Our organizational values are based on five pillars: housing, commerce, arts & culture, vital human services, and (an) access to research and data publicly accessible via an online cultural archive.

Since 2016, we’ve successfully negotiated with developers to provide low income housing in market rate developments, provided technical assistance to artists and small businesses, and provided grants directly to organizations and artists engaged in direct service to marginalized communities. An impact of those negotiations is a seat at the table for artists and cultural anchors at the redeveloped Henry J Kaiser Auditorium and the Calvin Simmons theater, in a bold experiment in community having a voice in the disposition of public land by the City. In this way, we engage investors, funders, and municipal officials in conversations about the essential nature of art and culture in the public square as a cornerstone of thriving communities.

For the past several years we’ve co-produced BAMBDFEST; a multi-day festival in celebration of the BAMBD and Black arts, culture, and economics in Oakland. The Festival consists of performances by theater artists, musicians, dancers, comics, poets, youth groups and town legends, and features an eclectic mix of free and paid arts events, gallery installations, ways to support virtual vendors, virtual public symposiums, and more that showcase the best of Oakland’s vibrant artistry. The festival engages Oakland artists, businesses, and the public in a massive celebration of Oakland. By bringing local art and artists into conversation with culture makers throughout the Diaspora, the festival strengthens the relationship between artists and small businesses in its amplification of both by creating local interest and foot & web traffic. This festival makes up over half of the programs of this organization with the remainder being grounded in Arts Advocacy and Art based advocacy.