What we Value

We value…

1. We are youth-centered. We create programs for kids and teens ages 8-19. We center youth imagination, identity, and experience as an integral part of our curriculum and our community space.

2. We create lasting impact. We build in-depth, long-term programming that helps form multi-year relationships with students, educators, volunteers, donors, and partners to create lasting impact in our students’ lives.
3. We center play & imagination. We value play and imagination as essential to learning, fostering an environment of creativity, innovation, empathy, and connection. 

4. We are strength-based. We believe that every young person has brilliance within them. We create an affirming and culturally competent space for young people to grow and become agents of change.

5. We are Oakland-centered. We prioritize Oakland youth, schools, artists, and vendors. We build connections between the city’s diverse communities, individuals, and organizations around arts and culture. 

6. We create safe & brave spaces. We cultivate a space where young people of diverse backgrounds can express their full selves in an environment of care and compassion. We hold safe space for queer and BIPOC youth to bravely write. 

7. We are committed to Justice, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. We are an anti-hate and anti-discrimination organization that fosters a space of belonging through the arts and education. We follow culturally responsive practices in teaching and publishing. We prioritize publishing youth of color in programs led by paid artists of color who reflect the communities we serve.