<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Bay Area Creative]]></title><description><![CDATA[Empowering local poets to positively affect the world one classroom at a time.]]></description><link>https://www.bayareacreative.org/positiveforceforchange</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Sat, 06 Jun 2026 18:58:51 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.bayareacreative.org/es/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Artist Spotlight: Cocoa Keys]]></title><description><![CDATA[“Music is such a strong force of light and goodness. I want to share it with as many people as possible.” Cocoa Keys Devon White and Olivia Carrington, also known as Cocoa Keys, met at San Francisco's The Battery, where they went from hostesses to the main event. They've been performing throughout the Bay Area ever since, and became teaching artists to spread their music even further.  Both women grew up in environments abundant with music and musicians. Olivia's father religiously played...]]></description><link>https://www.bayareacreative.org/post/bay-area-artist-spotlight-cocoa-keys</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a0f3b7c3f38f601fd93122a</guid><pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 17:15:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/da9616_f7e6913465ce4102835cdb4bc80561ac~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Arianna Pogue</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Artist Spotlight: Sixfootah the Poet]]></title><description><![CDATA[“You have to be willing to be outspoken because whatever you're talking about, you might be speaking life into someone else.” -Sixfootah the Poet _________________________________________ Inspired by Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” in the fifth grade, Sixfootah the Poet writes poetry with the intent to inspire the children she teaches and the crowds she performs for. Her role as a Teaching Artist for Bay Area Creative gives her the opportunity to do so.  Born and raised in Oakland, CA–...]]></description><link>https://www.bayareacreative.org/post/youth-poetry-sixfootah-the-poet</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69cc320ec69c7f7284376628</guid><pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 21:05:14 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/da9616_7da31e233e9c4ce9a601db79098dd076~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_565,h_747,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Arianna Pogue</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Artist Spotlight: Jaz Sufi]]></title><description><![CDATA[“Poetry doesn’t have to be boring on the page. Poetry can be living and present on the stage.” -Jaz Sufi At seventeen years old, Jaz began her career in the poetry scene through discovering slam poetry for the first time at the Berkeley Poetry Slam. Much like others that attended public school, she originally viewed poetry as inaccessible and boring until she witnessed the power it could possess. What truly captivated her was the addressing of urgent and real-world issues that have plagued...]]></description><link>https://www.bayareacreative.org/post/artist-spotlight-jaz-sufi</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69bc487006e9acd4d41c4d53</guid><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 19:23:01 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/da9616_76ded236c7cf456fa8f01877a6db5137~mv2.avif/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Arianna Pogue</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Feb 15th, Alameda Arts Fair &#38; Words In Motion Show!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Date: Sunday Feb 15th Time: 2:00pm to 5:00pm Location: Trinity Lutheran 1323 Central Ave Alameda, CA 94501 RSVP HERE Free and open to all ages, Words ‘N Motion Community Arts Fair is an event dedicated to creating art and celebrating creativity. It will feature a range of workshops, including those focused on dance, poetry, and visual arts. Food will also be available, along with interactive booths that encourage everyone’s inner artist to shine! The fair will close with the Words ‘N Motion...]]></description><link>https://www.bayareacreative.org/post/feb-15th-alameda-arts-fair-words-in-motion-show</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6984ee960b2d097f708e5317</guid><pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:33:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed02ba_f9c15a48736f4fa1bebe0351247d3e16~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Bay Area Creative</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Healing Power of Slam: Using Poetry to Build Community]]></title><description><![CDATA[" We want to focus on how someone has been able to continue living even though they’ve experienced so much pain.” - Jenna Robinson, director of Bay Area Creative's Revisions Whether we are aware of it or not, every one of us is a performer. We stand straight and paint a suitable mask for our professional lives, then another for our social circle, which we trade for a different face in our domestic worlds, only able to drop all props and costume when we are completely, truly alone. In truth,...]]></description><link>https://www.bayareacreative.org/post/the-healing-power-of-slam-using-poetry-to-build-community</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6976b4976e1e6fddb81786c4</guid><pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:01:40 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/74e997_491b379b903649a9ad5fc222cccade0c~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_740,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Asha Dua</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Artist Spotlight: Camila Aguilar]]></title><description><![CDATA[“Poetry is like my little corner of the universe.” - Camila Aguilar For Bay Area Creative teaching artist Camila Aguirre Aguilar, spoken word is more than an act of expression. “Poetry is like my little corner of the universe,” she explains. As a poet, performer, and teacher, her journey with writing dives deeper than words on a page; it is a bridge to salvation and community. Sacramento-born and raised in Vista, Aguirre Aguilar’s upbringing was wrapped in the lyricism of music and word....]]