EBALDC & Bay Area Mural Program Collab Seeks West Oakland Artists

EBALDC & Bay Area Mural Program Collab Seeks
West Oakland Artists:

On a recent August afternoon, members of East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC)’s Creative Community Development team and the Bay Area Mural Program (BAMP) engaged artists and members of the public interested in learning more about, and providing input on, an exciting public art project at the new Phoenix affordable housing development.

Attendees at the meeting, held at the Women of the Black Panther Party Mural and Mini Museum, learned about the Phoenix, a new 100-unit affordable, permanent supportive housing complex in West Oakland that is being developed by EBALDC together with its partners Allied Housing and Holliday Development. The project recently broke ground and is anticipated to be completed in 2024.

Photo credit: Lowney Architecture

With goals to employ and strengthen the existing network of neighborhood-based artists, prevent cultural displacement, and highlight what is great about the neighborhood, the art project will involve a community-engaged design process incorporating support for emerging artists, and will culminate in at least one large public art piece on a street-facing wall of the Phoenix.

Annie Ledbury, EBALDC’s Associate Director of Creative Community Development said: “EBALDC comes to this project with a long history of working closely with Andre and BAMP on West Oakland-based and community-engaged public art. Art, culture and creativity are critical parts of building healthy neighborhoods, and my team and I are excited about this opportunity to continue our work together with BAMP to produce meaningful, community-engaged public art as well as to support and cultivate emerging local artists dedicated to continuing this work in Oakland.”

Artists working in all media are encouraged to apply by 5pm PST on September 8, 2023 at http://www.bit.ly/Phoenix_RFQ

California Hotel Cornerstone
Gala Sponsor Spotlight:

This week’s Gala sponsor highlight features Oakland employer Amazon, which has come in as a sponsor at the California Hotel Cornerstone level. Amazon focuses its charitable giving on key issues as well as a focus on organizations that build stronger communities through a variety of strategies, including fostering community and investing in education for children and young adults.

Since 2021, Amazon has supported EBALDC’s relocation efforts when a fire forced out residents of Highland Palms and our East Oakland-serving youth programs.

Says Ener Chiu, EBALDC’s Executive VP for Community Development: “More than a quarter of our 4,000 plus residents are youth, and supporting their growth is essential work for EBALDC. When we lost a major source of funding for our Youth Programs last year, Amazon stepped in to ensure that we could continue to provide afterschool care and summer field trips for kids and teens.”

Sally Kay, Amazon at EBALDC’s 47th Annual Gala in 2022

Below is a Q & A with Sally Kay, Regional Head of Public Policy and External Affairs for Amazon:

What brought you into the EBALDC Family?  

In 2020, the disparities in our communities were made much more visible due to the pandemic. In response, Amazon devoted resources to a broader number of communities than ever before. My role became to “find the helpers” here in the Bay Area and identify organizations doing the most good during such a difficult time. I found EBALDC through the advice of many community leaders and quickly learned that their work investing in healthy neighborhoods was core to keeping our communities safe and supported.

What about EBALDC’s work most excites you? 

I am most excited about EBALDC’s work with youth because, it’s true what they say, they are our future. In Oakland, there is a beautiful and special attention given towards investing in our youth. Families, organizations, leaders, neighbors, and employers alike all want to see them thrive. And the data tells the story –100% of the students who were part of EBALDC’s Youth program state, “Because of this program, I am better able to handle problems and challenges as they arise.” These young people will enter the next stage of their life with invaluable resources because of EBALDC.

How does your company’s vision align with EBALDC’s vision of an “East Bay where everyone has a place to call home and the resources to thrive”? 

Amazon has worked to be a good neighbor and trusted partner in many California communities, believing success and scale bring broad responsibility. We use our scale, technology, resources, and passion for invention to support underserved community members. Over the years, we’ve partnered with organizations across the country to build more inclusive, just, and sustainable communities. We are providing access to tech education to underserved students, using our logistics expertise to tackle food insecurity, and helping those affected by natural disasters.

Here in California, I have been inspired by the work of the nonprofits we have invested in, including EBALDC’s vision and mission. Together, they work to address food insecurity, serve students, and their families, work against anti-AAPI hate, encourage community, and promote diverse representation in the arts.

How does EBALDC’s work relate to your work and the transformation you’d like to see in the world?

If there was one transformation I would wish for the world, it would be more connection to our neighbor. We learned first-hand during the pandemic that isolation inhibits our ability to thrive and that we need each other. There is so much potential for repairing violence caused by differing beliefs if we knew just how much common ground we share. EBALDC works every day to encourage these types of interactions and expression through community and resident engagement.

Learn more about Amazon and their work here!