Grantee Database

LIBERATED KIDS INCORPORATED

Grant Year

2025-26

Grant Program

Arts and Youth

Award Amount

$23,750.00

Project Description

With support from the California Arts Council, Liberated Kids will empower youth to create, produce, and perform an original, culturally-relevant student musical. Our self-directed learning center in East Oakland serves BIPOC children ages 5–14, many of whom have faced barriers to traditional school settings. Through a 9 month program that integrates literary arts, music, theater, and visual arts, students collaborate with professional teaching artists to develop leadership, confidence, and creative expression. The project culminates in a two-night public performance attended by hundreds of family and community members. CAC funds will support fair compensation for our under-resourced teaching artists, purchase arts materials, support accessibility services, and cover key production expenses to ensure all students can fully participate and share their creative work with the wider community.

Organization Summary

Self-Directed Learning Center: This is our core program. Our learning center, open from Monday to Thursday, is a vibrant hub where children are empowered to discover their passions and shape their creative artistic paths. Each day is filled with exploration, play, socialization, and deep dives into areas of interest. Each week is a tapestry of self-chosen activities, collaborative projects, and community-building events. This dynamic flow allows children to engage deeply with their learning, fostering a love for discovery that extends beyond traditional educational boundaries.

Spring Musical: We partner with the best voice, music and theater instructors to work with the children who choose to be part of the Spring Musical! This past year, over 90% of our kids participated in the Musical. They performed a total of 2 shows during the 2023-2024 year in front of over 600 audience members.

Community Development: Through workshops, meetings, community gathering, volunteer days and trainings we bring together all the families and integral community members. We collaboratively develop understandings and skills to heal ourselves and be our best selves for our children. We tap into our own creativity and artistic abilities to co-create.

Whole Fam Fun! – We organize family-friends events in Oakland that can be enjoyed by the whole family – including the semi-annual Musical, quarterly Day at the Theater, semi-annual Pancake Breakfast, and quarterly Fam Jams – a space for the entire family to enjoy the best Oakland DJ’s and dance the afternoon away.

Organization

Liberated Kids

Address

2401 35TH AVE

OAKLAND

94601-3206

County

Alameda

Region

Bay Area – Other

Phone

(217) 721-3899

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