AHC Partners with FLAX Art & Design

AHC has partnered with FLAX Art & Design to supply children, youth and families with premium art supplies through the Art YOU Ready? campaign. FLAX is a family owned business and has been at the center of the Bay Area arts community since 1938.

AHC is preparing to distribute 3,000 Art Kits to Alameda County children and families. Our focus is on empowering the communities most in need, in our immediate area; strengthening and inspiring our neighborhoods to be prepared and creative.

Youth Spotlight

Darrion Blackmon (pictured right) came to AHC though our Earn2Learn Program. He is now working at FLAX Art & Design, located in downtown Oakland.

Through Earn2Learn, Darrion has a permanent job in a creative environment that allows growth and encourages leadership.

• Each year, Earn2Learn provides Oakland youth with job opportunities in their own community; fulfilling an urgent need during this time.

• AHC partners with business owners, both large and small, building relationships with entrepreneurs at all levels.

When you donate to AHC, you are supporting programs like Earn2Learn which give work opportunities to young people in under-served communities.

Identity, Strengths & Weaknesses

The ArtEsteem program is moving full steam ahead at Hoover Elementary School! The current project focuses on themes of identity. The youth are designing masks that reflect different aspect of their personality, and in essence, how they see themselves. This process has brought some thought provoking discussions to the classroom. Students were challenged by being asked critical questions such as, “What have you learned about your identity?” and “What are your strengths?”

This project will go on throughout the school year, and we’re excited to show you the completed pieces on May 18th at ArtEsteem’s 21st Annual Exhibition! The event is happening right here at AHC, catch the details on our event page.

Masks from different cultures, for inspiration.

From left: Mask inspiration, Mr. Eddie helps out, student writes down her strengths.

Students work on developing their narrative, and help each other along the way!

Student thinks about her identity.