The Junior Center’s mission is to cultivate curiosity and creative exploration through the arts and sciences. Located in the heart of Oakland on the shores of Lake Merritt, we aim to serve all youth throughout Oakland and beyond. OUR VALUES We value the necessity of equity and representation in the fields of art and science and invest in the future of these fields by providing equitable access to our programs. We value creativity and imagination – two cornerstones in art and science exploration. We design our programs to support innovation and creative inquiry. We believe personal connection makes for the best learning experiences. Our programs are designed to be fun, interactive and learner-driven. We value our space as a community space. All families are welcome through our doors. We provide hands-on making experiences through our exhibitions, hands-on drop-in programs, workshops, and classes in the arts and sciences.