SODIUM: Illuminating Oakland’s Creative Power with Web3

$57.23 crowdfunded from 43 people

$74.68 received from matching pools

92%
average score over 1 application evaluations
Creating immersive art experiences leveraging NFTs and Web3 to educate, empower, and foster inclusion within underrepresented communities, while also supporting local artists and facilitating community-driven spaces and initiatives.

Mission-Oriented: Improving the Web3 Ecosystem In our endeavor to enhance the Web3 ecosystem, we are dedicated to both onboarding and supporting mass adoption through exhibitions and related events and content sustained by web3 tools. We achieve this by collaborating with local and international artists like Brandon Ruffin aka Ruff Draft to produce immersive arts experiences. Our focus is on educating and empowering disenfranchised communities with the resources necessary to participate and benefit from Web3.

Minimum Age Endeavors Oakland, conceived in 2020 during the pandemic, has a track record of providing financial relief to under-resourced communities by supporting them with access to space and full production support. In 2021, we achieved a milestone by producing the first immersive NFT Art exhibition at the historic Tribune Tower in downtown Oakland. This exhibition featured murals by eight artists, digitally rendered by DIY J, and minted as an NFT collection on Makersplace.

Community Growth Initiatives Our commitment to onboarding and mass adoption extends to forging partnerships with diverse community members, including artists, cultural producers, vendors, and small businesses. By bridging connections between real estate developers and communities, we aim to create mutually beneficial ecosystems that sustain both under-resourced communities and developers seeking to activate business in available Bay Area spaces.

Educational Material & Resources Each project integrates an educational component, recognizing the power of art experiences in fostering education. We ensure accessibility in resources and connect networks to newcomers in the Web3 space. Our dedication extends to a youth education residency in partnership with local organizations and NFT marketplaces.

Investigative Journalism Collaborating with data collecting agencies, we will launch data-driven dynamic NFTs in collaboration with local artists, with a focus on using data related to racial justice to help inform our projects over time.

Content Creation Our communication efforts include newsletters and blogs directing communities to Web3 resources, as well as encouraging projects that we can support with Web3 integrations.

Community-Building DAOs We are establishing a DAO governed by Endeavors token holders, contributing to ongoing operations and allowing stakeholders to vote on future project artist collaborations.

User Onboarding Prioritizing diverse community onboarding, we leverage our Web3 networks, including OAK Currency, an organization “building a community currency for a thriving Oakland.” We center and collaborate with local artists to educate and support individuals throughout the onboarding and growth process.

Inclusion, Diversity, and Advocacy Programs Our organization is dedicated to centering individuals historically marginalized and excluded from opportunities in technological and economic advancement. Comprising a team of BIPOC cultural producers, educators, and artists, we intimately understand and have been directly impacted by oppressive systems. Situated in one of the nation's most diverse regions, with a legacy of social movement building, we operate within and carry the energy of the birthplace of the Black Panther Party. Recognizing that investing in Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities is a crucial step toward dismantling colonial oppression, we prioritize amplifying their voices. Through these efforts, we aim to foster healing within our communities, creating an environment that is authentically inclusive and empowers everyone with the resources essential to thrive.

ABOUT US With a history spanning over a decade, our team has experience in producing award-winning cultural and educational programming with institutions including SFMOMA and SFJAZZ. Additionally, we take pride in our role as creators of award-winning art spaces, including 7th West, Good Mother Gallery, and Agency Oakland. Our collective work is deeply rooted in the ethos of amplifying and empowering disenfranchised communities. Through immersive events and productions, we have successfully onboarded local creatives, leveraging our expertise to bridge the gap between diverse groups and the evolving Web3 landscape.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION We are powered by dynamic Transient Labs NFTs, holding assets related to IRL events and educational workshops. NFTs contribute to operational sustainability and provide stakeholders with voting rights on future Endeavors collaborations.

SODIUM Exhibition with Artist Ruff Draft Sodium is an immersive art show presented by Endeavors and artist Brandon Ruffin aka Ruff Draft, that invites viewers to step into a world where color is not a choice, it is given. Located in Oakland California a space is transformed by monochromatic light, where every hue is stripped away, symbolizing the uniformity of society. Amidst this grayscale realm, stunning photographs hang, each concealing a secret. In front of each artwork hangs a lone light bulb. As you reach out and pull the switch, a surge of vibrant color breaks free, shattering the monotone illusion. Witness the transformative power of art as it challenges perceptions, unveiling the radiant beauty that lies hidden beneath the surface.

Born from the synergy of artist Brandon Ruffin aka Ruff Draft and Endeavors founder Assan Jethmal, this immersive journey challenges us to question the status quo and celebrate the diversity and talent within our communities. The exhibition, located at The Loom in Oakland CA, includes a 1/1 Dopplegänger Transient Labs minted NFT with select images, stories, and POAPs to access IRL events.

Sodium is an ongoing experience that will lift up a variety of Endeavors projects, including: The Oakland Roots Soccer Club Web3 Integration Collaborating with The Oakland Roots, we are launching an NFT project amplifying their mission. Transient Labs minted NFTs may include POAPs to games, merchandise, and other unique benefits.

Good Mother Ultrasounds Supporting mothers by matching artists with expecting and new mothers, this project provides financial relief through exhibitions and educational experiences in partnership with Good Mother Studio in Oakland.

Black Terminus | AR Design Launching an NFT book and exhibition with artist Damien McDuffie.

Oakland Murals Using the Transient Labs Doppelganger contract, we will mint murals throughout Oakland with AR activations. Additionally, we are launching a nationwide mural tracking project, inscribing stories related to each mural’s message.

Our projects aim to empower communities, bridge gaps, and bring Web3 to the forefront of inclusive and diverse experiences. Together, we amplify Oakland's creative power with Web3.

SODIUM: Illuminating Oakland’s Creative Power with Web3 History

  • accepted into Web3 Community and Education 10 months ago. 43 people contributed $57 to the project, and $75 of match funding was provided.

People donating to SODIUM: Illuminating Oakland’s Creative Power with Web3, also donated to

Creating community safe spaces fostering self-expression, art, technology, positive impact, and enjoyment, particularly active around Ethereum events and pop-up cities since 2019.
Developing a transparent, fair Ethereum-based lottery protocol using cryptographic shuffling tech with customizable parameters to innovate public goods fundraising and improve trust and collaboration in communities.
Sustainable space NGO partners with CNES and ESA to develop environmental impact indicators, orbital traffic management systems, and a sustainability label using blockchain, to engage citizens and companies in preserving space.
A community-focused ReFi NFT project incentivizing biodiversity by tokenizing endangered trees, offering real-world impact through preservation and digital asset integration.
The initiative uses solar power and technology to improve infrastructure in the Global South, creating job opportunities, and providing community charge stations with a prototype ready by Q3 2024.