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why we exist
Bay Area Creative provides opportunities for creative expression and the study of the cultural impacts of famous and contemporary works of spoken word poetry that empower individuals to develop empathic communication skills and foster positive change in themselves and their communities. We work predominantly with families of color in under-served neighborhoods in the geographic areas of San Francisco, Oakland, Richmond, Berkeley, Pittsburgh, Hayward, Daly City, Pacifica and San Jose.
We envision a world where people listen courageously, speak thoughtfully and act equitably in times of conflict and in times of joy.
"I want my children to be able to kneel and pray without the weight of a thousand crumbling buildings on their shoulders"
- Deema A 7th Grade
what is slam poetry?
Slam Poetry is a fusion of traditional poetry, hip-hop, story-telling, and theater. Students are given the tools to express emotions, challenge ideas, and educate audiences in a creative way. The performances are interactive and entertaining. Slams (performance poetry competitions) are held at city, regional, and national levels.
services provided
Poet Visits and Residencies: Local professional poets go out to school sites to run writing and performance workshops
After School Clubs: Local professional poets start after school clubs that learn advanced poetry techniques
Camps: Kids get to spend summers working on larger performance projects with other activities integrated
Poetry And Mixed Art Events: Local and youth poets share the stage for a few hours of creativity amplified
Professional Development: Professional poets work with teachers to offer strategies on bringing out student voice
Team Building: Professional poets offer corporate team building workshops to boost morale, inclusion, and teamwork
Therapeutic Arts: Professional poets hold workshops to promote individual and family healing through spoken word
SPARC Ink Anthology: Youth writers and Bay Area Artists have their work published in annual book
Filmmaking: Professional film makers work with students to create short videos based on their poetry
"My soul was born on a playground.
My heart came from the seasaw; it never stops teetering"
Daphne Y 7th Grade
"Imagine women have always been in a box. Imagine the sound of fists against metal walls slowly expanding the cramped space so we can make more room for our girls to escape"
Shelby B & Amanda E 6th Grade
School sites & camps
Elementary Schools
Cabrillo School
Cox
Devon
Melrose Leadership Academy
Ortega
Ocean Shore School
Sunset Ridge
Sunnbrae
Vincent Academy
Vallemar School
West County Mandarin School
WCCUSD Schools
Middle Schools
Anthony Ochoa
Bret Harte
Cesar Chavez
Winton
Martin Luther King
Fischer
Ingrid B. Lacey
Monroe
Summit Schools
High Schools
Black Diamond
Jefferson
Kennedy
Luis Valdez Leadership
Middle College
Sylvester Greenwood Academy
Richmond
Summit Schools
Summer Camps
Camp Achieve
Camp Glide
Camp Pride
Stemulate Academy
Upward Bound
All Ages
The Berkeley Slam
The Oakland Slam
Rich Oak Alchemy Slam
our team
Mike Taylor teaches spoken word to kids of all ages. He has performed on stages from San Francisco to London and he's led national poetry teams in competition. He founded the SPARC Poetry organization and continues to create workshops that connect to the youth from all walks of life.
Mike Taylor
BAC Executive Director
SPARC Poetry Program Director
Teaching Artist
Patrick Ohslund has been a teaching artist and professional spoken word poet for over ten years. He has toured across the nation as well as internationally and has opened for renowned musical groups such as The Wailers. Patrick currently leads spoken word workshops for students ages five to 25, and is a lecturer at San Francisco State University.
Patrick Ohslund
BAC Deputy Director,
Digital Storytellers Program Director
Teaching Artist
Jenna Robinson
Program Director, Director
Teaching Artist
Jenna Robinson a two-time grand slam champion of Hawaii Slam and has performed across the U.S. as a street musician and as a part of 6 national slam poetry teams, taking second place nationally in 2015. She has an MA in Expressive Arts Therapy from the California Institute of Integral Studies and works as a therapist with survivors of domestic violence and their children. She specializes in strengths-based, postmodern and intermodal approaches.
Teaching Artist
Camila Elizabet Aguirre Aguilar is a Xicana womxn, warrior, student, educator, and poet. Camila has slammed since the age of fourteen and competed in the 2017 National Poetry Slam on Team Oakland. For over a decade, she has workshopped performance poetry with underserved youth As a bisexual womxn of color, Camila explores the intersections of power and poetry. Camila currently teaches spoken word workshops in the East Bay
Camila Aguilar
Nazilah Jamison
Teaching Artist
Nazelah Jamison is a performance poet, actor, vocalist, and emcee. She is an East Coast transplant, former organizer of the Oakland Poetry Slam and sometimes reluctant superhero. Her first book of poetry, Evolutionary Heart, was released in Fall of 2016 on Nomadic Press. Nazelah gives the best hugs in the Bay Area.
