Dear Friend of Oaktown Jazz Workshops,

When I first joined Oaktown Jazz Workshops as an instructor, it was the fall of 1997, and the dot-com boom was booming. In those days, there was a plenty of work for musicians with well-paying gigs to play, but trumpet player Khalil Shaheed, founder of Oaktown Jazz Workshops (OJW), stayed focused on mentoring Oakland’s youth through music education. He purposefully carved out time to teach, always keeping the long view in mind.

Decades later, we see the fruits of that vision. Many of OJW’s alumni have gone on to share the voices they first discovered in our program, performing as professional musicians across the globe. Others have drawn upon the confidence they gained through artistic collaboration to excel in meaningful careers and leadership positions in fields ranging from the sciences to social justice. We are very proud of our alumni who now serve as role models for the younger generation of musicians in our program.

Playing an instrument with others provides a sense of empowerment, connection, and belonging. When young people are given tools, trust, and a safe space to express themselves, their potential exceeds even their own expectations.

This past year, our afterschool classes and year-round workshops, along with hundreds of private lessons, allowed young people to learn and perform together under the guidance of professional musicians dedicated to helping them develop their creativity and confidence. We have been proud to produce family-friendly concerts at our venue in Jack London Square, and our Jazz Encounters program has brought in internationally touring musicians and multi-platinum and Grammy Award–winning artists to speak and perform with our excited young musicians.

OJW’s youth ensembles performed at dozens of community events in 2025, including live concerts at 10 local public libraries, bringing music to neighborhoods across Oakland and the Bay Area. Our faculty also led 85 presentations at public schools, sharing music education and mentorship with students who might not otherwise have access to these experiences.

We have partnered with Jack London Square, Oakland Museum and the Port of Oakland to bring live music to public spaces and collaborated across disciplines with arts organizations such as Dimensions Dance Theater and Oakland Ballet.

The local arts ecosystem is now in a period of contraction, with arts funding being slashed at both the federal and local levels. But the need to invest in the next generation is more critical than ever; young people face fewer opportunities for real-world connection, greater isolation due to technology and a growing sense of uncertainty in the world around them.

At Oaktown Jazz Workshops, we believe the best way for a child to grow into their unique self is through community. The most effective way to support young people is to provide a strong, nurturing environment now – one where they are guided by diverse mentors and connect with peers from different backgrounds. In this collaborative space, where they create and perform music alongside others, young people gain the skills and confidence they need to thrive both as artists and as individuals.

Please consider making a year-end orrecurring donation to Oaktown Jazz Workshops’ Khalil Shaheed Scholarship Fund. Your donations cover the cost of classes and workshops for young musicians whose families cannot afford tuition, which is crucial in creating the thriving, equitable artistic community we foster. Your support is an investment in the next generation, and the whole community benefits!

With gratitude,

Ravi Abcarian

Executive Director

Oaktown Jazz Workshops