LOVE IN ACTION
2019 -20 AN N UAL R E PO RT
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D ea r Oa kl a n d L eaf Co m m u n i ty,
Much love to you all. Thanks for being a part of our community.
TAB LE O F CO NTE NTS MISSION, VISION, + VALUES COVID-19 RESPONSE EFFORTS K-12 PROGRAMS Melissa Mendez Ochoa, Executive Director
LOVE CULTIVATING SCHOOLYARDS ROOTS INTERNSHIP PEACE CAMP OUR STAFF + BOARD SUPPORTERS
MISSION AND VISION
OAKLAND LEAF PLANTS SEEDS TO GROW. WE ROOT IN, RISE UP, AND BRANCH OUT. WE’RE COMMITTED TO STAY. Oakland Leaf’s mission
Our ultimate goal
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VALUES
Oakland Leaf’s core values guide every aspect of our work
CRITIC A
ION T C
L
U
IT
TI
M
N
VA
COM
TIO N
KING
LOVE IN
IN TH
A
VOICE
CU
Y
LOVE IN ACTION
VOICE
COMMUNITY
CRITICAL THINKING
L
CULTIVATION
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COVID-19 RESPONSE EFFORTS VI RTUAL YO UTH PRO G R AM S priority, Oakland Leaf transitioned all our programming online in March to align with the local shelter-in-place order. We immediately began facilitating virtual programming, including restorative justice circles, daily one-on-one check-ins with youth, and video tutorials and webinars. We centered our program themes of social-emotional learning, critical thinking, creative expression, and leadership development, engaging students in fun and meaningful ways, while providing them with a sense of connection, community, and stability in a time of unprecedented social disconnection and uncertainty.
S U PP O RT FO R FAM I LI E S families. We compiled and disseminated a comprehensive list of resources and we facilitated numerous group workshops and one-on-one meetings to help parents apply for unemployment, small business loans, and other resources.
FAC E MA S K D I STR I BUTI O N Oakland Leaf neighborhoods have some of the highest rates of COVID-19 cases in all of Alameda County. Thanks to a generous in-kind donation from reusable cloth face masks to the East Oakland youth and families who need them most.
COV I D - 19 R E S P O N S E E F FO RT S
With the health and safety of our students and community as our top
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FO O D D I STR I B UTI O N and hunger has dramatically increased in East Oakland. As part of our ongoing commitment to increase access to healthy food for our students and families, along with distributing organic produce from our school based gardens, we partnered consistently delivering 600+ loaves of bread a week directly to Oakland Leaf families.
families were already struggling financially. Additionally we do not have access to affordable, fresh, and healthy food options in our neighborhoods. Oakland Leaf initiated our direct food distribution, in part, to substitute for our school-based food pantries and the healthy snacks and meals provided in our after-school programs. We will continue our work delivering food to our youth and families as long as programs remain virtual.
COV I D - 19 R E S P O N S E E F FO RT S
Since the onset of COVID-19, food insecurity
k-12 PROGRAMS Oakland Leaf continued to provide quality, enriching, and free after-school programming for approximately 750 East Oakland students at six high-need elementary and middle schools.
STUDENTS
97%
89%
of the students we
were English reduced lunch
students of color
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54%
OUR PRGR AMS
Oakland Leaf supported youth to build their social and emotional skills with mindfulness and resiliency practices, team-building exercises, creative expression and movement activities, and restorative justice circles. We invested in the leadership development of of Passage retreats focused on social awareness and community impact. 8th grade students also participated in high school transition readiness activities and peer-to-peer mentorships with our high school interns.
