Programming all year
Summer camps, youth leadership activities, coat drives, and toy giveaways for Oakland families.
Downtown Oakland | Opened 2024
WELO Community Center
Rooted in Oakland. Open to the community. Built for the future. A multigenerational space for youth leadership, community connection, and collaborative partnerships.
Why the center exists
Oakland raised us — now we're building a center that raises Oakland
In the summer of 2024, We Lead Ours opened the doors to our Downtown Oakland Community Center — a multigenerational space built for youth leadership, community connection, and collaborative partnerships.
Every event held here strengthens the ecosystem of care WELO has built since 2010. Schools, families, partner organizations, and local businesses all use the space to build programs that uplift Oakland.
As we grow, we're inviting partners who want to build with us — and help us sustain a space that serves Oakland year-round.
The center is built to support
- Expanded youth programming.
- Collaborative community initiatives.
- Multigenerational workforce development.
- Creative arts and cultural events.
- Private parties, gatherings, and organizational retreats.
- Partnerships that invest in Oakland's next generation.
Where community happens
Since opening, the space has held all of it
Education and awareness
Blood cancer awareness events, and tobacco and other drug education workshops.
A room the city can use
Corporate retreats, private parties and celebrations, community meetings, and workforce development sessions.
The center is open to you
Book it, work from it, belong to it
From private celebrations to weekday desks to a hot mic, this space was built to be used by Oakland.
Host 20 to 200 guests
Birthday celebrations, professional networking events, pop-ups, cultural gatherings, and corporate retreats. Our flexible space can be configured to match your vision, and our team will make your event seamless and memorable.
Book your eventCome in, plug in, get to work
Drop-in desk space and collaborative work areas for entrepreneurs, creatives, and freelancers in the Oakland community — surrounded by people building something meaningful.
Ask about desk spaceRecord where We The Scenario was born
The center has an in-house podcast studio available to community creators. Book a session and tell your story from the same space that produced 55 episodes of We The Scenario.
Book studio timeJoin the WELO community
Exclusive events, discounted bookings, and a network of Oakland changemakers. Membership is coming soon — get on the list and be the first to know.
Join the interest listFeatured community partner
Community music with DJ Semani
WELO is proud to feature DJ Semani as our resident community music curator, bringing the sound of Oakland to life through live DJ sets, music workshops, and curated listening experiences for all ages.
Music is a core part of the WELO experience — unifying, joyful, and deeply rooted in Oakland culture.
The sound of the center
- Live DJ sets at community events.
- Music workshops for all ages.
- Curated listening experiences.
- Oakland culture, front and center.
A home for Oakland's community partners
A growing network that reflects the strength and diversity of Oakland
Our center is proud to host organizations building their own work alongside ours.