April 24, 2025 — In a celebration of community and creativity, Yu Ming Charter School and McClymonds High School will come together the weekend of April 26-27 to create a Paint The Town mural at the intersection of Chestnut Street and 26th Street in West Oakland.
The partnership between Yu Ming and McClymonds marks the first formal collaboration between the two schools since Yu Ming moved into the former Envision Academy building on Chestnut Street in fall 2023, representing a promising alliance rooted in West Oakland. For Brian McGhee, Community Schools Manager at McClymonds, who helped facilitate the project, “it’s a great partnership focused on community and beautification—and it shows a sense of unity between our two institutions.”I’m thrilled to kick off this partnership with McClymonds with a project that serves as a visual symbol of unity and pride in West Oakland. We’re looking forward to building on this momentum and doing more in the neighborhood,” said Stacey Wang, CEO of Yu Ming.
The mural is part of Oakland’s Paint The Town program, an initiative led by the Oakland Department of Transportation (OakDOT) that empowers local communities to transform their streets into reflections of their unique identities and culture. For McClymonds High School junior Kimarree Jones, whose piece “Astral Eclipse” was selected for the mural, the project is an exciting opportunity to showcase his artistic talent in the neighborhood. “Thinking about my artwork getting this large is overwhelming, exciting. I’ve never seen my art that big before.” After high school, Kimarree hopes to attend the School of Visual Arts in New York and pursue a career as an animator. The T-shirt for the event incorporates Kimarree’s artwork and was designed by a Yu Ming teacher who shares his illustrations on social media as @mrwudraws.
Different parts of the community—schools, parents, residents and local businesses—have united for this shared cause that benefits everyone. A key player in bringing this project to life is Jeanette Younger, a parent leader at Yu Ming. “This mural has been a catalyst for community building and I’m thrilled to see this project come to life and bring our neighborhood together as well as the opportunity it may bring for Kimarree,” reflected Younger. Local business Pipe Spy, located at the intersection where the mural will be painted, is generously volunteering its time and resources to help powerwash the site before the painting begins.
Since moving into the former Envision Academy building in Fall 2023, Yu Ming has worked diligently to establish a productive presence in West Oakland, building relationships with neighbors and local organizations. This mural project is part of those ongoing efforts, underscoring the school’s commitment to becoming a positive, active force in the neighborhood.
The mural itself is set to enhance a busy intersection, transforming it into a point of interest while encouraging cars to slow down. As part of the Paint The Town initiative, it serves as a symbol of community pride, connection, and collaboration, deepening the bond between Yu Ming, McClymonds, and the West Oakland community.
This project is also made possible with the generous support of local sponsors including: Ava Community Energy, ArtHaus, and Laurel Optometry.
About Paint The Town:
Paint The Town is a community-driven initiative launched by the Oakland Department of Transportation (OakDOT) in 2017, aimed at transforming public spaces into vibrant murals that reflect the identities of local neighborhoods. Through this program, Oakland residents are empowered to design and paint temporary murals on city streets, creating art that beautifies public spaces and brings communities together. https://www.oaklandca.gov/projects/paint-the-town
About McClymonds High School:
McClymonds High School, part of Oakland Unified School District, is a public high school with a proud history of serving the West Oakland community. It is the third oldest high school in Oakland, and focuses on high academic achievement, community activism, and empowering students to personalize their education pathways. https://mcclymonds.ousd.org/
About Yu Ming Charter School:
Yu Ming is a public Mandarin immersion Charter School, authorized by the Alameda County Board of Education, and located in Oakland and San Leandro, California. A recipient of the 2019 National Blue Ribbon award and the 2020 and 2023 California distinguished School award, Yu Ming is the #1 ranked public elementary and middle school in Alameda County, and among the top 1% schools of the state of California for all students, across demographics. Yu Ming’s breakthrough model prepares all students for a multilingual and multicultural future. As a leader and Mandarin immersion, we nurture our inclusive and diverse Community to become empowered, engaged and outstanding global citizens.