At Oakland Lacrosse Club (OLC), our mission has always been about more than just the sport. We’re dedicated to creating pathways for youth through a comprehensive program with a powerful network of support As we reflect on this past year and look ahead, we’re proud of the strides we’ve made in expanding our program, creating safe spaces for growth, and ensuring every young athlete in Oakland Lacrosse has the tools to thrive.
Time and again, we’ve seen what happens when a young person steps outside their comfort zone and joins the team; they’ve said “yes” to something new and full of possibility—and that is when lacrosse turns into more than just a game. It becomes a mirror for their strength, a stage for growth, and a path to belonging. Whether they join in sixth grade or twelfth, that moment of courage opens the door to confidence, resilience, and a community that believes in them and supports them every step of the way
This past year, we deepened our partnership with the Oakland Athletic League (OAL) and Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) and continued bringing lacrosse directly to public schools by building an eight-team middle school league. Starting with Bret Harte, Edna Brewer, Elmhurst United, and Roosevelt, we’ve built a pipeline that introduces players to the sport as early as sixth grade and provides holistic support including mentoring, goal setting, academic counseling, and leadership development through high school graduation and beyond. This long-term investment nurtures leadership, builds self-efficacy, and creates a powerful citywide community where, across grades, schools, and neighborhoods, we are connected. It’s more than a program it’s a movement grounded in teamwork, shared purpose, and a lasting sense of belonging.
This work wouldn’t be possible without the deep commitment of our staff, board, coaches, and the extended community that stands with us. Thanks to your support, our program continues to grow reaching more young people and deepening our work every day. Together, we are are equipped to lead,
Kevin Kelley Founder & Executive D
9 OUSD middle and high schools
232 players from grades 6-12 across teams in the Oakland Athletic League
14
70% of our Girls High School Program were first-time lacrosse players
28 9 coaches supported by full-time staff members
98% of players claim they feel more confident about their future 92% of players reported having better overall well-being because of relationships with their peers and coaches 90% Over of OLC seniors were accepted by 2- and 4-year colleges
21 Summer Ambassadors hired and trained to coach elementary and middle school students throughout Oakland
“Being on the team and playing in Lake Tahoe helped bring out different cultures and backgrounds from the different players... and helped deepen the bond between the girls on the team.”
-Nyla ‘26
“The different opportunities OLC provides showed me the world beyond Oakland allowing me to learn different skills and experiences.” -Cesar ‘24
Photo taken by Tati Barquero
Captured by Brittani Burgess
SPRING TEAM EXPERIENCE
Our public-private partnership with the Oakland Athletic League and Oakland Unified School District are essential to our mission. Together, we expand access to sports and youth development by combining our year-round programming with the infrastructure and reach of OUSD schools. The spring team experience is the culmination of our program team’s fall recruiting efforts and off-season preparation.
MIDDLE SCHOOL EXPANSION
Building on the success of our 2021 "Leading with the Girls" Initiative, Oakland Lacrosse was invited to expand this model for both boys and girls to the middle school level reaching even more students across Oakland. In partnership with the Oakland Athletic League and the Oakland Unified School District, OLC launched an eight-team league with 95 middle school players from four schools: Bret Harte, Edna Brewer, Elmhurst United, and Roosevelt.
Remarkably, 83% of our middle school players were first-time lacrosse participants. From March to May each team practiced twice a week, played in 7 games, and were pioneers in establishing the first official teams at their schools. The introduction of lacrosse into Oakland public schools is about much more than athletics; it highlights the dedication and ambition of Oakland youth to better themselves. Ultimately, this expansion will welcome more OUSD students into the OLC family, giving them access to our year-round resources.
Photos taken by Tati Barquero
ESM PREP
ESM Prep provides expert guidance and personalized academic counseling for OLC juniors and seniors throughout the college application process Offering one-on-one support, the program assists students with essay writing, test preparation, and FAFSA applications, ensuring they are fully equipped to navigate the complexities of higher education admissions. ESM Prep offered over 50 hours this year!
This partnership has officially existed since 2020 and helped over 60 OLC players (now alumni). ESM Prep learns each student’s unique needs and encourages them to highlight their individual strengths, ultimately leading to success in their academic endeavors.
100% of OLC’s Class of 2024 graduated from high school and 95% of this year’s class will pursue 2- or 4-year degrees.