Kevin (Prophet) Wright
Teaching Artist
Kevin Wright is an MC, Spoken Word Poet and Arts Educator from Richmond, CA. He was a member of the 2016 Oakland Poetry Slam team and is one of the organizers for the Rich Oak Alchemy Open Mic, the Oakland Poetry Slam and the Berkeley Poetry Slam. Kevin was a founding youth advisory council member of the RYSE Center in Richmond where he later taught Spoken Word Poetry.
Jamey Williams is a professional spoken word poet, actor, rapper, and educator. He has taught poetry at a multitude of institutions including: college universities, juvenile detention centers, public schools, and community events. He makes sure that students experience a fun and safe community during his lessons.
Jamey Williams
Teaching Artist
Collin Edmonds
Teaching Artist
Collin Edmonds, is an activist, singer, and poet hailing from Richmond, Ca. He is an organizer of the Rich Oak Alchemy Slam and Oakland Poetry Slam. He enjoys writing poetry, critiquing societal norms, and shattering expectations of black men in America.
His poetry is a reflection of the Hood and the identities it holds within its palms. Collin teaches spoken word, and inspires students to rise above their situations.
Bri Blue
Teaching Artist
Brianni “Bri” Blue is a published author, spoken word artist and motivational speaker from Berkeley, CA. Bri’s passionate and emotionally-charged performances allow her to connect with audiences through empathy, relatability and inspiration. She was the Founder and Host of the weekly “Speak Easy” open mic series, and created the 'Unapologetically You' Awareness Campaign with a mission to uplift and empower women.
Jordan Abronson
Jordan Abronson
Teaching Artist
Jordan Abronsonis a twenty-seven year old bisexual Jewish poet from the mountains of Santa Cruz. His background is in both poetry and theater. He believes in knowing when to hold, knowing when to break, and knowing when to burn. To him poetry is the crack you drive between the walls that keep us apart, and we need this now more than ever. Currently, Jordan leads spoken word workshops for Pacifica youth.
Fortino Vazquez
Teaching Artist
Tino V. H. Jr. is a Mexican-American spoken word poet and organizer born and raised in Oakland, CA. He has performed with the UCSC CUPSI slam team and the Legendary Collective in Santa Cruz. His work explores im/migration, indigeneity, the hood, queerness, feminism, and decolonial frameworks. Tino makes a huge impact in the classroom working with k-12 students teaching spoken word.
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Teaching Artist
Six Footah The Poet
Tasha “Sixfootah ThePoet” Turner is an African American Oakland, CA native, and a lifelong Bay Area resident. Tasha’s poetry is a blend of passion, resilience and bold wordsmithing. On stage she aspires to use her talent and personal story to inspire young girls in her community to embrace their uniqueness and ignore negativity; reminding them that they are not alone in the world.
Jamie DeWolf’s diverse career as a performer and filmmaker has taken him from the lyrical brawls of the National Poetry Slam scene and HBO’s Def Poetry Jam to filming dangerous documentaries in the militarized streets of Kashmir. He’s written and performed with inmates at San Quentin Penitentiary and won “Performance of the Year” by NPR’s Snap Judgment.
Jamie DeWolf
Filmmaker
Teaching Artist
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Jackson McBrayer
Teaching Artist
Raimone "Ghost" Bradford
Teaching Artist
our board
Seana Condit-Gordon
Board Chair
Jamie DeWolf
Board Member
Kiely Corti
Board Member
Mandy Bynum
Board Member
Gloria Tse
Board Member
Marcus Scott
Board Member
Patti Ohslund
Board Member
Kami Taylor
Board Member
our advisors
Katie Whitcraft
Casey Gardner
Charles Ekabumi Elik
Dre Johnson
Jason Bayani
Jonathan Harris
Kaitlyn Lucas
Ken Arkind
Maureen Benson
Mike Ting
Robert Bunce
Tongo Eisen- Marte
Reginald Edmonds
Jamey Williams
our staff
Mike Taylor
Executive Director
Patrick Ohslund
Program Director
Jordan Abronson
Co-Scheduler
Melissa Vo
Advisor
Jordan Wilson-Dalzell
Community Partnerships Manager