Activism
Protests Save 7 Oakland Schools; Board Moves Ahead to Close or Merge 11 Others
Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan said the state needs to take responsibility. “Many years ago, the State of California took over control of the Oakland public schools, which they claimed was for the purpose of fixing the finances,” she said. “Sadly, the state officials controlling OUSD ran up debt, leaving the schools worse off financially. Now that California has a record-breaking budget surplus, it is all the more unjust that our youth and families should be made to suffer by cutting their schools to pay off debt that was run up by State officials.”
Oakland City Council members call for action by state leaders
By Ken Epstein
The Oakland Board of Education has backed off on closing some schools and pushed the bulk of school closings to the end of next school year in a seeming attempt to blunt the mounting protests of school closures.
Over the last week, those protests have mushroomed into school walkouts and strikes at affected schools, a hunger strike at Westlake Middle, opposition from City Council members and growing angry demands for action by Gov. Gavin Newsom and other state officials.
Passed by a 4-2 board vote Tuesday night, the final amended list of school closures and mergers includes two schools that will close this year: Parker Elementary School in East Oakland and Community Day School, which serves students who have some of the greatest educational needs. The students will be transferred to a county program 18 miles away in Hayward.
In addition to the complete closures, La Escuelita will lose its grades 6,7 and 8, and New Highland Academy will be merged with Rise Community.
Five schools will be close at the end of 2023: Korematsu Discovery Academy and Horace Mann Elementary, as well as three schools that were postponed from this year – Brookfield Elementary, Grass Valley Elementary and Carl Munck Elementary.
Hillcrest Elementary will lose grades 6, 7 and 8 at the end of next year.
Board members opposing the decision were VanCedric Williams and Mike Hutchinson. Voting in favor of the motion were Gary Yee, Shanthi Gonzales, Aimee Eng and Sam Davis. Clifford Thompson abstained.
Some of the seven schools removed from the original school closure list of schools had strong public demonstrations of school and community support. At present, the district no longer plans to close Prescott Elementary School in West Oakland.
The district also dropped plans to move and merge Westlake Middle School with West Oakland Middle School. Ralph Bunche Academy and Dewey Academy will no longer be moved to the Westlake campus.
In addition, Manzanita Community School will no longer be merged with Fruitvale Elementary School.
The Oakland Post requested a statement on the closings from OUSD but by press time had not received one.
Under state control since 2003, Oakland communities continually fought against school closings and consolidations, though nothing as massive as the current level of protests.
With the state-funded Fiscal Crisis Management and Assistance Team (FCMAT) always threatening in the background, the district has already closed about 20 schools in 19 years and is under pressure to close, sell and lease as many as 40 more.
Backing the closures, Mayor Libby Schools, who is closely aligned with charter school privatizers and real estate developers, said in a KQED television interview on February 4 that the district could stand to close as many as half of the city’s public schools, adding, “This is an opportunity to do better for our students, for our educators, our families.”
Among the protests taking place at schools in the past two weeks were a mass rally and march downtown of teachers and community groups, a parent strike at La Escuelita, a protest at Brookfield, a hunger strike and student walkouts at Westlake Middle, a mass rally against school closings at Prescott, a strike at Grass Valley and a strike and a town hall meeting at Parker.
The teachers’ union is considering a rolling strike, meaning that schools would take turns striking for a week at a time. On Monday, a union meeting overwhelmingly endorsed a strike motion.
Said Keith Brown, president of the teacher’s union, in a media statement:
“Students, families, educators, community members, the Oakland City Council and the Alameda County Board of Education all opposed (the board’s action). Teachers, parents, labor, and the community are united to stop the implementation of school closures.”
City Council members have been speaking out against the closures.
District 3 Councilmember Carroll Fife, who helped organize community support for Prescott School, urged the community to turn pain and grief into action.
“My heart breaks for the families, teachers and communities who will be immediately impacted, but for those who’ve put their bodies on the line and who’ve been organizing for the reality we want to see, this is fuel for the movement. This is our call to action,” she said.
Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan said the state needs to take responsibility.
“Many years ago, the State of California took over control of the Oakland public schools, which they claimed was for the purpose of fixing the finances,” she said. “Sadly, the state officials controlling OUSD ran up debt, leaving the schools worse off financially. Now that California has a record-breaking budget surplus, it is all the more unjust that our youth and families should be made to suffer by cutting their schools to pay off debt that was run up by State officials.”
