The Unlearning Community School (UCS) is a grassroots business offering liberatory cultural and political education for radical transformation. We offer cultural strategy & consulting, training programs & workshops, and community collaborative events which focus on addressing community-identified needs using decolonial approaches and emphasize learning through community-led peer and intergenerational mentorship.

The Unlearning Community School offers
events, classes, training programs, and consulting services which focus on: 

  • Personal and holistic integration of cultural, artistic, socio-emotional, experiential, and place-based learning

  • Cultural and Political Education focused on indigenous and ancestral knowledge

  • A healing-centered engagement practice through community-led peer and intergenerational mentorship

Groups or identities we prioritize serving:

  • Transitional Age Youth or TAY (ages 13-24)

  • BIPOC frontline community service providers, especially youth workers (educators, organizers, therapists, social workers)

  • First gen (first in their families to graduate high school and/or pursue higher education)

  • Immigrants, low income, and working class community members

  • LGBTQIA+ and/or Disabled

Needs our work focuses on addressing:

  • Relevant and accessible Cultural and Political Education

  • Representation & Narrative Change of marginalized identities/communities

  • Community programs and creative projects which promote Arts & Culture

Approaches we use to address constituents' needs:

  • Cultural and Political education (Liberatory and Critical Ethnic Studies curriculum)

  • Community organizing

  • Programs (events, workshops, classes) and direct services (mentorship, consulting and cultural strategy)

The first offering of the Unlearning Community School is The Unlearning Series which introduces participants to the journey, power, and Majik of each person in our Unlearn Team.  The Unlearning Series offers a ‘taste’ of what the Learning-Unlearning process is like when integrated, and offers practical tools for participants to use for their own radical transformation.

Previous Events

spread your light!

Often times, surviving this world feels as if we are being forced to dim our light. That in order to fit in, we are told to hide essential parts of ourselves that do not fit the status quo. Or we are convinced that we must obey and submit to oppressive systems, at the cost of our authenticity, dignity, and integrity.

But, our light is a sacred part of who we are because it guides us back to our true selves, and is also a beacon to others. Our light shares and shows our spirit, soul, and humanity.

The Unlearning Community School wants to witness and spread your light with you. We want to illuminate one another, so the path to collective liberation becomes brighter.

"Spread Your Light!" is our next Unlearning Series event, as well as collaboration and grand opening of Spread Your Light Studios - an accessible community space in Downtown Oakland for events, workshops, and creative projects.

Tickets are $35 sliding scale - proceeds will be shared with Spread Your Light Studios and the Unlearn Team as they build new offerings for our community in 2025.

We have limited free tickets for artists, creatives, and makers who want to 'Share Your Light' during our Open Mic! This event is also a mixer to 'Connect Your Light' - meet, support, and link up with other artists, creatives, and makers during this event! The attire is cute and cozy! We will be serving teas, soups, and snacks! All participants will receive a goodie bag! Get ready to share your shiiiiine!

somatic abolitionism + Spirituality

The limitation you perceive is often the gateway to the next level. From stuck grief to information overload, finding the way back to yourself can be a difficult yet is an essential practice for all peoples in liberation centered work. The second Unlearning Series event is ‘Somatic Abolitionism + Spirituality’ curated by Alaia Z, coordinator and creative vision collaborator for the Unlearning Community School.  Come be in nature with us at the Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve as we utilize somatics to deepen what it means to experience the interconnected nature of reality. In this workshop we will explore the critical point in which alignment with abolition means to embrace universal truths.

The suggested offering is $25 per person, and we are also providing complimentary tickets to community organizers, and/or mental health service providers, and/or those who cannot afford mental health therapy at the moment.

Poetry as Transmutation Device

The first Unlearning Series event is ‘Poetry as Transmutation Device’ led by Maio Buenafe – the visionary, co-builder, and Oracle-in-service for the Unlearning Community School. A central belief in the Unlearning Community School is in the power of storytelling, spoken word poetry, and interactive critical discourse to confront and transmute personal and collective trauma towards healing and liberation. This first event in this virtual series will embody this belief and practice specifically around immigration experiences, colonial violence, and belonging.

We are offering free tickets to this event for those who identify as Undocumented immigrants, refugees, or asylum seekers (click link for description of each if you are unsure). We especially want you to invite those you know who wanna watch a spoken word dragon spit some fire poetry flows!