Elevate Oakland

Building bridges between community schools 🤝🌱
As an organization dedicated to strengthening arts access across the full continuum of a child’s educational experience, we’ve been investing deeply in building relationships between elementary, middle, and high school arts programs within the same Oakland neighborhoods.

Earlier this month, we facilitated a field trip where students from the band program visited neighboring elementary school to perform for 5th graders and share about their experiences in the Elmhurst music program.

With support from Elmhurst music teacher Deario Austin, Elmhurst students stepped into the role of community leaders—speaking about how participating in music has positively shaped their school experience, answering questions from incoming students, and even giving 5th graders a chance to try out instruments themselves.

We’re so proud of our Elmhurst students and look forward to welcoming rising 6th graders from Reach Academy in the fall 💗

🌻🎉 SPRING CELEBRATIONS 🎉🌻 The sun is shining and communities across Oakland are celebrating the end of a memorable school year for our youth, families and educators and all the accomplishments that come with it.

We are grateful to have partnered with to capture last month’s Block Party at the East Oakland Vocal Festival—a community-centered, family friendly celebration of the spirit of Deep East Oakland. Thank you to the team at for leading the charge and to our many community partners for making this event possible 🫶 It was such a special way to usher in the spring season and celebrate the accomplishments of our youth and community.

We love these photos captured by student documentarians and program youth who have been receiving free media training from professionals through YouthBeat’s digital pathways program. We’re thankful for ’s work developing art and media skills for Oakland youth!

The spirit of a community, the voice of a new generation 🎶🫶 We are still basking in joy that was last Thursday’s 4th Annual East Oakland Vical Festival & Block Party. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to all who came, contributed, supported our youth and made the day as special as humanly possible. We are SO incredibly proud of our student performers, who exhibited their artistry and musical excellence like never before.

Sharing some of our favorite moments from the event:
1 - Kindergarten choir show opener
2 - special appearance
3 - soloist Bryston White-Smith
4 - gospel medley number
5 - Block Party magic
6 - superstar live band featuring former OUSD educators
7 - 5th grade solosits
8 - quartet backing up our all-student songs
9 - Phil Rydeen special recognition
10 - drama students knocking it out of the park
11 - Vocal Fest debut!
12 - free meals for families and attendees
13 - soloists for all-student song “Back to Life”
14 - show dedication & memorial for Dr. Marvin Boomer Jr.
15 - Block Party sounds by student
16 - performing J. Biebs “Sorry” (crowd favorite!)

📸 performance photos by Aza Garcia // block party photos by Isaac Wolfe

More recaps soon! Sign up for our news letter to be the first to see them 🔎 Link in bio!

TODAY IS THE DAY 📣 Pull up for East Oakland community! The 4th Annual East Oakland Vocal Festival & Block Party kicks off at 4:30pm at 🏰🎶🎤
Swipe for some answers to your burning questions (including where to park!)

See you there 😎

THIS THURSDAY 🎈🎶🎊 Join us and a whole community of incredible folks and organizations at the East Oakland Vocal Fest & Block Party. Check out some of our featured Block Party & Performance partners (more TBA!):

(event co-host)









& meet our show host ✨

Thursday, April 30th 4:30pm-8pm
Castlemont HS - 8601 MacArthur Blvd. Oakland, CA
FREE with RSVP (link in bio!)

A Message From Our Youth 🎤📣 - We're just one week away from the 4th Annual East Oakland Vocal Festival & Block Party--happening on Thursday, April 30th at Castlemont High School! Show up to support the more than 150 OUSD youth who have been working hard to prepare for an unforgettable, joy-filled performance. https://mailchi.mp/elevateoakland/vocal-fest-reminder

Volunteer with us! We’re looking for a couple extra hands to help make next Thursday’s event a success. We have a variety of ways to get involved, from front-facing roles to behind-the-scenes work.

It takes a village 🏘️🤝 Tap the link in bio to sign up for a volunteer role… someone from our team will be in touch!

When: Thursday, April 30th
Time: Roles ranging from 4pm - 9pm
Location: Castlemont High School • 8601 MacArthur Blvd. Oakland, CA