Councilmember Sheng Thao said she was working with state leaders to find more money for Oakland schools. “Our families deserve a process that is transparent and equitable and that didn’t happen here. It’s not fair. It’s not just. And it should not stand,” she said,
Said Councilmember Nikki ‘Fortunato Bas, “Budgetary challenges should be addressed by our unprecedented state surplus and support our students’ stability — during one of the already most destabilizing periods in their lives.”
Activism
Lend A Hand Foundation Celebrates 25th Anniversary
Lend A Hand Foundation Celebrates 25th Anniversary at the Scottish Rite Center in Oakland. On stage: KTVU Fox 2 Broadcasters Roberta Gonzales and Dave ClarkDance-A-Vision Founder, Carla Service, Vice Mayor Kimberly Mayfield-Lynch, California State Assemblymember Mia Bonta and Lend A Hand Foundation Executive Director Dee Johnson with the Dance-A-Vision Dancers. Photo By Carla Thomas
By Carla Thomas
The Lend A Hand Foundation (LAHF) celebrated the 25th anniversary of the organization’s Stay In School Program on May 9 at the Scottish Rite Center in Oakland.
Themed “Together We Can Empower Our Youth to Stay in School,” the event featured a pre-event reception featuring Oakland’s Kev Choice Ensemble.
The ensemble featured Oakland School for the Arts student, Ayo Brame, a 16-year-old, up-and-coming tenor saxophone jazz musician. The master and mistress of ceremonies were local broadcasters Dave Clark and Roberta Gonzales of KTVU Fox 2. Clark’s wife, Lucretia also supported the program.
A special appearance featured Dwayne Wiggins of Tony! Toni! Toné! on guitar, performing the group’s hit song “Anniversary” as guests dined on salmon, chicken, beef and vegetarian entrees prepared by the Food Network “Chopped” Champion, Chef Rashad Armstead of Oakland. California State Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland) provided the keynote address and the Carla Service Dance-A-Vision youth dancers energetically performed a hip hop routine throughout the audience in white leotards as attendees clapped along. An auction led by Auctioneer Franco Finn assisted in raising funds for the organization with prizes that included a luxury resort vacation and other items.
LAHF presented District 5 Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson and District 4 Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley with Lifetime Supporter Awards. LAHF presented the Trailblazer Award to Guy Richardson of Ernst and Young; Dante Green of Kaiser Permanente; Antioch Attorney Gordon Greenwood of the Kazan McClain Partner’s Foundation; and Sarah Yoell of PG&E.
Oakland Unified School District Superintendent, Dr. Kyla Trammel Johnson acknowledged LAHF’s impact.
“Each year, LAHF gives backpacks and school supplies to thousands of students across Oakland,” said Johnson. “In 2022 the effort topped 25,000 students. No matter the need, big or small, involving lots of students or just one, Lend A Hand is always there ready to make a difference in the lives of our young people.”
Founder and executive director of LAHF Dee Johnson took the stage as the DJ played the Sledge Sisters’ “We Are Family.”
Guests gave Johnson a standing ovation as she thanked supporters and presented many of them with gifts.
“It’s heartbreaking to know some children don’t have clothes or supplies for school,” said Johnson. “The babies really need our support and when we deliver supplies to them, it makes them really happy.”
Since the LAHF Annual Stay in School Program began in 1999, it has provided over 150,000 educational school supply kits to students throughout Alameda County, including Oakland, Berkeley, Emeryville, and San Leandro, among other cities.
“This past August, we provided for over 12,000 students with supplies, with the help and support of our very generous donors,” said Johnson. “This year, we aim to do all we can to match that amount or provide even more.”
For more information visit: www.LendaHandFoundation.org
Activism
Chef Cleaz and Mistah F.A.B. Host “You Still Have A Son” Mother’s Day Dinner
Oakland Chef Cleaz and Bay Area rapper, author Stanley Cox, aka Mistah F.A.B., hosted a Mother’s Day dinner on Monday, May 13, at Pierre Pierre, a restaurant in the Tribune building in downtown Oakland. The restaurant was decorated with balloons and flowers for the event, and each mother received a bouquet of red roses.
By Carla Thomas
Oakland Chef Cleaz and Bay Area rapper, author Stanley Cox, aka Mistah F.A.B., hosted a Mother’s Day dinner on Monday, May 13, at Pierre Pierre, a restaurant in the Tribune building in downtown Oakland.
The restaurant was decorated with balloons and flowers for the event, and each mother received a bouquet of red roses.
Organized for mothers who have lost their children, for mothers in need of extra love on Mother’s Day, the event gave the hosts an opportunity to remember their own mothers while doing something special for over 100 mothers in the community.
Both men recounted the deep sense of grief they faced in the loss of their mothers and recognized the many mothers who have outlived their children.
