The Brotherhood of Elders Network is an intergenerational network of men of African Ancestry who foster environments where Black boys and young men are empowered to flourish. It began in 2009 and primarily addresses the impacts of anti-Black racism through civic engagement, youth leadership development programs, racial healing and wellness workshops, multiracial alliances, and power-building services for Black-led organizations. Their work is focused in the Bay Area, but they also provide services throughout California.

Founded in 1948, The San Francisco Foundation is one of the nation’s largest community foundations — a grantmaking public charity dedicated to improving life in the Bay Area. Together with community leaders, nonprofits, and donors, we are committed to advancing racial equity and economic inclusion.

At East Bay Community Foundation (EBCF), we believe that everyone should have the economic freedom to dream, heal, and belong. We partner with donors, community organizations, foundations, and government to eliminate barriers, advance equity, and transform our community for all who call the East Bay home. Together, we are building a just and inclusive East Bay for us all. ASCEND: BLO is designed to enhance the growth, sustainability, impact and sense of community among Black-led anchor institutions in the Bay Area.

The mission of the Sarah Webster Fabio Center for Social Justice (SWFCenter) is to support the needs of traditionally underserved communities by providing opportunities for dialogue, art, social justice, and community building. Our programming is unapologetic and focused on African Americans and the African Diaspora. SWFCenter operates as a trans-disciplinary, community-based media outlet that is youth-concerned and free-flowing. SWFCenter’s primary practice is producing documentary films. Our films emphasize cultural transformation and countering widespread anti-Black narratives. SWFCenter’s efforts inspire future change agents to thrive. The organization is 22 years old.

Spearitwurx is a comprehensive organization with a mission to “create experiences to transform lives”. We inspire intergenerational wellness and racial healing and work to shift policies and practices, as well as attitudes and perceptions, to transform internalized, interpersonal, and institutional racism and trauma. We use culture to inspire hope, vibrancy, and empathy and build our collective agency to create meaningful relationships that sustain healthy communities. We promote, curate, and facilitate engaging in-person and virtual youth programming, cultural events, innovative consulting, experiential workshops, and powerful retreats for youth, families, schools, organizations, businesses, and government agencies.

Sketchboard is a BIPOC figure drawing collective, curating eclectic, diverse, and affordable events in the Bay Area over the last 10 years. Our mission is to feature the bodies of people at the intersection of multiple identities, offer living wages to our art models, and create an inclusive environment for the artists in our community.

Olga T, a Puerto Rican lover of all things music, community, and human connection through rhythm and beats, was born in NYC and raised in San Francisco, and has an exceptional style of DJing that never fails to grab your attention on the dance floor. Known for masterfully transitioning through nearly every genre of music while creating live unrehearsed remixes, Olga T consistently delivers a uniquely infectious excitement to the audience. DJing for the past 20 years while producing legendary Bay Area LGBTQ events year-round in addition to teaching DJ classes, creating exclusive remixes, edits and mixtapes is Olga T’s full time passion. Go to www.soundcloud.com/djolgat to explore a plethora of mixtapes of various music genres created by DJ Olga T.

 In the vibrant heart of Oakland, powerful transformation unfolds regularly. ‘Drop The Act,’ a dynamic six-week course designed for Black Men by a Black man, emerges as a crucible of change. It’s not just a course; it’s an expedition, a voyage of self-exploration and reclamation that defies societal expectations. Duration: 24 minutes.

An insightful documentary about a resilient community coming together to create the first yoga and mindfulness class in Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) Middle Schools. Working collaboratively with staff and administration, yoga instructor Shaka Jamal develops strong relationships with youth who are receiving their first in-school instruction of yoga and mindfulness. Through a challenging school year, students are engaged in a range of mindfulness activities that transform them from mindful learners to mindful leaders. Duration: 64 minutes.

The blues is an earthy, soul-stirring mélange of roots music and personal narratives that became the defining soundtrack of Black America. Wherever Black people settled, that soundtrack took on a local flavor. In Northern California, the influences came from the musicianship of Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, and Oklahoma. Seventh Street in West Oakland supported and bolstered Black people who answered the call of the war effort in the late 1940s. Entrepreneurship created a fully contained community that provided work, homes, and all the necessities of life, including a fully developed music scene. Watch as more than 30 local musicians share their inspiration and describe the trajectory of the Oakland Blues; how it evolved and what it has become. Duration: 90 minutes.