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FO R J O RDAN
BY ALEXANDRIA “ALIE” JONES, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM MANAGER
I met Jordan when she was an incoming and apprehensive as she adjusted to the new space and new people. I watched her sleepover. She became more comfortable and self assured. I noticed she has this innate urge to be supportive to me, to her friends, and to her teachers. Jordan is more than helpful; she is intentional. She embodies kindness, respect, and
support, whether she is passing out She regularly advocates for herself and others. Consistently centering cultivation and encouragement of others, she is truly a role model for younger youth.
k- 1 2 P R o G R A M S
“
‘MUCH LOVE’
Left to right:
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FOR OAKLAND LEAF PROGRAM PARTNER AMERICA SCORES BY ISABEL “ISA” GONZALEZ, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM MANAGER
Oakland Leaf partnered with America Scores opportunity to participate on a soccer team as part of their after-school programming. The 3rd and 4th grade girls who participated on the soccer team this year had literally never played soccer before. To be on the team they had to commit to practice until 5pm twice a week and games against other teams every weekend. I remember they were so excited to wear their jerseys for
and follow through. It also taught them how to speak up for themselves and how to celebrate each other. They learned how to
really supported their development in so many ways.
k- 1 2 P R o G R A M S
“
‘MUCH LOVE’
LOVE CULTIVATING SCHOOLYARDS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
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Our Love Cultivating Schoolyards’ (LCS) paid internship program created opportunities for 36 East Oakland high school students to interact with the harvesting fruits and vegetables, picking earth, and composting. LCS interns also justice issues, received leadership and professional development, and led gardening classes for younger students in after-school garden clubs. As part of our summer programming, Oakland Leaf provided interns with the materials to create home gardens and supported them to cultivate vegetables and medicinal plants and carry out about the cultural histories and practical uses of each plant. With our six community school gardens in East Oakland, our direct distribution of fresh, organic produce to families, and Oakland Leaf is combatting the pervasive food insecurity in our communities, and contributing to movements for food, environmental, and social justice.
LOV E C U LTI VATI N G S C H O O L YA R D S
natural world through planting seeds,
“Gardening can be really calming but it is also so much fun to get your hands in the dirt and to see the seeds grow. And it is so rewarding. The students put all this work and care and intention into the soil and then they get to watch that love grow into living things that they can see and hold and smell and eat. It really means something to them that they have this space that they are responsible for. They don’t really have other experiences like that. I feel so lucky that I get to share my love of plants with the students.” Cherry Ann Arellanno, LCS Garden Program Instructor
STEPHANIE
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“We are supporting young folks to learn about and connect with all forms of life that make up the natural world. Every day in the program, young people are required to go out and interact with other living things. Our goal is to promote a familiarization with the natural world that will inspire a sense of interconnectedness and, ultimately, a sense of respect for and responsibility to all living things. It is to other living beings that we can truly care for them.” Matthew Linzner, LCS Founder and Program Manager
“Growing food is an act of resistance because we are not letting our circumstances determine what we do. We don’t have easy access to organic food in our neighborhoods so we are taking matters into our own hands and growing our own. Growing food is also an act of cultural preservation because our ancestors grew food. And especially how we’re doing it not mass-producing it - it helps us connect back to our roots”. Stephanie, LCS Intern 2019-20
LOV E C U LTI VATI N G S C H O O L YA R D S
only when we have fully internalized our connection
Genesis) were the pioneers in taking those steps. We made friends with others in the program and little by little the community expanded.” Speaking about what life was like in high school, José Luis shared, “We would see people being robbed on our way to school. There would be shoot outs at our school, gang violence.
Schoolyards Program Manager, Matthew Linzner. Matthew took his interns on camping trips to the wilderness, snowboarding in the Sierras, and tidepool explorations on the coast, where the youth became more closely bonded and their horizons expanded. As part of the Oakland Leaf program, when college came into view as a possibility, José Luis went on college campus tours, helping him to prepare for another important step in his development.
State I would talk with the youth in our programs and encourage them to check it out. I knew they were great students who could do well. They just needed to see it to get themselves motivated. One of the students said, “If José Luis did it, we can all do it. We come from the same neighborhood, the same environment.”
actually have a say, or run for Congress, where I can make legislation that changes the system. I want people to feel more comfortable, not to feel like they are foreigners. I want to represent
LOV E C U LTI VATI N G S C H O O L YA R D S
shot or getting into trouble. It always felt like home, super positive and looking out for each other.”
ROOTS
INTERNSHIP Roots interns worked as maintain a creative educational space for young students. Interns provided academic support, held space for social-emotional development, and served as mentors. Interns also participated in trainings and coaching sessions designed to support their leadership and social-emotional development, as well as their college and career readiness. Over the summer, interns participated in team building activities, developed and implemented community impact projects, and served as Instructor Aids for the Oakland Peace Camp.
