OVERCOMERS WITH HOPE STUDIOS INC
Be the change you want to see!
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Founded by Jefferson Public Service Award Recipient, Bishop J. E. Watkins, the studio is located in West Oakland at 1485 8th St. in the Historic “Liberty Hall” (Registry Number 89000199) Marcus Garvey Building. Overcomers With Hope Inc. is to train multi-cultural at-risk Youth (16 to 24), Young Adults, and Returning Veterans who primarily reside in the economically under-served areas of Oakland California and the surrounding Bay Area Counties, in the field of Television/Broadcast Digital Arts Media Productions. The goal is to expand their knowledge of storytelling and documentation using platforms based on the STEAM paradigm: Science Technical Engineering Arts Math (STEAM) and social media platforms. Use of the present-day tools will enable program participants to preserve Community history using present day techniques. The unique value created, is that OWH Provides a portal for ideas and possibilities applicable to their academic efforts and career path.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Television Broadcast Digital Arts Media Innovative Training Program
This program is designed to give our youth and veterans skills,talents and a voice to identify and address issues that relate to them and our community. In a digital age where information and communiction is shared through social media, video and the internet, OWH Studios strives to provide the tools to our underserved youth, giving them the chance to express their hopes, needs and concerns through video and other digital formats. In addition their training develops a "give-back" mentality
Where we work
External reviews

Photos
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
OWH Studios teaches participants how to create a portfolio; inclusive of photography, music videos broadcasting, and non-broadcast events such as job interviews, school presentations and community stories. The OWH curriculum has encouraged students to develop ideas expanding human interest stories, to create content that impacts and reflects the concerns of their community in the areas of: Health, Political-Campaigns, Social Events, Sports, Entertainment, and Town Hall Meetings.
The students are trained to report stories not heard/seen on major networks, but vital to the health of their communities, their stories reflect "Keepin’ it 100!". These reports start in the West Oakland Community, but emanate and find traction in the greater Oakland Community.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Our goal is to expand the aptitude of our participants by upgrading their technical and soft skills in Television Broadcast Digital Arts Media. To compete in our technological world our youth must be armed with STEAM skills applicable in all facets of the workforce. A digital media background is considered a STEAM skill, a gateway to many careers including: Aeronautics, Animation, Sound, Digital Publishing, Film/Video, Web Creation/ Design and Medical Imaging. OWH Studios has developed relationships with local tech companies to provide positions for employable STEAM trained candidates. Participants are tracking to become skilled producers of media television giving voice to the individual, the community as well as providing social services to today's urban problems
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Science Technical Engineering Arts Math (STEAM) and social media platforms. Use of the present-day tools will enable program participants to preserve Community history using present day techniques. The unique value created, is that OWH Provides a portal for ideas and possibilities applicable to their academic efforts and career path.With the help of our Corporate Sponsors and Donors board member Mr. Bob Lefcovich, Vice President of Acquisitions and Installations for OWH Studios, has overseen acquisition and installation of our newly remodeled studio and upgraded control room. The unique value is students are now working with up to date equipment to give hope and ignite inspiration. Youth today are keenly aware of digital media as it is an integral part of their daily lives. OWH Studios program has the promise of being able to “turn on the light” and take them beyond the next level and into their future. OWH Studios collaboration with VETTV and TVCMN is a powerful combination to give assistance to Veterans.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
OWH Studios collaborated with the Juvenile Justice Center of Alameda County Probation Dept. to train the young men of Camp Sweeney in Television / Broadcast Digital Arts Media & Innovative Soft Skill Training, which led to the following out comes:
1- Graduating paroled students to obtain their GEDs
2- Securing employment in Television / Broadcast Digital Arts Media industry
3- Enrolling in Community College
4- Student production of the “The Tolerance Tour” Documentary
5- Path of becoming productive members of society through their training and relationship with OWH Studios.
Our current goals include expanding the program to include more Veterans and at-risk young adults and Seniors
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
OVERCOMERS WITH HOPE STUDIOS INC
Board of directorsas of 05/14/2022
Bishop James Watkins
Andre Morris
PG&E
Gwen Shropshire
JLSC Ministries
Katie Germany
Jack London Chapel
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 12/15/2021GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.