Rated one of the top 100 self-taught artists in the country, Leon has lived and worked in Oakland, California for over 25 years and has been a resident of Oak Center Towers, an affordable housing community owned and operated by Front Porch, for nine.

If you are out, about, and aware, you may run into him on an Oakland street, capturing on canvas the people and scenes of Bay Area life. His works are coveted by prominent Folk Art collectors everywhere, and even appear in the Smithsonian Institute.

Leon paints on “everything.” Some of his most impressive works have been captured on bed sheets he has found on the streets. Works on wood, tables and chairs, glass, and metal (even hubcaps) have been known to grace a thorough Kennedy collection. Many of the materials he works with come from the East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse in Oakland. He creates his artworks with markers, paints, crayons, beads, glitter, cotton, yarn, and rope.

Community is a central part of Leon’s vision of life, as shown in his painting, “Thou Shalt Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself.” Leon explains that his art stems from his love for humanity, and he especially loves to paint the faces of the people that matter most to him, his close friends and family and neighbors.

“I love to see a picture of the beauty of old faces, young faces, all colors,” he says. “Everyone has their own beauty, everyone has character, and everyone goes through something. My work is based on community and family, and I love doing the faces and showing the heart and love. The heart of the community — you call it love.”

“The main idea of my art is concern for people, encouraging someone else,” he said. “I love when someone loves the work, and feels touched. We’re here to serve and love and encourage one another. When I get a vision, I hope it helps someone.”

He has long had a vision as an artist. “As a child I knew that art was my vocation,” Leon said. Born in 1945 in Houston, Texas, he moved to the Bay Area in 1965. He lived in San Francisco’s Mission District in the 1970s and painted his first public mural in Hunter’s Point during that time. In Oakland, Leon began by painting on cloth, but he soon ran out of canvas, so he started painting on bed sheets and other found materials.

It seems fitting that he often finds his “canvases” on the street. “My art studio is the street,” Leon explained. “I paint on bed sheets that I hang on wooden fences and building walls.”

He explains that artistic visions constantly come to him. Living at Oak Center Towers provides him with a steady home base as well as a community from which to draw inspiration. “I love the variety of people here, I love my view of downtown,” he said. “The staff here is so supportive; anything that needs fixed is taken care of right away. I’m also inspired by the other artists here. I’d love to bring them all together so the world can see our creativity.”

Learn more about Leon Kennedy and his artwork on his website.

*This post was adapted from an article previously published in the Fall 2019 edition of Community Matters, a publication of the Front Porch Communities Foundation, with quotes adapted from a Street Spirit article from April 2014. Read the most recent edition of Communities Matters here.

The Front Porch Communities Foundation supports innovative programs and community improvements that deliver real benefit to residents, employees, and program participants across the Front Porch organization. To learn more, visit https://frontporch.net/philanthropy/.

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“I applied not knowing what I was getting into,” she says. “In my mind, I thought ‘nursing home’ and had a picture in my mind of what that was like. So I came here for my interview and I looked around, and it was the exact opposite of what I expected.”

Yuen remembers her first day as a server in the dining room. “The very first table I took was three residents. One of them, named Pat Holland, took my hand and said, ‘Don’t worry. You’re going to be just fine.’ That was the start of my journey here.”

Yuen continued to work part time as a server through high school and as she earned her undergraduate degree in Public Health from San Francisco State University. Although she had originally planned to become an RN and work with children, her plans began to change as her grandfather’s health declined. “Because of the type of care I got to witness here [at St. Paul’s], I knew what was dignified and what was demoralizing. I was that annoying granddaughter, always constantly saying, ‘Are you supposed to do this? Are you sure that you’re supposed to pass this off to the residents?’, but it was just because of my love for him. And because of what I saw here, I knew what was right and what was wrong.”

VP of Operations Chris Ichien, who also began his career in senior living in the dining room, was the Executive Director of St. Paul’s Towers after Yuen graduated and as she continued to work as a server and host. “Chris approached me one day and said ‘Hey, there’s a program coordinator job coming up soon. Do you think you’d be interested? I think you’d be good at it.’ And I said, why not?”

Serving as program coordinator gave Yuen the chance to connect with residents in a different way. “When you’re serving every day, you build relationships, you become good friends with the residents and you know their patterns, you know their preferences,” she says. “With the programs job, I got to dig a little deeper. I got to know their history, their life, their hobbies, their interests, and what would drove them. I really enjoyed doing that.”

After six years as program coordinator, Yuen was promoted to Life Enrichment Director, allowing her to work with residents at all levels of care. “Prior to that, I was only focusing on Independent Living, which is great, but I really want to expand my horizons. We made it a point to make sure everybody has the same opportunities and everybody is included.”