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R O OT S I NTE R N S H I P
“I am a living example of the kind of impact Oakland Leaf has on the young people we invest in. I was an after-school program participant, an intern, an instructor, a program assistant, and now I am the program manager of an internship program that I helped to create. And there have been so many
priority on relationship and community building. We actually started Roots because the young people were telling us they wanted more concrete opportunities to stay involved after they aged out of the after-school programs. Our commitment to Oakland youth is much bigger than the timeline of one program. Leaf love is for life.� Genesis Rodriguez, Roots Program Manager
“The best part for me about the internship has been getting to meet and connect with new people and also just having the opportunity to share my voice and help out.” Corion, Roots Intern 2019-20
“Before joining Roots, I was doing very little to nothing when it came to being part of my community and helping improve it. Roots has helped me realize that working with youth, especially elementary school students is something I’m interested in for my career in the system that I am so grateful for. It’s something a lot of high school students lack. They have helped me establish goals and helped me reach them. The internship has helped me develop and improve skills like time management, group work, professional networking. Through the internship I am able to provide assistance and be a role model to kids of the similar background as me, and that’s something really important.” Kendy, Roots Intern 2019-20 24
“Interning with Oakland Leaf gave me
Now, as an Instructor, I am committed to helping to close the opportunity gaps my students face. A lot of my students come in not knowing their letters or how to pronounce words and I am always to help improve their literacy. I also love creating opportunities for my students to do hands-on projects that allow them to tap into their creativity, and at the same time develop their motor skills and their to see us after a long day of classes. As someone who grew up in this neighborhood and knows the struggles my students face, it means so much to me to be able to be there for them in this way.� Kimberly, former Roots Intern and
current Oakland Leaf After-school Program Instructor�
R O OT S I NTE R N S H I P
classroom and I can make a real
“
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‘MUCH LOVE’
FOR ROOTS INTERN CINDY BY ERIKA CARDONA, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM MANAGER
R O OT S I NTE R N S H I P
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OAKLAND CAMP
Oakland Peace Camp (OPC) went digital this year. The camp theme, “healing ourselves, the heart of of Oakland Leaf’s deep belief and investment in young people as community healers, leaders, and changemakers. The curriculum emphasized Trust Your Struggle Collective, Cece Carpio, Nisha K. Sethi, Priya Handa and Robert Trujillo.
social justice, cultural identity, creative expression, restorative practices, and resiliency strategies.
OA K L A N D P E AC E C A M P
PEACE
OAK L AN D PE AC E CAM P education, service, and online action projects on issues including homelessness, food security, COVID-19 and domestic violence, among others. In addition to supporting young people to learn about and take action on issues a safe and supportive space for youth to collectively process their feelings and experiences and support each other to develop new resiliency practices. In this time of such challenging social disconnection and personal struggle for young people, the close-knit community
“Oakland Peace Camp has been an
and relationships of support we were able
amazing opportunity for me - from
to cultivate were especially powerful
meeting new people to learning to speak
outcomes of the program.
up and have my voice heard on social been so welcoming to me. I want to keep working with Oakland Leaf in the future because OPC is not just a program - it’s more like a family.” Alexis, OPC 2020 youth participant
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OA K L A N D P E AC E C A M P
fourteen. I’ve participated every year since, as an intern, and then as an instructor, and now as a program manager. For me, the most unique and ways of viewing and understanding our society and ourselves. It equips young people with concrete tools to challenge harmful dominant narratives and also to take concrete, creative action on the issues that matter the most to them. And at the same time, it provides this really safe, loving, fun, supportive space for youth to process, heal, and build community”. Isabel “Isa” Gonzalez, After-school Program Manager and OPC Crew Leader
ALEXIS
OAKLAND LEAF STAFF
96%
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90%
67%
communities and experiences of the young people they work with, it fosters a sense of belonging, builds community ties and inspires young people to envision themselves in leadership roles.
