We are grateful to those who attended Attitudinal Healing Connection's second celebration of 25 years of "Loving the Community", One Love: Dining with the Artists, at Kingston 11 earlier this month. It was a beautiful recognition of the local artists, employed by AHC to work in the classroom with Bay Area youth.

We would like to thank Kingston 11 for their support of our work and their great service to the community, providing consistent high quality and delicious blends of Jamaican and Californian cuisines.

If you weren't able to make it, below is a sample of what you missed!
It was an elegant evening showcasing the talents and creations of ArtEsteem Visual Art Instructors and the unique "songversations" of Cultural Artists, Piwai from Zimbabwe and Nasambu from Kenya. The warm and social atmosphere cultivated a rich exchange of ideas and place making for breaking bread together. 

The visual artists; Daniel Panko, Anthony Hall, Justin Metoyer Mullon, Keena Romano, Amana Harris, Madeline Music and Erica Wheeler-Dubin, spoke about their art pieces on display as well as the work they are doing in the classroom. They discussed the importance of community investment in art, how their student projects relate to the youth's lives, relationship building through mindfulness, emotional literacy and consistency, sources of inspiration, specific art techniques and forms, creativity as the essence of healing, lessons learned from and by the students, and much more. 

 

 


 
During the event, protesters passed by in the background, displaying signs that read, "black lives matter". In the midst of violence and outcries against police brutality, it is critical to continue providing positive avenues for young people at risk of violence to create a better world for ourselves and future generations. This event held to that message, emphasizing that young lives matter and through the power of art, as a tool and vehicle to uplift and transform the human spirit, great change can, will and must happen.  

 

 




The African philosophy of Ubuntu holds that "I am because we are", meaning that we are all connected. We cannot be ourselves without community and an individual's well being is intertwined to the well being of others.

We are so proud of this group of artists, working towards bettering the lives of young people, engaging them in critical dialogue and developing their inner artist to relay ideas, visions and life experiences through non-traditional approaches.


Be sure to see the art exhibit up at Kingston 11 until February 11th! Remember that the essence of our being is love. 

 

 

Upcoming Events

 

Black History Month Special @ The New Parkway Theater

 

 

Sunday February 15, 2015 from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM PST

 

You're invited to another Attitudinal Healing Connection celebration of 25 years of serving the Oakland community, and this time it's the screening of Belle at the New Parkway Theater! It's a Sunday afternoon, post Valentine's Day and in the heart of Black History Month, to immerse yourself in a love story engulfed in race and class politics and then discuss your experience over light refreshments. Bring your friends and family to the movies with the AHC family!

 

Discussion following the screening will take place at Attitudinal Healing Connection, located only 5 minutes away from the New Parkway Theater at 3278 West St. Oakland, CA 94608. Tea and cookies provided to you by Numi Tea and Bakesale Betty.

 

Hope to see you there!