></description><link>https://www.bayareacreative.org/post/teaching-artist-spotlight-camila-aguilar</link><guid isPermaLink="false">694332e57639ba768f0bd789</guid><pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2025 16:00:37 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/74e997_9745c01e64354bc3abcff0f657d12706~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Asha Dua</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Positive Force for Change Benefit]]></title><description><![CDATA[June 7th, 2026 What truly defines a change maker? Though some are recognized by name or popularity, real change begins with the drive to create better experiences for our communities, homes, and lives beyond our own. It grows from the desire for a better future, no matter who is watching. Hosted by Bay Area Creative, our annual Positive Force for Change Benefit seeks to honor local changemakers who model this leadership.  In addition to our change maker awards ceremony, this event will...]]></description><link>https://www.bayareacreative.org/post/positive-force-for-change-benefit-nonprofit-fundraiser</link><guid isPermaLink="false">693b130d3aa9eb11ebb10c76</guid><pubDate>Thu, 11 Dec 2025 19:49:59 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/74e997_14f17598cbd34f9184a94aa6249eaf47~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Bay Area Creative</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sustainable Arts Funding: The Fight to Create]]></title><description><![CDATA[In a polarized political and social climate, practices that ground and feed the soul are more necessary than ever. Often, we turn to creation as a form of salvation and solace. Whether it be writing, dancing, music, or painting, art helps remind us that we are capable of cultivating softness amidst the harsh headlines that flash across our screens each day. But what happens when access to these practices is also attacked? The unfortunate redistribution of federal funds continues to drain arts...]]></description><link>https://www.bayareacreative.org/post/sustainable-arts-funding-the-fight-to-create</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6938a010122b31d338b5280e</guid><pubDate>Wed, 10 Dec 2025 04:21:57 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/74e997_7891660427d141aba36da912f453202f~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Asha Dua</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Artist Spotlight: Jamar "Jammer" Welch]]></title><description><![CDATA["[Be] prideful for who we are. The style. The rhythm. The creativity that is in us." - Jammer We often consider the limelight a commander of the artist, a power that grants voice to performance, glimmering with the chance of being seen. There are, however, a few who flip the relationship between shine and artist by beckoning the light itself; Bay Area Creative’s Jamar “Jammer” is one of those few. Stages, rehearsals, performances, and a red curtain; the world of theatrics has followed Jamar...]]></description><link>https://www.bayareacreative.org/post/teaching-artist-spotlight-jamar-jammer-welch</link><guid isPermaLink="false">690bc25f10581b7a365ed960</guid><pubDate>Fri, 14 Nov 2025 18:58:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/74e997_fe608dd4391643979748cee8e3c5f974~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Asha Dua</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Cost of Culture and Selling Out: Artists and Gentrification]]></title><description><![CDATA[Normadic Julien via unsplash.com If you were to ask any long-time Bay Area residents about the history of their city, they would more than likely tell you a story about community and art. From San Francisco’s vibrantly colored neighborhoods that line the hills, to the blooming murals that decorate every side of Oakland, to Berkeley’s numerous museums that feature both local and international talent, the Bay Area is a hotspot for creative expression. This is also particularly true for...]]></description><link>https://www.bayareacreative.org/post/the-cost-of-culture-and-selling-out-artists-and-gentrification</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69003b7f0b31cbff20fd038c</guid><pubDate>Thu, 30 Oct 2025 00:52:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/74e997_f34b947ed9cc4d15a1dae0141b3f93c4~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Asha Dua</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Artist Spotlight: Naliyah "Nai Thaillnai" Williams]]></title><description><![CDATA["Anyone can do a move, but you have to make it yours." - Nai Thaillnai Meet Naliyah Williams, also known as “Nai Thaillnai (The-ILL-Nye)”. One of Bay Area Creative’s own teaching artists, she is captivating in ways beyond the dancing she is known for; lying beneath the surface of motion, a mosiac of different art practices power her each move. Alabama-born and raised in Oakland, California, Thaillnai has always been a dancer at heart; in her own words, “I have been dancing for as long as I...]]></description><link>https://www.bayareacreative.org/post/teaching-artist-spotlight-naliyah-nai-thaillnai-williams</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68f2f1f16bef380dfdc89c11</guid><pubDate>Sat, 18 Oct 2025 03:29:16 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/74e997_6ef3a2672f12435aa2ca03c2c07b9406~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Asha Dua</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Words 'N Motion: Community, Art, &#38; the Glue that Holds it Together]]></title><description><![CDATA[RSVP Here. The magic of creation lies in the mysterious force that drives one to dance, paint, write, speak, or manifest art in any form it begs to take. While each act of creation, no matter how minor, is worthy of personal satisfaction, the celebration of art as a whole would be nothing without community. Free and open to all ages, our Words ‘N Motion Community Arts Fair is an event dedicated to sharing art and keeping it alive. It will feature a range of workshops, including those focused...]]