FINDING OURSELVES IN AMERICA

Finding Ourselves in America is a program highlighting Black, Indigenious, and People of Color individuals through storytelling partnerships with artists from Oakland and beyond. Through performances, classes and special workshops, Stagebridge offers distinctive opportunities for lifelong learners to explore culture, identity and American history informed by marginalized experiences.

Explore our events, classes and workshops below.

Featured
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Straight Outta Oakland | January - March, 2022

Through a partnership with the West Oakland Senior Center (WOSC), Stagebridge produced a class exploring West Oakland’s history through the eyes of Black elders.

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Asian American Voices | May 20, 2021

Stagebridge and Asian American Storytellers in Unity join forces to uplift the diverse cultures and heritage of the Asian American and Pacific Islander diaspora.

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Mission

To guide BIPOC lifelong learners in exploring, translating and documenting personal or historical narratives reflecting the larger San Francisco Bay Area.

In classes and workshops, elders will become first-time storytellers by embracing their heritages and fostering cross cultural unity. In engaging writing and discussion exercises, students develop short stories or performance pieces based on ethnicity, cultural identity, race and privilege. With people-oriented instruction, lifelong learners feel belonging and security in both culturally-specific and multicultural spaces. 

With performance opportunities and productions, aspiring and established BIPOC storytellers will be able to share their stories in safe environments perfect for new connections and friendships. In these events, Stagebridge establishes a pathway for elders to become the historians and the storytelling representatives of their own communities and families.

In order to provide respectful programming, Stagebridge partners with a culturally-specific group or organization for every event or workshop—leading to the eventual showcasing of multiple voices and groups. Additionally, each performance and class is documented to provide students, performers and partners ways to revisit their experiences and to share their stories forever.