social and emotional learning component of their after-school program at International Community School when I was the Principal there. I was immediately impressed with how creative and open-minded they were about the work. Many programs stick to the same inevitable challenges that come with change. Oakland Leaf is constantly assessing their impact, as well as the changing needs of students, families and schools. And they are consistently willing to innovate to better meet those needs. It is inspiring to see a group of educators so powerfully dedicated to the success of their students.� Monica Guzman, Oakland Leaf Board Member
O U R S TA F F + D I R E C TO R S
At Oakland Leaf, we believe that when instructors
OAKLAND LEAF BOARD OF DIRECTORS GAIL CAMACHO, Board Chair Informing Change KIM DUFF, Secretary
EVAN MILLER, Treasurer
USE OF FUNDS REVENUE 2019-2020
Alameda County of Education
FEE FOR SERVICE
$1,410,937 $81,905 $475,500 $11,750 $267,570 $142,917 $4,411
TOTAL
$2,394,989
HARRIS BOSTIC II Tides HOWARD JOYCE
ODIAKA GONZALEZ
MONICA GUZMAN Mount Diablo Unified School District
EXPENSES 2019-2020*
DEBRA LEVINSKY
$1,957,900 $149,433 $235,056
Retired Medical Doctor MARINA ORTEGA UCSF SCOTT SILLERS
TOTAL RESERVE *unaudited
STEPHEN WALROD Retired Clinical Psychologist
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$2,342,389 $52,600
O U R S TA F F + D I R E C TO R S
FUNDRAISING
MANAGEMENT + GENERAL
10.03%
6.38% USAGE
PROGRAM EXPENSES
83.59%
OAKLAND LEAF SUPPORTORS Much love to all of the individual and institutional investors who help make Oakland Leaf’s work possible. We are deeply grateful for your commitment to the success and well-being of East Oakland youth.
For the past 3 years, Donna has donated her culinary expertise as part of the auction component of Oakland Leaf’s annual gala.
though, this town has raised me and given so much to American history, from hip hop to social justice to immigration love to being a queer haven. Oakland Leaf supports - Donna Collins
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S U P P O RTO R S
In addition to being a generous annual donor, Blake volunteered regularly at an Oakland Leaf after-school program, providing much-needed one-on-one support to students.
stood out as the most comprehensive program that really cared. When volunteering, I witnessed the organization going above and beyond to help improve the lives and provide a safe space for their students no matter the background, social economic status or the color of their skin�.
OAKLAND LEAF SUPPORTERS This list reflects total donations and grants received from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020.
Abigail Lutsky Adele and Paul McAndrew Adina Cooper Adolph Rosekrans Alan and Katherine Reinke Alice Waters Alison Gilbert Ama Torrance
Caitlin Lang and Chris Gaither
AmazonSmile
Carol Kusmierski
Amy and Dennis Spangler
Cathalina Kung
Amy Gorman
Chami and Sonali Perera
Amy Schuman and Larry Stoler
Charles and Naomie Kremer Charlie Kaplan
Andrew and Teresa Gunther
Chienying Liu
Andrew Park
Chris Pike Christopher and Stephanie Joseph
Anna Kneitel and Michael Gross
City of Oakland Cultural Funding
Anonymous
Claus Mueller and Sally Camacho Mueller
Anonymous Family Fund Anthony and Maria Cassel
Clorox Company Family Fund
Apple Inc.
Corey Newhouse
April Wu and Jace Levinson
Craig and Patricia Pratt
Arthur Edelman
Crankstart
Aubrie Fong Aviva Schwartz Ayanna and Carlos Reed
Cynthia Zaballos Dania Mendez Dannielle Williams Darla Cuadra
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Darren Kalb David Kessler and Nancy Mennel David Siegel and Andrea Picchi Deborah and Michael Lesser Deborah and Robert Van Nest Debra Levinsky
Ilana Katz
Donald Jacobus
Ilana Master Ito and Casey Ripsteen
Ed and Liliane Schneider
Jackie Cookie
Eileen Keller and Craig Williams Elaine and Ric Tombari Jamie Dande Elizabeth and Charles Farnsworth
Jane Sherman
Elizabeth Ann
Janet Tam
Elizabeth Kandall and Jonathan Slone
Janet White and Michael Clark Jeanine and Guy Saperstein
Emma Liss Erin Lewellen and Amy Jones Eva Mendez
Jenny Smith Jessica Skylar
Evan Schneider
Joan Mikkelsen Johanna Chiong Masis and Joe Peacock
Fishman Family Foundation
John Justus
Francis Meynard
Jonah Isenstein
Fund for Shared Insight
Jordan Cooper
Gail Camacho and Reuben Sana
Joshua DeFigueiredo
Gap, Inc.
