The Oasis Way: Summer 2023

THE OASIS WAY SUMMER 2023

SummerintheCity

A RECAP OF OUR SUMMER PROGRAMMING

Thispastcycle,wehadatotalof49participants:

34wereGirls(participantsintheirfirstprogram

9wereSistahs(participantsintheirsecondprogram)

6wereQueens(participantsintheirthirdprogram)

*Funfact:OursixQueenscompleteallthreeOasisprogramsin backtobackcycles!

Herearesomeofthefieldtripsthepartic throughoutthesix-weekprogram:

CREATE-17participants

WAM Studio

Children's Creativity Museum

ENVISION-17participants

UCSF Department of Neurosurgery

RISE-15participants

Community Gardening Day, TNDC Tenderloin People’s Garden

Cooking Class, The Mix at San Francisco Public Library

Self Defense Training, Jaime’s Martial Arts

Movie Day, The Roxie

Clinic Tour, Huckleberry Youth Clinic

Action Day, down by Westfield Mall

Thank you to our community partners for hosting us!

USCFhostedan internshipforENVISION participants,which includedhandson activitiessuchasCPR certification,andQ&A panelswithmedical studentsand professionals.Thetwo weeksspentasUCSF gavetheENVISION participantsachanceto explorearangeofcareer optionswithinthe medicalfield.

AtHYPE,ourCREATE youthenjoyed workshopssuchasthe theaterworkshop.These workshopsexplainedthe powerofexposureto variousformsofcreative outletsandexpression, andhownoteveryone canopenupinaverbal orstraightforward manner-weallneed differentwaystostory tell,advocate,andmost importantlyexplore.

ForRISE,summercycle includedfieldtrips, resourcesfromyouthservingorganizations, andapowerfulAction Dayprojectonhealthy relationshipsandsexual harassmenteducation. Eachparticipantwas abletoexploretheir uniqueidentities,bond throughvulnerable discussions,and advocateforissuesthey careabout.

PHOTOSFROMLEFTTORIGHT: ENVISIONATUCSF,CREATEAT THEWAMSTUDIO,ANDRISEAT NDERLOINPEOPLE’S

HighlightsfromourStaff

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT THE SUMMER CYCLE?

Programhighlightsduringgraduation.Allprogramsthiscycle changedtheirapproach,andtheresultwasmuchmore intimateandintentionaloverviewsofourprogramsfrom ourgraduatingalums.Ienjoyedthatotherprogramyouth wereveryencouragingandengaged.CREATEyouth presentedtheirfinalactionprojectsduringprogram highlights,andtoldtheirpersonalreasoningsand importancebehindtheirtopics,whichwasagreatpublic speakingopportunity.

Graduation&specificallytheprogramhighlightspart.Itwas anhonortobeabletowitnesstheimpactandreflections fromeachyouth.TohearENVISION’sfavoriteworkshoptopic &advicetootheryouth,toseeCREATE’sfinalactionart pieces,&thetopmostmeaningfuldaysinRISEwastruly heartwarming.

Itwasajoytoseethetransformationinthegirlsfromthefirst dayofsummercyclethroughgraduationday.Thecomfort they'ddevelopedwithoneanother,withtheteamandwith themselvesintheOasisspacewaspalpable,andthe energywasinfectious!

-Eli,CREATEProgramCoordinator

-Elisabeth,ProgramDirector

-LaVonda,ExecutiveDirector

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT THE SUMMER CYCLE?

Thefunfieldtrips!RISEwentallaroundthecityfordifferent fieldtrips.Itwasimportantforustogetoutinthesunthis summerandgaveusfunopportunitiestobond,build community,andlearnaboutdifferentspacesandresources inSanFrancisco!

Myfavoritepartofthesummercyclewasourprograms’ picnicandphotoshootinDoloresPark.Itwasagreat opportunitytohangoutwithourgirlsandgettoknowthem betterwhileenjoyingthebeautifulweather.Itwaswonderful toseethegirlssmiling,beingsillyandhavingsomuchfun whilehavingtheirpicturestaken.

Thefreedomandtimewegettospendwithourprograms. Summerismuchmorerelaxedbutalsoavitaltimewherewe allgettoengageinameaningfulexperiencetogetherina safespace,ratherthanjustbeinghomeordisconnected socially.Wedoalotof“technical”skillsinENVISION,butIalso wanttogiveashoutouttotheyouthforbringingtheirown knowledge,questions,experiences,andinsights.

-Kayla,RISEProgramCoordinator

-Jen,OperationsDirector

-Gabi,ENVISIONProgramCoordinator

AHeartfeltFarewell

Itiswithwholehearted appreciationthatwebid farewelltoourProgram Director,Elisabeth.Her profoundinfluenceover thepastsixyears,firstas aRISEProgram Coordinatorandthenas theProgramDirector,has touchedthelivesof innumerablegirls.

Elisabethhassupported Oasisthroughperiodsof changewhilenurturinga safe,lovingand empoweringcommunity space.Herembodiment ofOasisvaluesis inspiring. Wewishherallthebest assheembarksonnew horizons!

Thankyou,Elisabeth!

Announcements

OurAnnualShineGalawillbemovedtoMarch2024

TheShineGalaisourmostimportantfundraising eventoftheyear!Yourgenerouscontributionsgo directlytowardssupportingOasis.Staytunedfor upcomingannouncementsasweprepareto joyfullycommemorate25yearsofOasisforGirls!

ThereisstilltimetoapplyforourFall2023 ProgramCycle!

FallCycleis10weekslongandgoingtobefullof amazingopportunitieslikeourSummerCycle!

Ifyouorsomeoneyouknowisinterested,go towww.oasisforgirls.orgtoapplytoday!

ApplicationsCloseSunday,September10

FallCyclebeginsMonday,October2

Contactsfoasis@sfoasis.orgifyouhaveanyquestions.

SupporttheBloomFund! ��

ThecommunityatOasisdoesnotendatprogram graduation.OasisforGirlsstrivestomaintainrelationships withouralumnaeandcontinuesupportingthemasthey bloominlifeandreachtheirgoals!

Youcancontinuetosupportourgirls&alumnibydonating totheBloomFund.TheBloomFundfocusesonfourvital areas,eachessentialtoourmission:

creatingaphysicalspacetobloomourcommunityof girlsandalumni, buildingstrongertieswithouralumni, providingmoreexpansiveprofessionalopportunities, andbolsteringourevaluationprocesses.

SupportingtheBloomFundwillhaveaprofoundimpacton thelivesofourgirlsandalumni,empoweringthemto pursuetheirdreamsandbecomeadvocatesforchangein

AboutOasisforGirls

OURMISSION

OasisforGirlspartnerswithyoungwomenofcolor,aged1418,fromunder-resourcedcommunitiesinSanFranciscoto cultivatetheskills,knowledge,andconfidencetodiscover theirdreamsandbuildstrongfutures.

OURSTAFF

LaVondaBaldwin ExecutiveDirector

JenWana OperationsDirector

ElisabethGutierrez

ProgramDirector

GabiGarzonGupta ProgramCoordinator, ENVISION

EliGreen

ProgramCoordinator,

CREATE aGonzalez ramCoordinator,RISE

OURPROGRAMS

RISEbuildsgirls’proficiency inlifeskills,healthydecisionmaking,leadership,and knowledgeofsocialsystems.

CREATEexposesgirlsto usingwritingandtheartsfor healthyself-expression, improvedacademic performance,and leadership.

ENVISIONexpandsgirls’ careerawarenessandjob readinessskillswhile supportingthemin developingachievableplans foracademicandcareer success.