1. Executive Summary

2. Personal Dedication

3. Mission & Origin Story

4. Programs & Services Overview

5. Project Vision, Objectives, & Design Drivers

6. Call for Campaign Support

The campaign for Building The Center for ArtEsteem is a pivotal chapter of a love story. A love that’s rooted in the desire to heal, revive and regenerate to set forth a legacy to turn the tide in our culture. It is a love story that aims to develop critically aware and motivated individuals, and a love story that works to instill value in people to uplift our communities and our world. 

Attitudinal Healing Connection—the Black-led, longtime nonprofit leader, and organizational entity behind this effort—is Building the Center for ArtEsteem. The purpose is to ensure their ongoing presence in support of the Oakland community, which they have served since 1989. The campaign and the building project will transform and beautify 5,000 square feet of land and property in West Oakland, taking place in two phases. During Phase 1 in 2022, AHC will assume site ownership, renovate an existing building, and move organizational operations to its new home at 3111 West Street. During Phase 2, AHC will construct a new studio, exhibition, and community event space at 3115 West Street. The total cost to complete this historic nonprofit capital development project, resulting in an invaluable community asset, is $4.3 million. Funds required to support the project will come from organizational reserves, a capital fundraising campaign, and creative financing. AHC welcomes generous contributions of all levels from foundations, businesses, government agencies, neighbors, and friends. Meaningful recognition opportunities are available. We welcome you to be part of the love that we’re building. 

 I was 22 years old when I first stepped foot on an elementary school campus in Oakland as a substitute teacher. Taking over a first grade classroom that had been abandoned by its teacher mid-year, I found the conditions of the school disheartening and appalling. The destructive cultural norms internalized by small children was unsettling, but I found joy in creating beauty and organization in the classroom. I found that engaging young people in art had an amazing effect. I also observed how my students learned to trust and rely on me and how the structure, consistency, love and critical awareness I brought into the space developed inspiration and motivation in my students. This experience laid the foundation for my path and passion to disrupt negative belief systems and use art and creativity to build self-esteem and a platform for positive vision and expression.

For me, it is fundamental for AHC to remain in Oakland and continue the vision of my parents. Given the destructive history of urban redevelopment through the practices of redlining, marginalization and oppression, the work to repair the harm that has been done needs to be an essential priority in rebuilding our communities. Building the Center for ArtEsteem creates a bright path like the Sankofa bird Adinkra symbol that cleanses our past as we build a benevolent future.

-Amana Harris, Executive Director

 MISSION: AHC empowers individuals to be self-aware and inspired through art, creativity, and edu- cation; to make positive choices to break the cycle of violence for themselves and their communities.

ORIGIN STORY: Attitudinal Healing Connection Oakland began its work in 1989, at the corner of 33rd and West Street in West Oakland. The founders, Aeeshah and Kokomon Clottey, opened up the bottom flat of their home to engage the community in healing and creativity with the fundamental and radical understanding that racism is a life-threatening disease. They believed the problem of racism was a spiritual dilemma and needed a spiritual approach for healing.

In their re-released book, Color Theory, they explain that racism was, “Intricately related to the problem of separation, of feeling different from and separate from.”

Rooted in the 12 Principles of Attitudinal Healing, AHC created a refuge for the personal healing that would be essential to creating broader community and societal transformation.

 ArtEsteem

• Art in Schools
- During and after-school arts integrated programming
- Distribution of ArtEsteem ArtKits with accompanying custom grade-level based activity guides
- Professional development for teachers

• Oakland Legacy Project
- Environmental arts and leadership after-school program for youth

ArtEsteem Exhibition

• Annual art exhibition showcasing student artwork produced in ArtEsteem classes

ArtEsteem ArtMobile

• Mobile art trailer for outdoor programming at schools, festivals, and private events

Healing Circles

• Attitudinal Healing and Racial Healing circles for public and private entities

Public Art Initiative

• Community beautification with the Oakland Mural Project, encompassing the Oakland Super Heroes Mural Project and our series of community murals

Since 1989 AHC programs have impacted over 95,000 children, youth, families and adults.

At the new Center for ArtEsteem, AHC will:

• Double the number of children, youth and families served per year from 2,500 to 5,000 on and off-site.

