Be a Positive Force
for Change

Bay Area Creative is a collective of programs using creative arts to support positive change in under resourced communities.

who we are

We are a team of artists who use spoken word poetry and hip hop dance to transform our lives, our communities, and the globe. We promote positive change by uplifting marginalized cultures, offering therapeutic benefits, and enhancing communication skills.

We envision a world where people listen courageously, speak thoughtfully and act equitably in times of conflict and in times of joy.

the change we create

Group of Black and Brown middle school students with their teaching artist towards the front. They're all wearing some form of mask from surgical to cloth. They're in a school hallway.

IN EDUCATION

We raise literacy levels for under resourced students in K-12 schools while utilizing social emotional learning tools.

IN COMMUNITIES

We provide paths for people to explore their own identity, connect with others, and positively affect the world around them.

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IN EMPLOYMENT

We provide stable income for artists teaching in Black and Brown communities.

services we provide

Poet Visits and Residencies:

Local professional poets go out to school sites to run writing and performance workshops

After School Clubs:

Local professional poets start after school clubs that learn advanced poetry techniques

Camps:

Kids get to spend summers working on larger performance projects with other activities integrated

Poetry And Mixed Art Events:

Local and youth poets share the stage for a few hours of creativity amplified

Professional Development:

Professional poets work with teachers to offer strategies on bringing out student voice

Team Building:

Professional poets offer corporate team building workshops to boost morale, community, and teamwork

Therapeutic Arts:

Professional poets hold workshops to promote individual and family healing through spoken word

SPARC Ink Anthology:

Youth writers and Bay Area Artists have their work published in annual book

Filmmaking:

Professional film makers work with students to create short videos based on their poetry

our mission

Bay Area Creative provides opportunities for creative expression and the study of the cultural impacts of famous and contemporary works of spoken word poetry, hip hop dance, visual arts and filmmaking that empower individuals to develop empathic communication skills and foster positive change in themselves and their communities. We work predominantly in under-served neighborhoods in the geographic areas of San Francisco, Oakland, Richmond, Berkeley, Pittsburgh, Antioch, Hayward, Daly City, Pacifica and San Jose.

our vision

We envision a world where people listen courageously, speak thoughtfully and act equitably in times of conflict and in times of joy.

A playground. In white letters in the center is the poem quote, "My soul was bornon a playground. My heart came from the seasaw; it never stops teetering."

"My soul was born on a playground.
My heart came from the seasaw; it never stops teetering"
Daphne Y 7th Grade

students are saying

"The class introduced me to a brand new way of expressing myself and a new coping mechanism."

"I liked how integrated the students were in the actual programming allowing the kids to learn but enjoyably."

"It brought me out more as a person."

Youth poet with light brown skin and shoulder length dark brown hair. Their mouth is open as they are mid speech, and their right hand points to themselves.

"I always felt at home while poetry class was going on"."

Briana Leung, Afralatinx Asian teaching artist and poet who has brown skin and cedar brown curly hair. They are wearing a white jacket and a green and white striped button up. They are mid performance and slightly smiling. One hand is loosely closed mid gesture and the other holds their phone.

Theory of Change

Be a Positive Force for Change