“We were in my restaurant, and F.A.B. was having dinner and said he wanted to do something special but wasn’t sure what it would look like,” said Chef Cleaz. “We continued to brainstorm, and at first F.A.B. wanted to come up with ways to bring more business to my new restaurant and serve the community. But days later, F.A.B. came up with the idea for mothers.”
“In these tough times. we know life can get you down'” explained F.A.B. “And expect to lose a parent, but a parent should not lose their child, and with Mother’s Day around the corner, we decided to show moms in need of something special and extra love.”
F.A.B. also knew that Chef Cleaz had recently lost his mother, which made the idea even more appropriate to them.
So, the day after Mother’s Day, F.A.B. and Cleaz hosted “You Still Have A Son, Momma” at Pierre Pierre.
“We wanted moms to still feel appreciated under the covenant of family and love,” said F.A.B.
“I remember my mother being my rock,” said Cleaz. “My mom played a very important part in my life, and not having her anymore gave me the impetus to do something in her honor. She gave me a lot in her lifetime. F.A.B. offered to pay for the entire event, but I said, let’s collaborate.”
“My mom was my best friend, and on Mother’s Day I cry and listen to music so I can get the tears out. But I’m happy because I’m living my purpose, continuing to evolve as a man and father to Liberty and Legacy and continue making my mom proud.”
Initially, Cleaz and F.A.B. planned for 50 to 75 guests, but after they advertised the event via social media posts, the RSVP’s kept rolling in. At last count,120 mothers responded.
F.A.B. said he did not plan on turning anybody away if there were more guests. “If they’re coming, there is a void of love that they are coming for,” he said. Chef Cleaz’s staff donated their time, and entertainer Dyson the Voice brought his band and sang all night.
“We wanted to see all the beautiful women out there,” said F.A.B. “We wanted to see lots of beautiful smiles, faces, and we want the mothers to feel appreciated.”
F.A.B. said his sister Theresa lost her son and that he knows at a very personal level how deep the loss of a child is through her. “You never really get over the loss, you deal with it. You try to make life better for those around you.”
Pierre Pierre is located at 401 13th St. Owner Chef Cleaz is a renowned celebrity chef from the vibrant culinary scene of San Francisco. Born from humble beginnings, he has forged an extraordinary path to culinary stardom, exemplifying Black excellence with each delectable dish he creates.
A dedicated father and loving husband, his commitment to family values extends far beyond his home, as he tirelessly helps anyone he sees in need.
Chef Cleaz has built an empire rooted in his passion for food and a deep respect for cultural heritage. His vision is to establish a sanctuary of culinary artistry, where creole and soul food recipes take center stage. He aims to create a space that the community can proudly call its own, a place where shared meals become moments of togetherness and cultural celebration.
Through his culinary creations, he invites visitors to savor not just his delectable dishes but also the history, traditions, and stories that infuse every plate.
F.A.B. is an American songwriter, entrepreneur, community organizer, and activist whose music career began in the late 1990s when he was discovered by Jazzy Jim and Gary Archer. He was featured on a number of Mac Dre’s Thizz Nation mixtape compilations and quickly gained prominence in the San Francisco Bay Area Hyphy Movement.
F.A.B. is the owner of D.O.P.E. clothing store and other businesses. He is known for hosting community block parties, school supply giveaways, and holiday parties for the underserved. He also created Thug Therapy, a movement for men to receive mental health support, which inspired the work of another community organizer, the late Shantell Herndon, creator of FLY Girl Therapy and Healing Circles.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of May 15 – 21, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May May 15 – 21, 2024
To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.
-
City Government2 weeks ago
Court Throws Out Law That Allowed Californians to Build Duplexes, Triplexes and RDUs on Their Properties
-
Activism4 weeks ago
Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024
-
Activism2 weeks ago
S.F. Black Leaders Rally to Protest, Discuss ‘Epidemic’ of Racial Slurs Against Black Students in SF Public School System
-
Alameda County2 weeks ago
An Oakland Homeless Shelter Is Showing How a Housing and Healthcare First Approach Can Work: Part 1
-
City Government4 weeks ago
Vallejo Community Members Appeal Major Use Permit for ELITE Charter School Expansion
-
Community3 weeks ago
Gov. Newsom, Attorney General Bonta Back Bill to Allow California to Host Arizona Abortion Care
-
Community3 weeks ago
Gov. Newsom Issues Proclamation Declaring Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide
-
California Black Media2 weeks ago
Cinco De Mayo: Five Interesting Facts You Should Know About the Popular Mexican American Holiday