At Bishop O’Dowd High School in East Oakland, the Aim High CORE values – Community, Opportunity, Respect, and high Expectations – gained a creative flair this summer as eight guest artists and performers shared their passion with students.
Over the course of two Cultural Days and several morning assemblies, O’Dowd’s 105 students were introduced to capoeira, slam poetry, underground hip-hop, African drumming and dance, writing, and filmmaking.
African Diaspora Day, one of the Culture Day celebrations, is a yearly tradition at Bishop O’Dowd and features food, music, dance and cultures of Africa, the Caribbean, and the US. Among the performers, many considered Rashidi Omari, an Oakland-based hip-hop dancer and performer, to be a highlight.
“Everyone danced along with Rashidi,” says site director Aimee Suzara, “trying to master the choreography, doing these moves, sometimes fumbling and messing up and laughing, teachers mixing with the students.”
“It’s one of those amazing moments when you see everyone just enjoying themselves.”
Spoken-word artist and rapper Virtuous was also a popular guest performer. Students sought Virtuous’s autograph and clamored to find out where to buy his album.
Aimee says that she really wanted to use guest speakers and performers to show how artistic forms, particularly hip-hop, could be put to positive use, spreading constructive messages and exploring history and identity.
Virtuous rapped about gender issues and the negative, hurtful language that pervades popular music and culture. Aimee was particularly moved to see the boys of her campus singing along as Virtuous implored them to respect women, a message not frequently heard on hip-hop radio.
Students also connected to artists as they shared their backgrounds. Many of the performers are originally from Oakland, and most grew up in communities similar to the East Oakland neighborhoods where Aim High/Bishop O’Dowd students live.
“They were speaking to their own history and experiences,” Aimee says of the writers and musicians who came for Culture and Identity Day. “It really helped kids think about their own personal histories.” Meeting people with backgrounds similar to their own who have become successful artists and community leaders, Aimee says, made a great impact.
Students were inspired, too, to give great performances. Though Aim High has always made use of the theater at the Bishop O’Dowd campus, students seized the opportunity to make it their own.
“Students really felt comfortable on stage this year, and put so much preparation into their performances,” Aimee says. “The arts are my realm, and I’ve seen my share of Celebration Nights at Aim High, but I have to say – this year’s dance and theater groups really blew me away.”
From the archives: February 2008
At Bishop O’Dowd High School in East Oakland, the Aim High CORE values – Community, Opportunity, Respect, and high Expectations – gained a creative flair this summer as eight guest artists and performers shared their passion with students.
Over the course of two Cultural Days and several morning assemblies, O’Dowd’s 105 students were introduced to capoeira, slam poetry, underground hip-hop, African drumming and dance, writing, and filmmaking.
African Diaspora Day, one of the Culture Day celebrations, is a yearly tradition at Bishop O’Dowd and features food, music, dance and cultures of Africa, the Caribbean, and the US. Among the performers, many considered Rashidi Omari, an Oakland-based hip-hop dancer and performer, to be a highlight.
“Everyone danced along with Rashidi,” says site director Aimee Suzara, “trying to master the choreography, doing these moves, sometimes fumbling and messing up and laughing, teachers mixing with the students.”
“It’s one of those amazing moments when you see everyone just enjoying themselves.”
Spoken-word artist and rapper Virtuous was also a popular guest performer. Students sought Virtuous’s autograph and clamored to find out where to buy his album.
Aimee says that she really wanted to use guest speakers and performers to show how artistic forms, particularly hip-hop, could be put to positive use, spreading constructive messages and exploring history and identity.
Virtuous rapped about gender issues and the negative, hurtful language that pervades popular music and culture. Aimee was particularly moved to see the boys of her campus singing along as Virtuous implored them to respect women, a message not frequently heard on hip-hop radio.
Students also connected to artists as they shared their backgrounds. Many of the performers are originally from Oakland, and most grew up in communities similar to the East Oakland neighborhoods where Aim High/Bishop O’Dowd students live.
“They were speaking to their own history and experiences,” Aimee says of the writers and musicians who came for Culture and Identity Day. “It really helped kids think about their own personal histories.” Meeting people with backgrounds similar to their own who have become successful artists and community leaders, Aimee says, made a great impact.
Students were inspired, too, to give great performances. Though Aim High has always made use of the theater at the Bishop O’Dowd campus, students seized the opportunity to make it their own.
“Students really felt comfortable on stage this year, and put so much preparation into their performances,” Aimee says. “The arts are my realm, and I’ve seen my share of Celebration Nights at Aim High, but I have to say – this year’s dance and theater groups really blew me away.”
At Bishop O’Dowd High School in East Oakland, the Aim High CORE values – Community, Opportunity, Respect, and high Expectations – gained a creative flair this summer as eight guest artists and performers shared their passion with students.
Over the course of two Cultural Days and several morning assemblies, O’Dowd’s 105 students were introduced to capoeira, slam poetry, underground hip-hop, African drumming and dance, writing, and filmmaking.
African Diaspora Day, one of the Culture Day celebrations, is a yearly tradition at Bishop O’Dowd and features food, music, dance and cultures of Africa, the Caribbean, and the US. Among the performers, many considered Rashidi Omari, an Oakland-based hip-hop dancer and performer, to be a highlight.
“Everyone danced along with Rashidi,” says site director Aimee Suzara, “trying to master the choreography, doing these moves, sometimes fumbling and messing up and laughing, teachers mixing with the students.”
“It’s one of those amazing moments when you see everyone just enjoying themselves.”
Spoken-word artist and rapper Virtuous was also a popular guest performer. Students sought Virtuous’s autograph and clamored to find out where to buy his album.
Aimee says that she really wanted to use guest speakers and performers to show how artistic forms, particularly hip-hop, could be put to positive use, spreading constructive messages and exploring history and identity.
Virtuous rapped about gender issues and the negative, hurtful language that pervades popular music and culture. Aimee was particularly moved to see the boys of her campus singing along as Virtuous implored them to respect women, a message not frequently heard on hip-hop radio.
Students also connected to artists as they shared their backgrounds. Many of the performers are originally from Oakland, and most grew up in communities similar to the East Oakland neighborhoods where Aim High/Bishop O’Dowd students live.
“They were speaking to their own history and experiences,” Aimee says of the writers and musicians who came for Culture and Identity Day. “It really helped kids think about their own personal histories.” Meeting people with backgrounds similar to their own who have become successful artists and community leaders, Aimee says, made a great impact.
Students were inspired, too, to give great performances. Though Aim High has always made use of the theater at the Bishop O’Dowd campus, students seized the opportunity to make it their own.
“Students really felt comfortable on stage this year, and put so much preparation into their performances,” Aimee says. “The arts are my realm, and I’ve seen my share of Celebration Nights at Aim High, but I have to say – this year’s dance and theater groups really blew me away.”
