DESTINY ARTS CENTER
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Mission Statement
Destiny Arts Center (Destiny) inspires and ignites social change through the arts, connecting majority BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) youth with hip hop dance, traditional African dance, theatre, capoeira, and martial arts classes taught by professional artists who are primarily people of color.
About This Cause
Founded in 1988 by two martial artists who were, shortly after, joined by a professional dancer, Destiny Arts Center (Destiny)’s mission is to inspire and ignite social change through the arts. Destiny Arts Center was envisioned as a space for young people to become more peaceful, powerful, and creative. We engage Oakland and East Bay youth via hip hop dance, traditional African dance, theatre, capoeira, and martial arts classes taught by professional artists who are primarily people of color. Anchored by our Warrior’s Code values (love, honor, respect, responsibility, and peace), Destiny teaching artists establish a classroom culture of welcome to support young people’s sense of safety and connection in all of our programs. In a typical year, Destiny serves over 4,000 youth ages 3-18 through school and community partnerships, our North Oakland center-based classes, including our teen dance company Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company (DAYPC), and our middle school-aged youth company Destiny Junior Company (DJC). Centering BIPOC and low-income youth residing in or originally from Oakland, we partner with over 40 school and community sites. At our Center, we serve 400+ students–primarily youth of color. Our combined programs reach 20,000 audience members annually. Our school programs are free-of-charge to participants, and center-based classes are offered on a pay-what-you-can basis. Our founding purpose is to be a safe place for children and young people affected by violence. Many of our partnerships are with Title I schools in East and West Oakland and exist within the top 10 “most stressed” Oakland police beats as measured in violence or risk of violence, according to the Urban Strategies Council. We are committed to serving youth and families who experience social barriers to physical, mental, and emotional well-being. By attending culturally affirming movement arts classes, Destiny youth build caring relationships with adults who understand their experiences, while telling their stories, expressing their creativity and building their sense of belonging.