></description><link>https://www.bayareacreative.org/post/words-n-motion-community-art-the-glue-that-holds-it-together</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68f2921367805a6f93ec5b4c</guid><pubDate>Fri, 17 Oct 2025 19:00:59 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/74e997_fd3d460dbe2b453ca9233a7e31760201~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Bay Area Creative</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[re.verb: echoes in motion, stories on stage]]></title><description><![CDATA[Get Tickets Here re.verb: echoes in motion, stories on stage Thursday, May 22, 2025 The Continental Club 1658 12th St, Oakland Networking...]]></description><link>https://www.bayareacreative.org/post/re-verb-echoes-in-motion-stories-on-stage</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6806a7f127df0721601bf827</guid><pubDate>Mon, 05 May 2025 21:31:44 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed02ba_8985d5296e8040e5a33d072b76da3ccb~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Bay Area Creative</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hip Hop as Protest: Movement, Meaning, and Resistance]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hip-hop culture extends beyond individual artistic expression; it is a powerful movement shaped by years of social and political struggles that fueled its revolutionary evolution. In particular, hip-hop serves as a platform for social commentary, often addressing controversial issues such as inequality and injustice. Although Hip-Hop broadly includes dance, rap, DJing, and Graffiti, this article will focus on the Rap and Dance aspects. While dance can be a means of peaceful protest,...]]></description><link>https://www.bayareacreative.org/post/culture-hip-hop-as-protest-movement-meaning-and-resistance</link><guid isPermaLink="false">680fb5854c73a3d9ea348c3f</guid><pubDate>Wed, 30 Apr 2025 14:00:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed02ba_cc1c076da6cd487fb4006bf0f8bca189~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_374,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Bay Area Creative</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Artist of the Week: Arthur Gardner aka "Dopey Fresh"]]></title><description><![CDATA[“In my time. In my generation, I felt like the creativity was super high. At its highest form.”-Arthur Gardner Arthur “Dopey Fresh”...]]></description><link>https://www.bayareacreative.org/post/artist-of-the-week-arthur-gardner-aka-dopey-fresh</link><guid isPermaLink="false">680fb1fe7302aaa8bd8e82cf</guid><pubDate>Mon, 28 Apr 2025 17:03:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed02ba_002081f217fc4a44ad02d02c37fcc621~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_950,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Bay Area Creative</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Positive Force For Change: Poetry, Dance, and Community Change Makers]]></title><description><![CDATA[Date: Sunday October 27th  Time:  1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Location:   The Ground Floor located at 455 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94103 Get...]]></description><link>https://www.bayareacreative.org/post/positiveforceforchange</link><guid isPermaLink="false">66a15925bd07a256cd836104</guid><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jul 2024 19:49:26 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed02ba_1a1e81f618ca420e84e767be924b0e81~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_625,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Bay Area Creative</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Thank you Alameda County Arts Commission for Supporting Arts during and after the COVID19 Pandemic.]]></title><description><![CDATA[To our community, This is a week of gratitude where Bay Area Creative would like to show appreciation to our generous funders! Bay Area...]]></description><link>https://www.bayareacreative.org/post/thank-you-alameda-county-arts-commission-for-supporting-arts-during-and-after-the-covid19-pandemic</link><guid isPermaLink="false">650087c5a8000fb1c5b54c37</guid><pubDate>Tue, 12 Sep 2023 16:01:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed02ba_ddf70ac570c048ee9410c56fc3b8f811~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Bay Area Creative</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Thank you California Arts Council for Supporting Creative Arts Programs in Bay Area Communities]]></title><description><![CDATA[To our community, This is a week of gratitude where Bay Area Creative would like to show appreciation to our generous funders! Bay Area...]]></description><link>https://www.bayareacreative.org/post/thank-you-california-arts-council-for-supporting-creative-arts-programs-in-bay-area-communities</link><guid isPermaLink="false">64ff33b6fc8c1a653a34748f</guid><pubDate>Mon, 11 Sep 2023 17:31:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed02ba_0b017fab8cb34d7da64a843013b8399b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Bay Area Creative</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Light The Mic @ The RYSE Center]]></title><description><![CDATA[Light the Mic is a youth performance event to celebrate courageous youth voices, their revolutionary creativity and the communities that...]]></description><link>https://www.bayareacreative.org/post/light-the-mic-the-ryse-center</link><guid isPermaLink="false">63e2e106097bbe2eab372e2c</guid><pubDate>Tue, 07 Feb 2023 23:41:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed02ba_f5204d94b4614935b8734aa3d0d0ee1b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Bay Area Creative</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Land Acknowledgement ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Bay Area Creative acknowledges that the land where we provide our services was previously stewarded by the Tamien Nation, Ramaytush...]]></description><link>https://www.bayareacreative.org/post/land-acknowledgement</link><guid isPermaLink="false">637f963cdc05f5889f23f268</guid><pubDate>Thu, 24 Nov 2022 16:05:41 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Bay Area Creative</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>