Community

Youth Spirit Artworks Recruits Charles Blackwell

Published

8 years ago

August 1, 2018

By Charles Blackwell

Alan Laird who once operated Expressions Art Gallery in downtown Oakland, and would also visit inmates on death row at San Quinten Prison in Marin County, had returned to Oakland for a visit from Miami. He requested me to go with him to Youth Spirit Artworks on Alcatraz in Berkeley. Alan had worked on some art projects in the past and introduced me to Sally, the director and Victor Hindman. After a few minutes of conversation with Victor, Alan and I were asked to conduct a session with the youth. We both agreed.

About 25-30 young people attended. Alan and I spoke about life. Not trying to paint a pretty picture, but being real with them. We went from A-Z, prison, politics, love, God, and life’s struggles. They were seriously listening, even telling us, “this isn’t the classroom at school, this is real.” Alan suggested I do a couple of poems and I did. Then towards the end some of the youth presented poems.

A few months later, Sally contacted me and the next thing I knew, I was recruited to conduct writing workshops at the agency. Soon I was doing writing workshops with young adults, homeless youth, and high school students. I was stunned to find out how many young people are homeless. One night Angel Perez, the art instructor, and I went to a shelter in Berkeley, trying to locate one of our clients. It was alarming the number of homeless people there.
One extremely gifted writer, Enera Wilson, who is homeless, writes:

CHARLES
It’s bizarre to believe,
that a man who could not see,
cleared my vision.
This man opened my eyes,
and allowed me to see things in a
different light.
Before encountering this young sanctuary
filled with much spirit and many works of
art,
I was deathly afraid of expressing the twisted
thoughts that came to me.
it’s unbelievable to think that a man who
cannot see,
allowed me to realize,
That I was talented beyond what I had ever
Imagined about myself.
I am thankful for the gift that he bestowed
Upon me.
I give thanks to the man whose name is
Charles.

At YSAW, I use creative writing to confront and convict some of the thoughts which youth today embrace. Its all in an attempt to create the looking glass self. We write about violence, fear, forgiveness, anger, hope, racial hatred, color and love. To move them away from the self-centered world to seeing others, with a concern for various issues; other than self.

After a writing exercise, we have discussions, sometimes provoking them to participate. No matter how intense the discussion, there’s always a note of comedy with Jason Powel Smith and his fried chicken poems:

I saw fried chicken
In somebody’s office And I went past Somebody offer
And I was like ummmmmm!
I always love me that
Friend Chicken

I’ve conducted writing workshops in prisons and I’ve worked with youth before. I can be very hard line, but this is different. Sometimes these youth really hit my heart. Some stories are about horrible situations with parents, family or circumstances they have no control over. Probably the best way to explain the impact of the YSAW Writing Workshop, maybe summed up in a poem unexpectedly presented in a workshop by Elias Gutierrez:

Crash! The thunder booms in the raging
wind blows me back as I am rushing
back at midnight. Phone dead, no money,
no food, no protection from the rain.
I pray, someone, anyone will let me in.
How can this world be so cold as to
take everything I was, am, and will be,
my future and my history away from
me. As I feel the freeze from my
bones and my fingertips, you cannot see
my tears through the bullet like rain
almost piercing my skin. I am not here
anymore, I do not exist.

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Oakland Post: Week of September 30 – October 6, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of September 30 – October 6, 2026

Published

14 minutes ago

October 4, 2026

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Asm. Corey Jackson Announces Launch of 24-Hour Childcare in His District

Assemblymember Corey Jackson has secured $2 million in state funding for a proposed childcare special district in Moreno Valley and Perris. This funding aims to establish a system providing 24-hour, seven-day-a-week childcare, which would be California’s first special district focused solely on childcare. The initiative seeks to address the area’s designation as a “childcare desert” and high costs for working families. The funding will cover startup, planning, and formation costs for the district. Read more about the specifics of this groundbreaking initiative.

Published

7 days ago

September 28, 2026

Post News Group

Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley). File photo.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley) has secured $2 million in state funding to launch a proposed childcare special district serving families in Moreno Valley and Perris, paving the way for a system designed to provide childcare 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Moreno Valley-Perris Childcare Special District would be the first special district in California focused specifically on childcare, according to Jackson’s office. The state funding will cover startup, planning, and formation costs and help the district meet requirements set by the Riverside Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCO.

The proposed district would coordinate a mixed-delivery childcare system that could include home-based and center-based care. The goal is to provide universal childcare for families who work overnight, early morning, or other nontraditional shifts.

