Oakland Promise

Thank you Deprece and Jocelyn of Oakland Promise for meeting with our team for a productive conversation. It's collaborations like these that push our programs forward, and in turn truly benefit Californians. (cc Stephanie Tom Cassandra DiBenedetto #KaseyOConnor)

Oakland Promise would like to extend our most heartfelt thanks to Deputy State Treasurer Stephanie Tom for hosting members from the Oakland Promise Brilliant Baby team Deprece `Bonilla and Jocelyn Kelleher, along with ScholarShare Executive Director Cassandra DiBenedetto and HOPE Executive Director Kasey O'Connor, for a meaningful discussion in Sacramento. It was a chance to hear about and share our collective passion for serving Californians furthest from opportunity. At Oakland Promise, we believe in the power of collaboration to create real change, and this meeting was an incredible reminder of what can be accomplished when leaders come together with a shared commitment to equity and opportunity. We are grateful for your invitation to hear our perspectives and feedback on the CalKIDS program and to explore ways to strengthen the support available for Oakland's students and families. The future looks bright when we work together toward a common goal—ensuring that every child in California has the resources and opportunities to succeed. We look forward to continuing our partnership with each of you to advance this mission and make a lasting impact! #OaklandPromise #CalKIDS #Collaboration #EducationalEquity #OpportunityForAll #CaliforniaYouth #CommunityImpact #OpportunityChangesEverything

The East Oakland Youth Development Center is proud to count ourselves among the organizations working with Oakland Promise on this collective effort!

I am honored to have spoken on behalf of Oakland Promise at this event and grateful to have been able to support kids and families on a path towards economic mobility and post secondary degrees!

Oakland Promise is proud to have completed our first year as an Implementation Partner for the Oakland Children’s Initiative. Together with the City of Oakland, we’ve made strides in providing access to educational opportunities for Oakland’s youth. This milestone represents a collective effort to uplift our community and ensure every child has the resources to thrive. Throughout the year, our dedicated collective—including—has worked tirelessly to advance our shared mission of creating equitable opportunities. From expanding early childhood programs to supporting students on their path to higher education, we are committed to creating the necessary space for Oakland's children to succeed. A huge thank you to our fellow implementation partner, First 5 Alameda County, Oakland Children's Initiative Accountability Officer Jennifer Cabán, MPA, the robust list of community partners with whom we are so proud to work, and the entire community for your partnership and trust. We look forward to building on this progress and continuing to shape a brighter future for all of Oakland’s youth! #OaklandChildrensInitiative #CityofOakland #partnerships #community #earlychildhoodeducation #collegeaccess #creatingnecessaryspace #OaklandPromise #OpportunityChangesEverything

Over the summer, the Oakland Promise team was excited to join the AEG Oakland Community Foundation at their amazing Back-to-School Shoe Giveaway and Health and Community Fair on August 9th! Held on the Oakland Arena floor, this event brought together over 1,000 families from Alameda County to kick off the new school year with vital resources. In addition to the AEG Oakland Community Foundation distributing more than 500 pairs of shoes, backpacks, and school supplies, Oakland Promise was there to connect with students and families by helping them sign up for our programs and for CalKIDS college savings accounts. Seeing so many smiles and sharing in a day filled with community support and positivity was inspiring! At Oakland Promise, we’re dedicated to showing up for our community and ensuring every student has the opportunity and resources they need for a bright future. Thank you to AEG Oakland and all the partners for hosting such a meaningful event! And in case you missed it, check out the video featuring Oakland Promise’s very own Jocelyn Kelleher! https://lnkd.in/gQDcw68D

Our newest Data and Tools Advisory Board members are officially sworn in! We look forward to collaborating with our members to ensure that C2C is creating useful tools for all Californians. Please help us give a warm welcome to Daniel Millán (City of Los Angeles Youth Development Department), Myrtha Ortiz Villar, Ed.M. (Students Rising Above), Lauren Reed, MSW, PhD (Oakland Promise), Iulia Tarasova (City of Roseville), and John B. Watson (San Diego County Office of Education) 🎉

As I get back into the groove of my daily work in Oakland, I am still reflecting on the StriveTogether #CradletoCareer Network Convening in Salt Lake City, UT last week. Over 600 network members came together for 3 days of inspiring keynotes, thought provoking sessions, and meaningful networking with folks across the country dedicated to putting 4 million more young people on a path to economic mobility by 2030. On behalf of Oakland Promise, I am honored to be a part of this community of changemakers that is using the power of collective action, community voices, and robust data to create a better future for students everywhere. 🎓 Opportunity Changes Everything! #ConveneC2C #StriveTogether #KnowYourNumber

At Oakland Promise, we understand that securing a brighter future for Oakland’s youth starts early. Through our cradle-to-career programs, we provide families with essential financial tools to begin saving for college, even before a child begins school. A recent article by KQED’s Carlos Cabrera-Lomelí featuring insight from our very own Veena Pawloski highlights the impact of early savings programs and how they can help close the college enrollment gap for historically underserved communities. Oakland Promise is proud to be part of this effort, offering programs that not only open savings accounts for families but also provide mentorship, guidance, and scholarships to help students achieve their academic dreams. Our work, alongside our community partners and powered by the people of Oakland, is built on the belief that providing families with a strategy for college savings fosters tangible hope. Even small contributions make a difference, giving families the confidence and tools they deserve to invest in their children’s future. Together with our partners, we’re committed to ensuring that every young person in Oakland has the opportunity to pursue their educational goals. Want to learn more? Check out the KQED article to see how early college savings programs are making a difference. https://lnkd.in/gpMGnFXU

OUSD hosted an incredible college fair this evening at Oakland High, supporting over 300 students! ♥️👩🏾🎓🧑🏽🎓👩🏻🎓♥️ As a former college advisor and co-founder of a public school in my neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY… this event brought back so many memories💭. It was inspiring to see our local students engaged in dynamic conversations, and it was definitely great to see our Implementation Partner Oakland Promise in their element! I look forward to more connections with our youth — they're such a beautiful reminder of why I do this work.