a community filled with bright artists and beautiful stories! 

Art Stars creates arts-based programming that nurtures the creativity and cultural histories of young people from refugee, asylee, and low-income immigrant communities in Oakland, California. At the same time, we facilitate paid leadership opportunities for newcomer high school students from Oakland International High School who will collaborate with us as “Young Teacher Artists” (YTAs).

Art Stars was developed with feedback from Refugee Transitions, the only local organization whose mission is to provide education, family engagement, and community leadership services to help newcomers improve their English, career, life, and academic skills so they can be self-sufficient and successful in their new communities. Lead organizer Jackie Katz has been creatively collaborating with Refugee Transitions (RT) since August 2016, and co-organizer River Black has volunteered with RT since January 2017. Nicole Germanov, RT’s Program and Volunteer Manager, will serve as consultant as Art Stars develops original programming to address the artistic needs of local newcomer youth.

Art Stars is partnering with Oakland International High School to recruit Young Teaching Artists (YTAs).  OIHS Students are English language learners, most of whom immigrated to the U.S. in the last four years. We will provide mentorship to the YTAs, who will in turn mentor the younger participants. A structured orientation for the YTAs will include sessions on lesson plan creation, qualities of good mentorship, portfolio building, resume writing, and more.