Yeah, Art!
In 2020, a group of friends and I combined superpowers and formed Yeah, Art!, an Oakland-based 501(c)3 making arts education more equitable.
I lead creative and communications for our nonprofit. Rachel Ngun and I established the look and voice of our brand, which has gotten our org through many exciting doors in our short amount of time in operation.
To date, I’ve helped Yeah, Art! secure over $350,000 in grants and private funding; attracted corporate support from partners like Microsoft, Nickelodeon, NBC, Kaiser Permanente and The Golden State Warriors; and assembled our all-star advisory board.
This is part of my ongoing commitment to make the future of media arts more diverse. Please check out our website for the full story on our org and how to get involved.
Yeah, Art! values
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Whitney Houston said it right. “We believe the children are our future.” As Big Kids, we want to work for our students one day. So we encourage #boss behavior, building the next generation of Chiefs, Presidents and Executive Creative Directors to lead with radical empathy.
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There's a reason crayons come in packs. The range of shades, experiences, orientations and abilities is what makes a piece of art beautiful. At Yeah, Art!, we don’t create with just one color. We showcase the full spectrum of our staff and students, celebrating what makes each of us uniquely spectacular.
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Find out what it means to us! We think the Queen of Soul would agree with our Golden Rule: Treat others as we wish to be treated. We listen with open minds and hearts. We welcome alternative points of view. We leave space for healthy debate, accepting we’re not always going to agree and why that’s important.
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The sky isn’t the limit — it’s just the beginning. Notice how our logo is shaped kind of like a cloud? That’s a self-reminder to aim high. We hold the highest standard for our staff, students and teaching environments. We nurture brave imaginations, encouraging young creatives to dream bigger.
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A mark of a great choir is their ability to blend into one voice. But what’s even more beautiful is the distinct individual voices that make up that blend. At Yeah, Art!, we embrace contrast. We encourage young artists to be loud and proud in their own culture expression. Save the blending for the watercolors.
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In the words of Erykah Badu, “We’re artists and we’re sensitive about our STUFF!” Even some of the *fiercest* creatives in history have alter egos to get over the fear of sharing their art. We build young artists up to be bolder in their own creative expression, fostering self esteem that carries to all aspects of life.
DREAM TEAM
Creative Technologist: Ruby Lambie; Art Director/Designer: Rachel Ngun; Animator: Jessica Wyatt; Photographer: Darius Riley; Co-Founders: Ja Ronn Thompson, Mike Blankenship, C.j. Johnson, Angel Adedokun.