With support from the California Arts Council, Destiny Arts Center will partner with the Alameda County of Education to bring professionally taught spoken word classes to 80 justice-involved youth at Alameda Juvenile Justice Center’s (AJJC) Butler Academic Center. DAC’s creative youth development programs provide critical socio-emotional support to justice-involved youth. DAC will also convene AJJC staff and community partners to align arts and restorative justice efforts at juvenile hall.
In a typical year, Destiny Arts Center (DAC) brings approximately 6,000 children and youth (ages 3 to 18) financially accessible, professionally taught movement and performing arts classes that support their socio-emotional health. Classes take place in our 7,800 sq. ft. North Oakland arts center and at approximately 50 school sites, primarily Title I schools in East and West Oakland. DAC’s professional teaching artists are well-versed in our Warrior’s Code of values (love, honor, respect, responsibility, care, and peace) and signature creative youth development framework (opening/closing circle, gain artistic experience, engage in creative process, perform). As a result, DAC programs effectively encourage arts learning while increasing young people’s sense of peace, power, and creativity.