• More than triple the number of children/ youth served per week in on-site classes from 30 to 100.

• Double the number of on site art, healing and community workshops and events per year from 25 to 50.

• Maintain and equip the dynamic ArtEsteem ArtMobile to deliver programs and supplies to over 5,000 youth and adults at 36 schools, organizations and events around the Bay Area.

 PROJECT VISION

• Create a permanent sanctuary for the West Oakland community that provides space for creativity, the arts, and community-strengthening.

• Total Projected Capital Project Cost: $4.3 Million

  • PHASE 1:
    3111 West Street
    Property Acquisition and Renovation Costs: $1.0 Million

  • PHASE 2:
    3115 West Street
    Build Out/Soft Costs/Fundraising Costs: $3.3 Million

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

• Own and Renovate a historic Colonial Revival House at 3111 West Street

• Own and Build a New Studio, Exhibit, and Event Space at 3115 West Street

• Create a beautiful outdoor courtyard for daily use and larger community gatherings

DESIGN DRIVERS

• Cultural Recognition & Celebration: aesthetics that reflect the cultures, ethnicities, and histories of the diverse members of the West Oakland community

• Preservation of a Community Asset: adaptive reuse of a historic residential structure that respects the architectural history of the neighborhood and claims it as an asset for the local community’s long-term benefit

• Environmental Responsibility: construction that integrates sustainable materials and installs energy efficient systems that connect to, and rehabilitate existing infrastructure

• Functional & Adaptable Design: spatial design that supports and accommodates AHC’s ever-evolving programs for generations to come

• Human Scale & Sensibility: design elements that are responsive to real human needs and expressions, resulting in a space for healing, restoration, and creativity

HISTORIC COLONIAL REVIVAL

The project will work to preserve and enhance some of the historic architectural details and attributes of the Colonial Revival structure, originally built in 1909. The comprehensive, gut renovation will allow for a variety of open work spaces and more intimate and private conference rooms and private offices. These spaces will be interchangeable to accommodate larger meeting and gathering spaces.

NEWLY CONSTRUCTED STUDIO, EXHIBIT, AND EVENT BUILDING

The newly constructed building will have two levels. The bottom level will serve as a studio workshop, exhibit, and event area. The studio workshop will host classes of up to 20 children, youth, and adults at a time with the ability to serve as gallery, exhibit, and event space for up to 49 guests. The upstairs level will offer private office and meeting rooms, space for larger staff meetings, and an outdoor deck to accommodate staff team building activities and larger staff gatherings.

OPEN SPACES

The newly landscaped courtyard will accommodate healing circles, drum circles, community gatherings, events, celebrations, and more. The open courtyard environment will allow for larger festivities also connecting to the interior spaces, holistically accommodating up to 200 attendees. Utilitarian, non-obtrusive parking areas will be designed to complement the aesthetics of AHC Oakland’s new home.

Hours of operation for AHC Oakland/Center for ArtEsteem will be 10:00am–6:00pm for standard operating hours and 8:00am–10:00pm for special events.

Since its founding in 1989, AHC’s programs and growth have been hindered by a lack of space permanency. Nevertheless, AHC’s ArtEsteem program has successfully attracted and exposed thousands of young people, families, and adults to innovative ways of healing, creating, and thinking. AHC’s decision to purchase and develop this property in West Oakland will bring value, ingenuity, hope, and beauty to a community whose history has been known for its diversity and complexity. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of a generous donation to support the campaign for Building the Center for ArtEsteem.

Contact Executive Director Amana Harris at amana@ahc-oakland.org to discuss your contribution options.

Donate directly to the campaign below!

If you find yourself on our main donation page, you can allocate your donation

by selecting ‘Capital Campaign’ under the Funding Allocation question!

Leadership Committee

Adam Menter

Co-founder & Catalyst / Board President, Greenermind

Diane Cirincione Jampolsky, Ph.D.

Founder & Executive Director, Attitudinal Healing International

Sabah Harris, M.Ed.

Graduate Student - Master in Business Administration, Loyola Marymount University

Susan Poncelet

Board Member, Oakland Promise

Willard Davis

Board President, The Center for ArtEsteem

Collaborators & Sponsors