Creative Growth Art Center — Attraction in Oakland

I am a caregiver for my brother who has a mental disability. I've been looking for a good, safe program to plug him into since Townehouse changed their business model. I suggested Creative Growth because he is extremely artistic. He was very excited, so I called Creative Growth and spoke to Cristina. She was very responsive and set up a tour and interview in October 2016. After the interview, she told my brother that he was a good candidate, but would need to come on a trial basis for a period of time. She also told him that she would figure out which day of the week he should come. She gave him a number of forms to fill out and told him to get a current TB test. He was eager to get all of this done, so shortly after the interview I took him to Kaiser to get everything done.

It is February 2017, and I have emailed/called Cristina repeatedly— borderline groveling and begging. I am extremely disappointed that an organization serving the disabled would treat a disabled person in this manner. Over the years, I have been in touch with numerous organizations that serve the disabled and have never experienced this level of disregard and insensitivity toward a potential enrollee. Every encounter I’ve had in the past with Bay Area organizations that serve the disabled has been positive. They are generally ran by human beings who are down-to-earth and compassionate— people who are aware of the sensitivity of disabled people, understand their isolation, and know what NOT to do. In the meantime, my brother is still asking me if I’ve heard back from Creative Growth.

Creative Growth, you are such a great...

I bought a skirt for $275, wore it a couple of times, and it fell apart. When I asked if they could fix it, they said it was "wearable art" and that I should feel lucky I was able to wear it. I did not feel lucky, I felt their artists should have some guidance so the fabrics they use don't fall apart after having been hardly worn, and the seams don't disintegrate.

For this kind of price tag, a certain respect of the buyer, even if it's understood the sale helps support the effort, could be expected. Buying from a not for profit shouldn't mean the product goes in a trashcan so soon.

I hope the artists there have a better experience than people trying to support the efforts of...

Absolutely love the artwork from Creative Growth! The talent and originality of the artists is incredible — every piece tells a story. This space is so important; it empowers artists with developmental disabilities to thrive and share their unique voices. I highly recommend visiting the gallery and supporting this amazing community—you’ll walk away inspired (and probably with some art you’ll treasure forever). The staff and artists have a created a vortex of joy right in the...