🎬 Alumni Spotlight: Sophia Hawkins 🎬 Sophia attended Sundance, connecting with BIPOC filmmakers & seeing Deaf President Now! 🎥 She left inspired by film’s power to drive change. Next time, she hopes to return as a filmmaker! 👏✨ #YouthBeatAlumni #Sundance #Filmmaking

Castlemont Cheer brought the energy at yesterday’s Youth Entrepreneurial Summit! 🔥📣 #CastlemontHigh #CheerSquad #YouthSummit #OaklandYouth #YouthBeat

1/2 🚀 Energy was HIGH at the Youth Entrepreneurship Summit at Castlemont today! Performances from the Castlemont Cheer Squad & @Stunnaman02 got the crowd hype! Students played icebreakers & pitched business ideas before exploring paid summer internships. 👏💼🎤

Black History is more than a month—it’s a legacy of creativity, resilience, and innovation. 🎥✨ We celebrate the powerful voices shaping our communities and inspiring the next generation of storytellers. #BlackHistoryMonth #OurStoriesMatter #YouthBeat

🎬 Meet Osiris Harden, a filmmaker from East Oakland! With a BA in Film Studies & industry experience with Sacramento State & the SF Giants, he’s helping YouthBeat students develop their creative voices & bring ideas to life. Fun fact: He used to make music! 🎶 #YouthBeat

🎬✨ At YouthBeat, we offer media training programs that help students bring their creativity to life! From animation to filmmaking, we provide hands-on industry experience to the next generation of storytellers. 📽️ Ready to create? Join us

📢 Join YouthBeat at the BACR Open House & Provider's Fair! 🎬✨ We're tabling tomorrow at The Bridge Yard from 12-2 PM! Come connect, explore resources, and learn how we empower young creatives in Oakland. See you there! 🙌🎥 #YouthBeat #BACR #Oakland

🌟 Parents like Quixote Atkins, father of Cody (Future Filmmakers 1 & Animators 1), remind us why YouthBeat matters. With their support, we're empowering young creatives to dream big and tell their stories. Together, we’re building brighter futures! 🎥 #YouthBeat #EmpoweringYouth

🎥✨ Our Future Filmmakers II students, Victoria & Will, teamed up with YB Pro, Spencer (alum), & Filo (Teaching Artist) to work on Black Joy Parade's Icons Among Us series w/ Comcast & NBC Bay Area. Celebrate Black excellence on Feb 23, 2025, at the Black Joy Parade! 🖤🎉

Mentorship builds the future. This #MentorAwarenessMonth, we spotlight former staff member Josh Park, who reminds us we stand on the shoulders of those before us. At YouthBeat, we’re proud to empower the next generation to do the same. #YouthBeatMentors #FutureLeaders

Kongtae, a senior in Future Filmmakers 2, tackles Nitric Oxide abuse in his latest PSA. Misuse of this compound poses serious risks. Through creativity, YouthBeat students raise awareness & inspire change. Stay tuned! 🎥💡 #YouthBeat #PSA #NitricOxideAwareness #OaklandYouth

🌟 Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 🌟 His vision of justice & equality inspires us to empower youth through storytelling. At YouthBeat, we continue his dream by fostering creativity & building stronger communities. 💡 “What are you doing for others?” – MLK

🎥 New PSA Alert! Future Filmmaker Amelia’s short film "Desperation" 🌟 With nearly 1 in 5 teens globally experiencing mental health challenges, Amelia’s work inspires action. Watch & share! #YouthBeat #MentalHealth

It’s National Mentoring Month! 🎉 Shoutout to Kevin, one of our amazing Teaching Artists, who’s empowering young creatives to unlock their potential through mentorship. 🌟 Tag a mentor who’s inspired you or someone you’re proud to mentor!

🎨✨ Creativity in motion at Street Academy! In Riley's Animation class, every day starts with a Drawing of the Day to spark imagination. This week, students used legos & clay to create stop-motion short movies—learning hands-on skills to bring their stories to life! 🎥💡

🎉 Welcome back, OUSD! It’s the first day of programming, and we’re so excited to kick off the spring semester! 🌟 Wishing all students, teachers, and staff an amazing school year filled with creativity, growth, and success. Let’s make it great together! 🎥💪

Farewell to two amazing Teaching Artists: Emad Yafai & Josh Park. Emad rocked Future Filmmakers II for 3 yrs, & Josh, with us for 1 yr, earned funding for his long-form project. We'll miss them dearly but wish them all the best on their next adventures! 🎥💛 #YouthBeat

🎥✨ Last night’s YouthBeat Winter Showcase was amazing! Families explored our studio, snapped fun photos, & watched incredible videos by our Future Filmmakers & Animators. A night full of love, creativity, & inspiration! 💡❤️ #YouthBeatShowcase #OaklandYouth #CreativityInAction

🎥✨ Our Animation 1, 2, & 3 students have been hard at work this semester, and tonight’s showcase is their time to shine! 🎨 From stop-motion to digital magic, these projects are 🔥. Stay tuned for highlights – you won’t want to miss this creativity! 🎉

📸 Students in our Life Academy Photography class, led by Meru & Girls Inc., tested pinhole cameras they made, learned the science behind them, & captured fun moments with digital cameras. A perfect mix of creativity & learning! 🌟 #YouthBeat #Photography #GirlsInc