Judy Wofsy
Gary and Willette Iwatani
Julie and Fred Nachtwey
George Lewinski Google Karyn Mandan Gwen Mecenas
S U P P O RTO R S
J.T. Childs Jr.
Kelly Lopez
Maya Katz Ali
Kendra Aiken
Melindevic Gamil
Kerry Compton
Metrovation Miguel Mendez
Koshland-Wachtel
Monica Chew and Chris Karlof Monica Guzman
Kurt and Carla Patzner Lacey Sher and Jason Silverio Larry Moss
Nadia McCroden
Laurie and Neal Adams Laura Peck
Naomi Shelan Natalie Van Tassel
Lee Slome and Anthony Fenner Leonel Gonzalez
Ned Leiba
Linda Picchi and Andrew Pojman
Nicholas and Kristin Walrod
Lior Appel-Kraut
Nifer Kilakila and Ghislain Lacroix Noah Finkelstein and Rena Stoler
Lisa Reynolds
Noll and Tam Architects
Lockey Todd
Norma and Jaime Godinez
Lorraine Lerman and Clyde Leland
Norma Pizano
Love Cultivating Assets
Odiaka and Viet-Ly Gonzalez Olga Salinas
Luis Mendez Lyft
Pam Gelman and Rick Rosenbaum
Lynn and Len Epstein
Patricia and Michael Sullivan Paul Richardson
Marcia Tanner Margery Cantor
PayPal Giving Fund Perri Sylvester
Maria and Juan Carlos Mendoza
Peter Danzig and Lava Thomas
Mariana Mucci Marilyn Corson Marina Ortega and Shannon Coughlin
Rachel Cohen
Marlene and Rick Millikan
Rachel Fishman
Marnie Curry
Rachel Winsberg
Martha Chase Ramon Montoya 40
Randy Tuskowski and Adrian Rangel Raymond James
Stephen and Marie Fox
Rebekah Espino-Drobner Stephen Walrod and Lauren McIntosh
Roberto Gonzalez
Steven and Marion Fredman
Rodolfo Milito
Susan and David Princehouse
Roger Manuel
Susan Mattmann and Matthew Morse
Ron Little
Susan Robinson
Rosa Davalos Rose Mendelsohn
Take Two Software
Ross Andleman Tatiana Chanel Villegas Teresa Picchi and Joel Linzner Ruth Miska
The Morrison Foerster Foundation
Ruth Stroup Insurance Inc.
Theresa Esparrago Lieu
Sal Mendez and Rosa Ochoa
Theresa Fleury Thomas George Wood
San Francisco Foundation
Thomas Mowrer Tom Le Clair and Pooneh Koohyar Toni Garrett
Sarah Schuman
Tracy and Jim Winchester
Scott Sillers and Mona Williams
Veronica Godniez
Sergio Szyrko
Vickie Lewis
Shahar Sztainer Shalini Patnaik Sharon Simpson
Wanda and Jud Peake
Sheila Sosnow and Richard Nagler
Wen Shen
Sher-Right Fund Sherry and Jack Delo
William Dayton
Sid and Maria Gallego
Wind River Workday
Skye Lawrence Srisakul Kliks Stacie Chun Star Grocery
S U P P O RTO R S
Richard and Dee Lawrence
LOVE IN ACTION OUTSIDE BACK
If you would like to support Oakland Leaf, please mail:
520 3rd Street, Suite 109 Oakland CA 94607
@Oakland_Leaf
or make a yearly/monthly gift that allows us to plan for and meet unexpected challenges: oaklandleaf.org/donate For more information about our programs, please contact us at: development@oaklandleaf.org or call (510) 564-4334.
@OaklandLeaf @oaklandleaf Oakland Leaf is a federally recognized ID # is: 810-565800.
