THE OASIS WAY
FALL 2023
To Our Beloved Community, It brings me great joy to present our 2023 Annual Report. In 2023, Oasis for Girls experienced a year of impact & transformation. We successfully served 139 girls, expanded our empowering program offerings, and welcomed new team members. Your unwavering support has been instrumental in achieving these milestones and I extend my heartfelt gratitude. Here's to a new year of continued growth and positive influence! Warmly,
LaVonda
LaVonda Baldwin Executive Director
2023 Annual Report Oasis for Girls partners with young women of color, aged 14-18, from underresourced communities in San Francisco to cultivate the skills, knowledge, and confidence to discover their dreams and build strong futures.
139 Girls Served Donate to support Oasis in serving girls in San Francisco!
Our 3 Oasis Programs “ENVISION helped me prepare for college and my future. I learned a lot of good information and obtain a lot of good resources.”
“What I liked most was meeting new people and using art to relax. As well as the safe environment around me!!”
CREATE
Arts & Activism
ENVISION Career Exploration
RISE
Life Skills “I really enjoy the community that the RISE cohort built together. We all feel comfortable around each other and I feel like I know everybody well.”
Impact Snapshot
78%
of girls are first generation
39%
of participants return for additional programming
Top Neighborhoods Served Mission District/Bernal Heights Ingleside/Excelsior Tenderloin/Hayes Valley Visitacion Valley
93%
of participants feel “The adults in this program listen to what I have to say”
15%
14%
12%
12% 75%
of girls surveyed said that because of this program, they are better at standing up for themselves
90%
of participants strongly agree with the statement “I feel comfortable being myself at Oasis”
“Oasis has helped me gain confidence in who I am and my identity. This program has helped connect me with many friends to form meaningful relationships. Every cycle with Oasis has been so much fun.” - Tiffany
“Participating in Oasis programs has empowered me to envision and pursue my future goals because it taught me all the identities I hold and what I can achieve with them.” -Kady
80%
of participants feel of girls said they feel like they are part of a sisterhood
80%
of participants affirm “Because of this program, I feel more confident in myself.”
“Being in Oasis for Girls makes it possible for me to connect with other people of color who understand my experiences and struggles. In high school, I often feel like my voice is not heard or valued in certain spaces, but at Oasis, I feel like I have a community that supports and empowers me.” - Mimi
Fall Program Recap
LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT OUR 10 WEEK PROGRAM This past cycle, we had a total of 45 participants: 25 were Girls (participants in their first program) 13 were Sistahs (participants in their second program) 7 were Queens (participants in their third program) Here are some of the field trips and workshop partners the participants experienced throughout the 10-week program:
CREATE - 17 participants Kim Epiphano, Epiphany Dance Theatre Miguel Franco, Printmaking Kristee Ono+Local WOC Comedy Artists Youth Art Exchange, Fashion Design Ari Boostani+Co Women Audio Mission (Girls on the Mic)
ENVISION - 15 participants UCSF Department of Neurosurgery Women’s Trade Inc 10,000 Degrees/ Maisin Scholars
RISE - 15 participants Cooking Class, The Mix at San Francisco Public Library Self Defense Training, Jaime’s Martial Arts Clinic Tour, Huckleberry Youth Clinic Action Day, down by Westfield Mall Thank you to our community partners for hosting us!
Youth Empowerment Retreat
This cycle, we hosted a transformative youth empowerment retreat where girls from all three of our programs - CREATE, ENVISION, and RISE experienced a synergy of connection, skill-building, and joy. The retreat provided a unique space for girls across programs to foster deep connections, leaving with a sense of inspiration and relaxation that will resonate beyond the event. This retreat wasn't just about learning, but also embracing play and fun. Girls departed with a lighter spirit, having accomplished not only personal growth, but also creating cherished memories through engaging and enjoyable experiences. Attendees left the retreat equipped with practical tools for mental health, wellness, and selfadvocacy, solidifying their growth and connection to essential resources.
Queen Quotes
OUR QUEENS ARE OASIS ALUMS WHO COMPLETED ALL THREE PROGRAMS - CREATE, ENVISION AND RISE. THIS CYCLE, WE HAD 7 QUEENS, AND HERE’S WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THEIR TIME AT OASIS: "Oasis was the first program I joined after the pandemic. The pandemic had taken a toll on my already shy and reserved demeanor, and Oasis really helped me get out of my comfort zone to try and talk with other people around my age and make friends. Advice I would give someone joining Oasis is to not be scared even if you feel nervous or scared already; the first days are nerve wracking but once you get to know the people around you, you'll find you do fit in with everyone around you." - Karla
“Oasis has helped me gain confidence in who I am and my identity. This program has helped connect me with many friends to form meaningful relationships. Every cycle with Oasis has been so much fun.” - Tiffany
“Participating in Oasis programs has empowered me to envision and pursue my future goals because it taught me all the identities I hold and what I can achieve with them. A message I would share with girls who aspire to follow a similar path is that this program will have you looking forward to it every week and you can learn so much.” - Kady
Queen Quotes (cont.)
“Oasis has taught me that there are a tremendous amount of careers to choose from so it’s okay to be undecided or even change in the future. A message for girls that are interested in Oasis is to sign up!! You won’t regret it!” - Emily
“Participating in Oasis empowered me to pursue more careers and look into them. Oasis also helped me set and pursue personal goals. A message I have for other girls is to think about yourself first to achieve your goals; in general it's okay to put yourself as your first priority!!” - Leah
“I really liked Oasis and I would like to go to the program every day but I can't, and that's sad, but some advice for the new girls is to enjoy the program as much as you can.” - Luisa
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR QUEENS! WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN YOUR NEXT ENDEAVORS
💜
Announcements Welcome, Donna! We are excited to welcome our newest Oasis team member, Donna Hakimian! Donna joins us as our new Program Director. She has a background in higher education, interfaith chaplaincy, and gender equality advocacy. She is thrilled to be able to contribute to the mission of Oasis for Girls and looks forward to engaging in such vital and meaningful work.
Shine Gala - March 7, 2024, 6pm Our annual Shine Gala will be on Thursday, March 7 at the CHIEF HQ in San Francisco. Go to give.oasisforgirls.org/Shine2024 or click here to purchase tickets today!
Join us for our Spring 2024 Program Cycle If you or someone you know is interested, click here to fill out our interest form! Applications open in early January Spring Cycle begins February 26th Contact sfoasis@sfoasis.org if you have any questions.
About Oasis for Girls OUR MISSION Oasis for Girls partners with young women of color, aged 14-18, from under-resourced communities in San Francisco to cultivate the skills, knowledge, and confidence to discover their dreams and build strong futures. OUR STAFF
OUR PROGRAMS
LaVonda Baldwin Executive Director
RISE builds girls’ proficiency in life skills, healthy decisionmaking, leadership, and knowledge of social systems.
Jen Wana Operations Director Donna Hakimian Program Director Gabi Garzon Gupta Program Coordinator, ENVISION Eli Green Program Coordinator, CREATE Kayla Gonzalez Program Coordinator, RISE
CREATE exposes girls to using writing and the arts for healthy self-expression, improved academic performance, and leadership. ENVISION expands girls’ career awareness and job readiness skills while supporting them in developing achievable plans for academic and career success.
1091 Mission Street San Francisco, CA 94103 sfoasis@sfoasis.org - 415.701.7991