AHC to receive Community Peace Award

Our 4th award this year! We are excited to announce that on September 26th, Attitudinal Healing Connection will be the recipient of the 2016 Community Peace Award. Each year, the State of the 18th Assembly District holds an Address and Awards event, to recognize and celebrate the diversity, generosity, and contributions of individuals and organizations in the 18th Assembly District (which include Alameda, Oakland and San Leandro).

There are 12 categories of awards which include, Woman of the Year, Veteran of the Year, Community Advocates of the Year, and Outstanding Organizations of the Year.

This year, Assemblymember Rob Bonta will present AHC with the Community Peace Award, in recognition of our critical work that empowers the community to reject violence, and work together to bring healing through art, music, and other forms of creative expression.

AHC voted Best of East Bay 2016-Best Arts Nonprofit

The votes are in and we have been nominated for another fantastic award. Attitudinal Healing Connection was voted Best Arts Nonprofit by East Bay Express: Best of the East Bay 2016 – Arts & Culture Writers' Picks.

Voting took place by the people and so this award is especially important to us as our commitment is to the community of Oakland.  "It's always humbling and validating for our years of hard efforts to be acknowledged. Thanks so much East Bay Express!!! We are incredibly thankful!"  Amana Harris, AHC Executive Director.

But we will not pause to bask in these acknowledgments as there is a lot of work to do.  We will continue to work hard to give our community the opportunities they deserve and teach love and peace through art.  In fact, we are in the process of working on the 5th Oakland Super Heros Art mural project.  The third grade class of Hoover Elementary school worked proudly to create their superheros/sheros which will be the inspiration of Art Director David Burke’s newest mural design.  David will present his proposed mural drawing to the entire Hoover Elementary school for their feedback before deciding on the final design.  The location of this mural is very special as it will be painted across from the West Street underpass mural that is dedicated to AHC art and friend, Antonio Ramos.  

Hoover Elementary School's Oakland Super Hero Mural Project

Hoover Elementary School's Oakland Super Hero Mural Project

We need your help and there are so many ways to get involved.  Join us for our Gala Fundraiser on November 5, 2016, at Scott’s Seafood Restaurant. For more information, go to our Gala Page.  Become a monthly donor, sponsor of our Gala or the 5th Oakland Super Heroes Mural Project or consider volunteering!

AHC is presented the "Secret Sauce Award"

On June 23, 2016 Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf awarded Attitudinal Healing Connection with the *Secret Sauce Award at the Chamber's 111th Annual Meeting and Awards Lunch.  Each year the Chamber of Commerce holds their annual awards luncheon to both celebrate the Chamber and its members but also to honor those in the Oakland community whose work has set them apart. They give awards in a variety of categories including seven other award winners were announced: the Golden State Warriors (Oakland on the Map Award), Kaiser Permanente (Deep Roots), Give Something Back Office Supplies (Community Catalyst), Children's Fairyland (Heart of Oakland), as well as two winners for the Tech Oakland Award— Pandora and Clef.

AHC received the *Secret Sauce Award specifically for our work on the Oakland Super Heroes Mural (OSH) Project, a project that engages youth in community issues and solutions through the power of public art.  

Major Libby Schaaf with Kokomon and Amana after everyone received a Special Sauce award

Major Libby Schaaf with Kokomon and Amana after everyone received a Special Sauce award

*The Secret Sauce Award: We all know it’s hard to put into words what exactly makes Oakland so special. This award honors an organization or individual who contributes to what Mayor Schaaf likes to refer to as Oakland’s “Secret Sauce” – that unquantifiable and unique ingredient to Oakland’s allure.  Mayor Schaaf talked about Oakland having a gritty authenticity that makes Oakland resilient and strong.  She mentioned Oakland’s love, pride and inclusive nature for diversity.  The Major talked about the artist community and the incredible cultural vitality that no other city has and she mentioned the working class groups that gives the city a refreshing authenticity.  Finally she highlighted Oakland’s progressive values, our long term commitment to social justice and fairness and what is right.  

Amana Harris and Kokomon Clottey, accepted the award on behalf of AHC to a standing crowd.  In her acceptance speech, Amana talked about the work that the citizens of Oakland need to do to invest in their fine city and more importantly, in the people.  “There is a lot of work to do and it takes every single one of us to make sure we cultivate a world that we want our children to grow up in…  I love this city.  This is a great day for Oakland and for the Attitudinal Healing Connection.”  

Kokomon followed Amana’s inspiration speech with presenting the Mayor with a bottle of secret sauce that he created with love and grace from Ghana, West Africa.

Kokomon Presenting Major Schaaf 

Kokomon Presenting Major Schaaf 

We are honored to accept this award as we are proud to exemplify all the characteristics Mayor Schaaf described when talking about the unique qualities of Oakland.  As we continue to work to make positive changes to our community, we need your help.  Please consider attending or sponsoring our Gala on November 5th.  For more information go to  http://bit.ly/AHCgala2016  

"The Bravery of Love and Legacy" 2016 Exhibition Recap

Thank you to all who came and enjoyed some of the wonderful art produced by Bay Area students taking part int ArtEsteem's Self As Super Hero curriculum! 