WHERE THEY WILL BE ATTENDING:
Berkeley City College
California Polytechnic State University
California State University, Fullerton
Contra Costa City College
Fort Lewis College
Howard University
Lycoming College
Lycoming College
Sacramento State
San Francisco State University
Sweet Briar College
University of Arizona
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Los Angeles
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Michigan
Photos taken by Tati Barquero
ONE TOWN, ONE FAMILY
“One Town, One Family” reflects the power of sports to unite Oakland. It means that no matter what school you attend or neighborhood you’re from, we’re all part of something
bigger. As a growing sport in the city, lacrosse creates opportunities for connection across schools, neighborhoods, and backgrounds. It even connects us beyond Oakland.
THIRD ANNUAL 4V4 JAMBOREE
On Sunday, December 14th, 2023, 41 lacrosse teams also arrived, eager to compete in our third annual 4v4 Jamboree at Laney College. Over 200 players from U10 to High School Varsity traveled through the rain from across the Bay Area, ready to showcase their skills. The small-sided fields came alive with clever picks, trick shots, and bold new moves players had been waiting to try. Teams played their first three games with their registered squads before mixing by age group for the final two, creating new teams with players from diverse backgrounds, clubs, and schools. Our unique 4v4 format has made this one of the most anticipated Bay Area Lacrosse tournaments and we couldn’t do it without the help of our High School Jamboree Council, Adult Jamboree Board, FocusOnTheField, or our corporate sponsors.
HIGH SCHOOL JAMBOREE COUNCIL
Ava Garduno
Avery Ives
Charlotte Melaugh
Chase Ruegg
Chloe Grijalva
Alexis Longinotti
Alicia Florin
Amanda Frey
Elsa Braunstein
Fatima Carrillo Agapito
Grace Imrie
Graciela Kerr
Graham Weir
Isabelle Hsu
Leslie Iorio
Madden Kratus
Natalie DeCherney
Nirali Bhakta
ADULT JAMBOREE BOARD
Ben Sparks
Erica Wilson
Kevin Kelley
Mark Guthrie
Mike Iorio
Steven Seiler
Reese Imrie
Tabitha Maher
Tate Sedlachek
Isobel Starkey
Walter Kane
Tati Barquero
Tyler Kreitz
Photos taken by Tati Barquero
In its fourth year, OLC’s Summer Ambassadors Program (SAP) engaged 21 high school and college-aged ambassadors to lead introductory lacrosse lessons for over 3,000 Oakland youth. After being selected and trained, ambassadors delivered programming at 3 AIM High and 17 Oakland Parks, Rec & Youth Development sites through this paid opportunity. Returning ambassadors took on more leadership, with options to plan sessions independently, lead sites, and earn a pay raise.
CAREER READINESS & FINANCIAL LITERACY WORKSHOPS SUMMER AMBASSADORS
As the Summer Ambassadors Program grows, more OLC youth express how our paid summer work opportunity leads to transferrable professional and life skills. Summer Ambassadors could opt into Career Readiness Workshops with Greg, Jessica & Brandon from Morgen Davies LLC as well as Financial Literacy with Ms. Elisha Davis, founder of Self Drafted. This was year two of the financial literacy workshop and Ms. Davis has a gift of connecting with our young adults in a way that centers their experience to bring awareness of the power at their fingertips. Just like sports, being financially responsible is a trained habit. Two claps for Ms. Davis for continu
EXPLORATION DAY WITH ACCEL-KKR
On July 30th, 11 OLC Summer Ambassadors visited the AccelKKR private equity firm in Menlo Park for the second year of career exploration. This interactive session offered insights into private equity while emphasizing the importance of relationships, self-awareness, and standing out by honing one’s unique strengths. The visit concluded with a discussion led by AKKR Founder and Co-Managing Partner Tom Barnds, who encouraged ambassadors to reflect on the qualities employers seek and the value of embracing new opportunities. Thank you to the AKKR team for their time in making this experience possible for the second year in a row.
8 hours of sports-based youth development training
21 Aim High and OPYRD sites
Over 85% of were youth of color
OUR FINANCES
In FY24, Oakland made strategic investments to expand its middle school program and strengthen fundraising capacity, laying the groundwork for long-term growth. By boosting our ability to secure funding and extend our reach, we’re building a strong foundation for future success. While we experienced a short-term net loss, we project $1.73 million in revenue for 2025—a 25% increase—and will continue growing our reserves to support future stability and impact.
