With support from the California Arts Council, Bay Area Creative (BAC) will collaborate with local spoken word artists from our Rich Oak Events (ROE) program to create platforms for underserved communities to be poetically heard regarding current issues. We will provide an avenue toward artistic growth and career success for poets, writers, and performers in the Bay Area.
Our Rick Oak Events program provides platforms to communities that experience marginalization and cultural neglect in Oakland, Richmond and Berkeley, while simultaneously expanding our online presence through the Berkeley and Oakland Poetry Slams and the Alchemy Open Mic. Between these events, this grant will support a project that curates 5 poetry slams, 2 open mics, and 7 free writing workshops every month; all events are available for free viewing via live stream.
SPARC Creativity offers spoken word poetry, dance, filmmaking workshops and performances tailored for underserved youth aged 5-18. Our comprehensive services encompass weekly arts workshops conducted during the school day, after school, and throughout the summer. Additionally, SPARC teaching artists lead impactful school day performances that showcase the creative expressions of our participants.
Revisions stands as a beacon of therapeutic arts for youth and families, providing essential services such as facilitating writing groups in Juvenile Hall, facilitating creative support groups for social workers, leading conferences focused on substance abuse prevention, and performing at mental health symposiums.
Educators for Empathy is dedicated to professional development for both classroom teachers and teaching artists. Our impactful sessions take the form of in-service school district-wide half and full-day training sessions. We extend our reach by collaborating with other nonprofits, offering monthly one-on-one coaching sessions to empower educators with transformative teaching practices.
Spoken works delivers local creative professionals to provide team building sessions that
connect members of the workforce to a culturally diverse panel of published authors and
nationally ranked spoken word artists. Activities are insightful, productive and high energy
designed to leverage lateral thinking towards new solutions and bonding.

