OAKLAND LEAF FOUNDATION
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Mission Statement
Oakland Leaf cultivates community transformation through creative education for youth and families. Our goal is simple, give our students and their parents the resources they need to become agents of positive change in their community. Our vision is to embolden youth and families to be creative leaders who actualize a more loving, just, and vibrant Oakland. Founded in 2002 and serving over 1,200 students and their families annually, Oakland Leaf helps Oakland students achieve academic success and develop into thoughtful, creative citizens. Working with partners such as Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) and the City of Oakland, we provide a series of free school-based programs and community services that give students and families with limited financial resources access to the tools they need—not just to succeed, but to excel. We are guided in our work by our credo, "Love is an action!"
About This Cause
Oakland Leaf works in partnership with Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) to achieve our shared vision for a full service community school district that serves the whole child. Our work makes it possible for schools to provide wrap-around services for students and families. By focusing on the physical, cognitive, and social and emotional needs of students, our programs are designed to support students in their transitions to be successful, healthy, and happy adults. Our approach is identified by the interweaving of our five initiatives which correlate to challenges and opportunities in our community: 1) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), 2) Literacy, 3) Art and Culture, 4) Health and Wellness, and 5) Empowerment and Leadership. Each of these initiatives is actively incorporated across all of our programs. Our programs currently include six comprehensive after-school programs for elementary and middle school students, a wrap-around family resource center, a leadership and media arts program at Fremont High school, a school-based community garden and ecology programs, an All Oakland Youth Talent Showcase, a three-week arts and social justice education summer camp called Oakland Peace Camp, and a youth internship program. Oakland Leaf’s programs focus on engaging students and families with activities that encourage growth and awareness about themselves and our community. Our goal is to transform our schools into free year-round community centers where students have access to academic and enrichment programs that are designed to support and enhance what they learn during the regular school day. We believe parent participation is key to the success of our students. Therefore, parents are urged to participate in their child’s education at every level. We provide them with resources and workshops to support their child’s learning at home. Our programs cultivate a sense of wonderment and an interest in learning in a safe, and loving environment. We are committed to: providing supportive relationships, helping students achieve academically, programming that is culturally relevant, offering youth safe place to play, building confidence, making learning fun, cultivating creativity and imagination, helping students find their voice, and teaching self-determination. In Oakland, about 50% of children are trapped in and go onto a life of poverty, crime, and violence. Oakland Leaf strives to diminish these conditions and close the achievement gap for Oakland youth by giving students the support they need to succeed both emotionally and academically. Our students represent Oakland’s cultural wealth; 70% of our students are Latino, 20% are African American, and 5% are Asian. They also face many challenges. All students participating in our programs live in what Measure Y defines as a high stress neighborhood. All of our participants live in urban areas of Oakland where violence, drugs, and poor environmental conditions have a heavy impact on the community. 91% of our students participate in the free or reduced price lunch program. More than 70% of our students live in non-English speaking households. Unfortunately, these statistics directly impact the academic achievement of our students. Within the schools we work, only 47% of students score proficient in science on the California Standards Test (CST), and only 45% score proficient in English on the CST. Oakland also has some of the lowest high school graduation rates in the country; less than 2/3 of students graduate. Despite all of this, we are hopeful. We believe that Oakland’s rich cultures will be the means by which our communities heal, celebrate, mourn, and ultimately succeed.