She participated in the EMERGE leadership development program offered by LeadingAge California, and she began a Masters in Gerontology program at San Francisco State University. After an 8-hour day at St. Paul’s Towers, she would head to San Francisco for classes. “It was a long day, but I really had fun,” says Yuen. “I saw a bigger picture and had more goals I wanted to fulfill.” She also worked as an Administrator in Training while working towards her Masters degree.

In February 2020, as she was preparing for graduation in May, the health care administrator position at St. Paul’s Towers opened up. Yuen took on the role, working primarily in the Skilled Nursing area and with the clinical team.

“I was very excited to be given that opportunity,” she says. “Again, that opened up a brand new set of opportunities, where I could serve the residents of the different capacity. Whereas before I got to help them with their interests, enriching their lives with programming and keeping them engaged, now I get to do a little bit more clinical work, which was what I wanted to do when I wanted to be an RN. I felt like I got to fulfill that as well.”

In January 2021, when Executive Director Mary Linde announced she would be leaving, she encouraged Yuen to apply. “I knew that was something I wanted to do. I just didn’t know if I wanted to do it right now. I thought about it over the weekend, and I said why not apply? I feel like I’ve been training with Mary for a reason. She has given me a lot of opportunities to learn, to make mistakes, and to grow. I felt like that was all leading up to this point.” After interviewing for the position, Connie began in her new role as Executive Director in March.

During her time at St. Paul’s Towers, Yuen says the biggest thing she’s learned is “there is no cookie cutter way of doing things. What worked last month does not work now. You always learn to adapt. You get to know the people you’re serving and you just embrace it.

“Right now, we have a very different group of people moving in. Some of them are quite a bit younger and they have different needs and wants, whereas when I first started everybody was very formal. You just have to keep in tune with what’s going on in the outside world, as well as in here.” Being an Executive Director is “a lot of responsibility, but it means that people are trusting me to do what’s best for them,”

Yuen still remembers the advice she got on her first day, when a resident held her hand and told her it was going to be OK. “I remember seeing her just a couple days before she passed. I went to go visit her in her room. She held my hand and she said it’s going to be okay. Sometimes I just have to remind myself it’s hard right now but it’s going to be okay because you’re doing what’s best for everybody.”

“For me it’s more than more than just the job,” says Yuen. “It’s maintaining these relationships and making sure that these final years are full of dignity. That’s a huge thing for me.”

If you would like to learn more about St. Paul’s Towers, please call 510.891.8542 or use the contact us form here.

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“Since March of last year, I have been creating monthly packets for our residents to give them something to do while they are safe at home. The packets includes a variety of puzzles and brain teasers, easy recipes, and a letter with helpful information about Coronavirus from the CDC, all translated into the different languages spoken by our residents.”  

“Some residents will complete the entire packet and return it to me, a sign that they are engaged and enjoying the handouts,” Aliona says. “We have been able to do some group activities outside. Even though it’s sometimes cold, our residents show up for socially-distanced bingo! On holiday crafts day, residents still came out to make holiday cards and cookie ornaments even though it was a bit windy.”

Aliona’s favorite part of her role at Oak Center Towers is getting to know the residents. “Despite some language barriers, I feel connected and appreciated. I love the chuckles when I say ‘good morning’ or ‘thank you’ in Cantonese, Korean, or Tigrinya. It’s challenging not to be able to verbally communicate extensively with everyone, but they are still able to let me know they enjoyed an activity I organized, which makes me feel good about my work,” Aliona says.  “I especially enjoyed being able to deliver handmade cards created by volunteers from Creative Spark, Covia’s creative aging program. It was during a time when I felt like a small thing like a card with an inspirational message could brighten someone’s day! Shout out to the Creative Spark team!”

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Dear Covia,

I write to you as my home town of Oakland is in turmoil. All of us were already tired after weeks of shutdown and fear of illness. And, with the death of yet another Black man at the hands of police, another burden has been placed on our African American residents, employees, and neighbors.

I am writing with two messages today. One is to stay mindful of our guiding principles. We say that we have been shaped by our values of welcome, inclusion, social justice, and grace. We will do our utmost to demonstrate those values in all that we do. We say that we will respect one another and treat one another with dignity at all times. Black lives matter, and we resoundingly refuse to give in to racism, hatred, fear and violence. We say that we reflect, celebrate, and foster the diversity of those who live and work within the Covia family and society as a whole. We commit ourselves to supporting our African American residents, employees, and neighbors and to working with our greater communities to build a just society for everyone.