Jackson’s office says Moreno Valley is a certified “childcare desert,” with licensed childcare spaces available for only 15% of children with working parents. Infant care in Moreno Valley averages $2,776 a month, or about 35.7% of median household income. In Perris, licensed infant care can cost more than 60% of an individual worker’s gross median earnings, according to the assemblymember’s office.

“Securing this $2 million in startup funding is a monumental victory for the working-class families of Moreno Valley and Perris who have been trapped in a childcare desert for far too long,” Jackson said.

The proposal follows Jackson’s unsuccessful effort to establish the district through Assembly Bill 2083. The legislation would have created the district as a dependent special district covering Moreno Valley, Perris and their spheres of influence, with Riverside LAFCO responsible for reviewing its formation and boundaries.

The new funding allows the district’s formation to move forward without requiring mandatory contributions from local school districts and other stakeholders, according to Jackson’s office. His spokesperson, Daniel Peeden, said Jackson hopes the district can be operating by 2028.

The proposal has faced questions from some local officials. Moreno Valley City Councilmember Ed Delgado, who is running against Jackson for the 60th Assembly District seat, said he supports affordable childcare but questioned how the proposed district would operate and how much it would ultimately cost.

“Basically, he didn’t have a plan. We didn’t see a plan,” Delgado said, adding that officials had questions about operating costs, insurance and eligibility.

“It’s going to take a lot more than $2 million to create a special district to provide affordable childcare,” Delgado said.

Delgado has suggested working with existing childcare centers to subsidize costs for local families rather than creating a new agency.

Jackson’s office says the program will lower barriers to “workforce participation” and reduce “affordability anxiety” for young families. This landmark District is poised to trigger a virtuous cycle of economic upward mobility and long-term regional prosperity in the 60th Assembly District, his office added.

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Black History

IN MEMORIAM: The Rev. Leon “Sonny” Clark, Longtime Orange County Pastor and Community Leader, Dies at 72

Rev. Leon William “Sonny” Clark, the longtime pastor of New Spirit Baptist Church in Santa Ana and a prominent faith and community leader in Orange County, passed away on September 9 at the age of 72. Born in Bennettsville, South Carolina, Clark was a U.S. Navy veteran who dedicated his life to service. He served various Southern California churches before leading New Spirit Baptist Church for over 22 years, extending his work into counseling, mentoring, and civic engagement, and supporting the African American community. To learn more about his life and contributions, read more.

Published

7 days ago

September 28, 2026

Post News Group

The Rev. Leon “Sonny” Clark. File photo.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Rev. Leon William “Sonny” Clark, longtime pastor of New Spirit Baptist Church in Santa Ana and a respected faith and community leader in Orange County, died Sept. 9. He was 72.

Born Oct. 2, 1953, in Bennettsville, South Carolina, Clark was a U.S. Navy veteran who later built a life of service centered on family, faith, ministry, and community.

Clark began his formal ministry at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Altadena in 1978. After acknowledging his call to ministry in 1980, he preached his first sermon and went on to serve churches throughout Southern California, including Second Baptist Church in Riverside, Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Rubidoux, Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Pomona, and Friendship Baptist Church in Yorba Linda.

In November 2003, Clark was called to lead New Spirit Baptist Church in Santa Ana, where he served as pastor for more than 22 years. His work extended beyond the pulpit through counseling, mentoring, civic engagement, and efforts to strengthen Orange County’s African American community.

Clark served on the Orange County Heritage Council and supported efforts to preserve and celebrate African American history and culture. He helped organize the Orange County Black History Parade and Unity Festival, served on the Interfaith Committee and the Orange County Transit Authority, and served as president of the Orange County Ministers Conference.

In 2024, the City of Santa Ana recognized Clark for his contributions to the community. He also received the Orange County Southern Baptist Association Hall of Faith Award and was previously honored as Pastor of the Year by the Orange County Heritage Council.

Clark is survived by his wife, Andrea Joyles Clark; six children, Shawn Williams, Le Ondra Clark Harvey, Kyla Coward, Joshua Clark, Marissa Clark and Ashley Clark; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; siblings; extended family; and the New Spirit Baptist Church congregation.

A wake will be held Thursday, Oct. 1, from 4 to 8 p.m. at New Spirit Baptist Church, 701 S. Sullivan St. in Santa Ana, with a remembrance service from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, Oct. 2, at Friendship Baptist Church, 17145 Bastanchury Road in Yorba Linda. Viewing begins at noon, followed by the service at 1 p.m.

Burial will take place Monday, Oct. 5, at 10:15 a.m. at Riverside National Cemetery.

Clark often shared a guiding principle that shaped his ministry: “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”