Oakland Leaf Annual Report 2019-20

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

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LOVE IN

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LOVE IN ACTION

VOICE

COMMUNITY

CRITICAL THINKING

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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.