Adopt an Oakland School

ADOPT AN OAKLAND SCHOOL Climb Real Estate volunteers provided more than 50 hours of support to Cleveland Elementary School during the 2017-18 school year.

2017-18 COMMUNITY IMPACT REPORT

In the 2017-18 school year, Climb Real Estate adopted Cleveland Elementary. Through this partnership, employee volunteers engaged with teachers and supported student literacy throughout the year.

Climb Real Estate Employees took part in the following volunteer events: • Teacher Appreciation • Latinx Literature Read-In Week • African American Literature Read-In Week • Asian Pacific American Literature Read-In Week

“Our students know that their families and teachers are pulling for them, but volunteers show them that our entire city is pulling for them and depending on them.”

- PETER VAN TASSEL, PRINCIPAL

PARTNERSHIP LAUNCH & TEACHER APPRECIATION Climb Real Estate employee volunteers kicked off their partnership with Cleveland Elementary with an event to appreciate teachers. Volunteers wanted teachers’ feedback on what kind of volunteer support would make the biggest difference to the school. They brainstormed together over lunch to envision how volunteer events could positively impact school culture and student achievement.

LATINX LITERATURE READ-IN WEEK As of 2016, people of color were represented by just 22% of children’s books characters. The three read-in weeks celebrated in Oakland schools lift up students’ diverse cultures and affirm that school is a place where they belong. Climb Real Estate employee volunteers supported all three “read-ins” at Cleveland this year. Students see volunteers modeling respect for different cultures and feel supported by adults in their community.

AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE READ-IN WEEK Climb Real Estate employees continued to support a culture of literacy at Cleveland Elementary with the African American Literature Read-In Week. Each volunteer reads aloud a book that is by and about African Americans, and afterwards, students learn from their volunteer by asking questions about their career path. This helps students to connect their education to their futures and feel inspired about setting goals.

Exposure to different career opportunities is so important for motivating students and helping them plan for their futures.

ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN LITERATURE READ-IN WEEK Reading aloud is so important because it expands a students’ body of background knowledge, builds vocabulary, and helps instill a lifelong love of reading.

Additionally, when a student sees themselves in the characters of a book, their self-esteem grows! Climb Real Estate employee volunteers brought fun, engaging energy to the Asian Pacific American Literature Read-In Week, which helped remind students how fun reading is before they headed off to summer break.

“My students loved that Climb volunteers came to read and then had a conversation about the story.”

- DORCAS CHAN, EDUCATOR

ABOUT CLEVELAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Cleveland Elementary School is a very diverse and close knit community built around the shared values of inclusiveness and responsiblity, with a commitment to developing productive, compassionate, and ethical students.

STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS 21% African American 39% Asian 12% Latino 14% White 1% Filipino 11% Multiple 29% of Cleveland students are English Language Learners

“Many volunteers form Climb Real Estate are from Oakland. Students were able to deeply connect with the volunteers because they share a love of Oakland.”

- HONG THACH DEVELOPMENT MANAGER OAKLAND PUBLIC EDUCATION FUND

GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND Climb Real Estate volunteers went above and beyond this year to support our second annual Dressed by West prom dress giveaway, co-hosted with the Warriors.

The expense of purchasing a prom dress can be a financial burden to many Oakland students and their families. Thanks to the Climb Real Estate team’s help before and during the event, we were able to give away nearly 450 prom dresses to students!

As one grandmother told us after the event: ““My granddaughter picked up her prom dress today, I’ve not seen her this happy and genuinely excited in quite some time. The event was so special, dresses, shoes and goody bags, and a candy booth stocked with her favorite purple hard candy. We’re so happy, one less expense to deal with in her senior year. Thank you!”

For information about volunteer opportunities, including our Adopt an Oakland School program, contact lilly@oaklandedfund.org or visit www.oaklandschoolvolunteers.com