My second message is this: be kind and gentle with one another in these very difficult times. Recognize the burdens that those around you may carry, and help how you can.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Kevin Gerber

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Leon is rated one of the top 100 self-taught artists in the country. His works are coveted by prominent Folk Art collectors everywhere. Serious collectors take huge store in the fact that Mr. Kennedy’s works appear in the Smithsonian Institute, which adds value to the ownership of a Kennedy original.

Community is a central part of Kennedy’s vision of life, as shown in his painting, “Thou Shalt Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself.” Kennedy explains that his art stems from his love for humanity, and he especially loves to paint the faces of the people that matter most to him, his close friends and family and neighbors.

“I love to see a picture of the beauty of old faces, young faces, all colors,” he says. “Everyone has their own beauty, everyone has character, and everyone goes through something. My work is based on community and family, and I love doing the faces and showing the heart and love. The heart of the community — you call it love.”

It is profoundly important for Leon Kennedy that his art serves the community. In a recent application Kennedy made for a public mural, a panelist said, “Mr. Kennedy actively builds community through his art.” His proposal was approved and the mural will be completed in 2020 at the African American Museum and Library.

“The main idea of my art is concern for people, encouraging someone else,” he said. “I love when someone loves the work, and feels touched. We’re here to serve and love and encourage one another. When I get a vision, I hope it helps someone.”

He has long had a vision as an artist. “As a child I knew that art was my vocation,” Kennedy said. Born in 1945 in Houston, Texas, he moved to the Bay Area in 1965. He lived in San Francisco’s Mission District in the 1970s and painted his first public mural in Hunter’s Point during that time. In Oakland, Kennedy began by painting on cloth, but he soon ran out of canvas, so he started painting on bed sheets and other found materials.

It seems fitting that he often finds his “canvases” on the street. “My art studio is the street,” Kennedy explained. “I paint on bed sheets that I hang on wooden fences and building walls.”

Kennedy paints nearly every day, often working on a bed sheet or a huge piece of cloth spread out on the floor of his studio apartment. He paints while kneeling, as if immersed in prayer. He explains that artistic visions constantly come to him. Living at Oak Center Towers provides him with a steady home base as well as a community from which to draw inspiration. “I love the variety of people here, I love my view of downtown,” he said. “The staff here is so supportive; anything that needs fixed is taken care of right away. I’m also inspired by the other artists here. I’d love to bring them all together so the world can see our creativity.”

Leon Kennedy will have a public mural called Oakland Faces on display at the Oakland Public Library in January. His work will be on exhibition at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center in February as a part of the Black History Month celebration.

*This article was previously published in the Fall 2019 edition of Community Matters with quotes adapted from a Street Spirit article from April 2014.

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With food, music, face painting, balloon hats, games, fresh produce, and information tables, the National Night Out event co-sponsored by Covia Senior Resources, St. Paul’s Towers, and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is a block party like no other.

“About 7 years ago, [Alameda County Senior Resource Director] Carolyn Bolton presented the idea,” says Connie Yuen, Life Enrichment Director at St. Paul’s Towers. “The idea was for St. Paul’s Towers, St. Paul’s Church, Oak Center Towers and Market Day to come together and throw a block party for our neighborhood. Every year we invite local businesses to participate by setting up informational tables and sharing their resources with guests. Each year our National Night Out party has gotten better and better with the attendance rapidly growing.”

“National Night Out is also a great way for us to meet and personally thank our local law enforcement and first responders,” says Yuen.

“It’s a way to bring community,” says Carolyn Bolton. As a high rise senior living building, St. Paul’s Towers can appear cut off from the rest of the neighborhood. The National Night Out block party helps neighbors see that “they don’t need to think the people living there are snob-nosed. It gets everybody on the same page.”

St. Paul’s Towers Executive Director Mary Linde says, “For St. Paul’s Towers, it allows us to serve our neighbors and get to know our community outside our walls. It’s about being kindness, love, and community to our neighbors.”

Yuen says, “We look forward to National Night Out every year because it’s our way of giving back and showing love to our greater community. I love seeing our residents bonding and laughing with neighbors they are meeting for the very first time.”

And the connections don’t end with meeting for the first time. Yuen says, “It’s a great feeling to see familiar faces and the same families come each year and seeing the children grow!”

“We’ve been told that many times that we host the biggest block party in Oakland. It’s truly a great place to be so I hope to see many new faces this year,” Yuen says. Linde adds, “Anyone may come. It’s really fun!”

National Night Out 2018 takes place on Tuesday, August 7. The event in front of St. Paul’s Towers, 100 Bay Place in Oakland, takes place from 6:00-8:00 pm.

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