Welcome to another feature in EBCF’s community partner spotlight series. As part of our Arts and Culture for Social and Racial Justice program strategy, we’re honored to support the Museum of Children’s Arts (MOCHA), a vital Bay Area organization using creativity to foster healing, belonging, and transformative education.

Through this strategy, EBCF supports artists, cultural workers, and arts organizations that are embedded in their communities and advancing racial justice. This work is rooted in the belief that arts and culture are a powerful force for change, shaping how people see themselves, their communities, and possibilities for the future.

MOCHA’s work exemplifies this vision, equipping tens of thousands of young people across Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano, and San Francisco counties with the tools to think critically, express themselves, and reimagine the world around them. Read on to learn how their programming brings art, justice, and community together and how EBCF is proud to support them “beyond the check.”

Creativity as Problem-Solving

MOCHA’s approach goes beyond traditional arts education. The organization uses creative practices to teach subjects like history, social studies, math, and literacy, while also building students’ problem-solving skills.

“Many in the tech world say we don’t have enough creative thinkers,” Nina Woodruff, CEO of MOCHA, said. “Art is a creative engine. It helps kids think outside the box and engage in collaborative, imaginative problem-solving.”

Three of MOCHA’s core programs embody EBCF’s values of dreaming, healing, and belonging:

  • Dream: Community Futures School, an Afrofuturist internship program, invites 120 students to design original 3D prototypes that envision equitable, inclusive futures grounded in cultural memory and community impact.
  • Heal: The Expressive Healing Arts program uses non-clinical engagement to provide mindfulness and mental health support. The program allows students to express how they are feeling and restore calm to their bodies. 
  • Belong: Community Arts and Academic Engagement serves 11 libraries and 40 public schools with roughly 20,000 students and their families. This expansive program encourages artistic expression and art to facilitate belonging for both students and the greater community. 

Beyond the Check: Strengthening Infrastructure

While MOCHA’s programs are bold and visionary, its leaders know that sustainability requires more than creativity. EBCF has provided critical support to strengthen MOCHA’s infrastructure, connecting them with pro bono legal assistance, new funding opportunities, and strategic partnerships.

“EBCF is a connector,” Woodruff said. “They offer hard-to-find information, introduce us to aligned organizations, and even talk to other funders about our work, opening doors we couldn’t open alone.”

Belonging, at Every Level

What stands out most for Woodruff is the deep sense of trust and care that defines MOCHA’s relationship with EBCF.

“With EBCF, there’s a sense of belonging at the human level, something that MOCHA then passes on to the children and families we serve,” she reflected. “That kind of care is rare in philanthropy. When a funder listens deeply, supports your vision, and reminds you that your work matters, it’s not just encouraging, it’s healing.”

This piece was written by Beth Trimarco in collaboration with EBCF’s Community Investments and Partnerships team and the leadership team of Museum of Children’s Arts (MOCHA).

East Bay Community Foundation
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