On Saturday, May 28th, hundreds of people perused the walls of Warehouse 416 to see powerful art pieces by out children and youth. Paintings, masks, jewelry, sculptures were on display and for sale to the public. Students joined Kokomon Clottey on stage and exhibited a Mindful Drumming session.

The event is the culmination of a school-year's worth of effort by Bay Area students and we are proud to have had it on display. Hundreds of people came in and out of Warehouse 416 and admired the powerful pieces we were proud to exhibit.

 

May 2016 Newsletter

Here's a rundown of what's going on.

New AHC Website

Homepage

Homepage

AHC is happy to announce that our new website has launched, making it much easier to keep up with events, local news and blogs, view art, get information about our vital programs, contact staff and so much more! 

ArtEsteem's 18th Annual Art Exhibition

"The Bravery of Love and Legacy," ArtEsteem's 18th annual exhibition is this week, May 28th at Warehouse 416 (416 28th street) in Downtown Oakland at 3 pm. Jon us for hundreds of pieces created by ArtEsteem students envisioning a better community. 

Since 1995, AHC's award-winning art and literacy program has helped develop creative, engaged, and successful children/youth through building emotional, social, academic and intellectual skills.

ArtEsteem is currently serving 16 schools in the East Bay and San Francisco. This year many of the school sites took part in the Self as Superhero project involving nearly 200 students who created life-size superhero portraits. Five classes participated in the cultural art program led by instructors from Puerto Rico, Senegal and Ghana as well as Oakland natives. 

New Office Manager, Christina Samuelson

Christina Samuelson

Christina Samuelson

We'd like welcome back Christina Samuelson as the new Office Manager at AHC! Christina was a CCA work-study student with us as well as a teaching artist for ArtEsteem. We are grateful to have her back to continue in the great work she started with us earlier in her career.

We look forward to seeing how her many talents will benefit our community in this new position. Thank you, Christina, for joining us!

FLAX Art Store Opens in Downtown, Oakland

Flax art store has officially opened its doors to the Oakland area, allowing Downtown to have an easily accessible location to purchase art supplies. As an organization that put heavy emphasis on artistic expression we are excited to welcome Howard Flax and staff to Oakland!

Visit flaxart.com for more information about products, locations and special discounts!

FLAX downtown location

FLAX downtown location

"FLAX is really meant for Oakland ... this is a family-owned business ... so it's perfect to place this in a city with so much artistic energy and legacy - so close to public transportation and in the center of the Bay Area, where all artistic souls can get here conveniently." -Mayor Libby Schaa

(L to R): Kokomon Clottey, Howard Flax, Amana Harris

(L to R): Kokomon Clottey, Howard Flax, Amana Harris

(L to R): Erica Wheeler-Dubin, Oakland Mayor Libby Shaaf, Amana Harris, Justin Metoyer-Mullon

(L to R): Erica Wheeler-Dubin, Oakland Mayor Libby Shaaf, Amana Harris, Justin Metoyer-Mullon

New Mural in the Works

West Street Mural

West Street Mural

Based on inspiring stories from students at Hoover Elementary School, we have designed a new
installation of Oakland Superheroes Mural Project! This is the fourth mural that AHC will be curating that is part of a series of seven pieces. all murals have been conceptualized by OUSD students and created by local artists. 

Hoover Garden Class Archway

The Garden Class at Hoover Elementary, with AHC instructor Clayton Anderson, have completed a beautiful archway which they've helped erect on school grounds. Congratulations to all the students for their excellent work and special thanks to Ayala "Miss Allie" Goldstein and the staff at Hoover Elementary!

"The Gathering: Critical Conversations That Matter" 2016 Recap

On May 1, 2016, Kingston 11 hosted AHC's annual fundraiser, The Gathering: Critical Conversations That Matter, for the first time at their Telegraph Avenue restaurant. Nearly 100 guests were in attendance and donated to continuing AHC's vital work.

The night started off with an amazing drum performance by Diop Brothers of Senegal, West Africa. The crowd was included for some of the singing that was a powerful display of unity and syncopation.

Delicious Jamaican food was brought out to each table, course after course, while guest enjoyed inspirational words from AHC art instructors, Justin Metoyer-Mullon and Daniel Panko, along with Kamilah Crawford, who has been a part of this organization since she was 11, and currently on her way to becoming a physician.

AHC's Executive Director, Amana Harris, was master of ceremony and handled the program and asked the critical questions that left everyone in attendance thinking deeper about the challenges facing our community and ourselves.

From everyone at AHC, thank you for a truly inspiring evening filled with fun and fellowship! Join us again next year for The Gathering and be sure to stop by ArtEsteem's 18th Annual Exhibition: The Bravery of Love and Legacy on May 28, 2016.