Students cut up recycled magazines to create a visual representation of their dream careers, and goals.
Holiday Read Aloud
We are dedicated to supporting literacy and reading practice to disadvantaged youth and communities. We hosted this holiday read aloud at a family shelter. We gave away free books, toys and treats. In this way, we can encourage the excitement for books.
Holiday Read Aloud
Listening to a holiday story.
Holiday Read Aloud
We are dedicated to supporting literacy and reading practice to disadvantaged youth and communities. We hosted this holiday read aloud at a family shelter. We gave away free books, toys and treats. In this way, we can encourage the excitement for books.
Holiday Read Aloud
Reading to the youth during the holiday season. We gave away plenty of free books to keep the children busy during the Winter break.
Holiday Read Aloud
Free books for the community.
Holiday Read Aloud
Free Books
She picked the book, "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" to keep.
Holiday Read Aloud
Listening to the story!
Holiday Read Aloud
The children were thrilled about their toys!
Holiday Read Aloud
Free Books and Toys
Excited about our Christmas gifts.
Holiday Read Aloud
Treats!
Cooking Class
Curry Chicken
We are dedicated to educating our youth on skills that are not always taught in school. Cooking is such an important life skill that they will be able to carry into adulthood and pass on to their children.
Cooking Class
Curry Chicken
We had a special guest show us how to make a traditional Indian dish, curry chicken and rice. It was delicious!
Cooking Class
Smelling spices!
Cooking Class
Fruit Infused Water
It is important to drink water, adding fruit to our water is another way to add flavor and encourage us to drink more water.
Cooking Class
Fruit Infused Water
It is important to drink water, adding fruit to our water is another way to add flavor and encourage us to drink more water.
Cooking Class
Curry Chicken
We had a special guest show us how to make a traditional Indian dish, curry chicken and rice. It was delicious!
Cooking Class
Mixing cake batter. It is great to see the youth working together.
Cooking Class
Enjoying a meal together is priceless!
Cooking Class
Chicken curry anyone?
Cooking Class
Taco Tuesday
We made carne asada tacos with homemade pico de gallo, guacamole ��, rice and beans.
Cooking Class
Mixing cake batter for dessert.
Cooking Class
Taco Tuesday
We made carne asada tacos with homemade pico de gallo, guacamole ��, rice and beans. The kids ate so fast, I didn’t have a chance to get a decent taco picture, without them biting into the their tacos already
Cooking Class
Taco Tuesday
Table talk
Cooking Class
Taco Tuesday
Sharing a meal together is unity. We are stronger when we come together.
Cooking Class
Spaghetti
We are dedicated to educating our youth on skills that are not always taught in school. Cooking is such an important life skill that they will be able to carry into adulthood and pass on to their children.
Cooking Class
We made spaghetti, home made garlic bread, tossed salad, and cake for dessert.
Cooking Class
Cutting garlic bread
Cooking Class
Icing the cake
Cooking Class
"I can't believe I made this!"
Cooking Class
Dinner for champions!
Life Skills - Safe Driving
After study hall, we work on studying our Driver’s Handbook, to prepare for the drivers test. These students have expressed interest in getting their permits to drive. As mentors, we are doing everything we can to support this process.
Life Skills - Safe Driving
After study hall, we work on studying our Driver’s Handbook, to prepare for the drivers test. These students have expressed interest in getting their permits to drive. As mentors, we are doing everything we can to support this process.
Supporting Career Goals
We are dedicated to supporting our youth in their interests and career ventures. Lucille, a high school Junior, expressed her interest in becoming a nail tech and owning her own nail shop. We were excited purchase the necessary supplies to support her dream. Now Lucille can practice her skills!
Supporting Career Goals
We were excited purchase the necessary supplies to support Lucille's career goal of becoming a nail tech and owning a nail shop. Now Lucille can practice her skills!
Supporting Career Goals
We are dedicated to supporting our youth in their interests and career ventures. Lucille, a high school Junior, expressed her interest in becoming a nail tech and owning her own nail shop. We were excited purchase the necessary supplies to support her dream. Now Lucille can practice her skills!
