Activism
Richmond Promise Distributes Laptops to College-Bound Students
Funded via Richmond Promise’s Grant from the City of Richmond’s Department of Children & Youth, the organization handed out nearly 40 laptops provided by Oakland-based Tech Exchange, which in part provides free refurbished computers and digital literacy training to low-income families. Another, roughly, 15 laptops will be distributed to scholars soon.
By Kathy Chouteau | Richmond Standard
Richmond Promise teamed up with Tech Exchange to host a laptop distribution event for college-bound scholars at the Richmond Main Public Library on Sat., Aug. 26.
Funded via Richmond Promise’s Grant from the City of Richmond’s Department of Children & Youth, the organization handed out nearly 40 laptops provided by Oakland-based Tech Exchange, which in part provides free refurbished computers and digital literacy training to low-income families. Another, roughly, 15 laptops will be distributed to scholars soon.
College-bound scholars, who completed their Richmond Promise “Summer Bridge” onboarding, indicated an interest in receiving refurbished laptops for use in college.
Students receiving Pell Grant, Cal Grant B and the California Chafee Grant for Foster Youth also received priority in the laptop distribution process.
Emani Mason, a recent Kennedy High graduate, headed to UC Davis this fall, shared the distribution was “very exciting and helpful.”
“I was having a lot of trouble finding a computer that would help me in college and be affordable because I am a low-income student, so it was a matter of getting the right tools on the computer and the right price range,” said Mason.
Richmond Promise Executive Director, Chris Whitmore, emphasized that, “Providing access to technology is so important when we talk about empowering Richmond students to have success in college and beyond.” Whitmore expressed gratitude to Tech Exchange for helping the organization bridge the digital divide.
Richmond Promise is an organization that provides postsecondary access and success—and since its origins in 2016—has supported more than 3,300 young people from Richmond “to and through” higher education.
Currently, more than 1,500 scholars per year pursue their associate and bachelor degrees, and career technical education certifications nationwide supported by Richmond Promise scholarships.
The organization traces its roots to a $35 million, 10-year investment from Chevron Richmond, with the aim of building a culture of postsecondary access and success throughout the city.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024
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Activism
Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 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.
Activism
Oakland Schools Honor Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties
Every Jan. 30, OUSD commemorates the legacy of Fred Korematsu, an Oakland native, a Castlemont High School graduate, and a national symbol of resistance, resilience, and justice. His defiant stand against racial injustice and his unwavering commitment to civil rights continue to inspire the local community and the nation. Tuesday was “Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution” in the state of California and a growing number of states across the country.
By Post Staff
Every Jan. 30, OUSD commemorates the legacy of Fred Korematsu, an Oakland native, a Castlemont High School graduate, and a national symbol of resistance, resilience, and justice.
His defiant stand against racial injustice and his unwavering commitment to civil rights continue to inspire the local community and the nation. Tuesday was “Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution” in the state of California and a growing number of states across the country.
One OUSD school is named in his honor: Fred T. Korematsu Discovery Academy (KDA) elementary in East Oakland.
Several years ago, founding KDA Principal Charles Wilson, in a video interview with anti-hate organization “Not In Our Town,” said, “We chose the name Fred Korematsu because we really felt like the attributes that he showed in his work are things that the children need to learn … that common people can stand up and make differences in a large number of people’s lives.”
Fred Korematsu was born in Oakland on Jan. 30, 1919. His parents ran a floral nursery business, and his upbringing in Oakland shaped his worldview. His belief in the importance of standing up for your rights and the rights of others, regardless of race or background, was the foundation for his activism against racial prejudice and for the rights of Japanese Americans during World War II.
At the start of the war, Korematsu was turned away from enlisting in the National Guard and the Coast Guard because of his race. He trained as a welder, working at the docks in Oakland, but was fired after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. Fear and prejudice led to federal Executive Order 9066, which forced more than 120,000 Japanese Americans out of their homes and neighborhoods and into remote internment camps.
The 23-year-old Korematsu resisted the order. He underwent cosmetic surgery and assumed a false identity, choosing freedom over unjust imprisonment. His later arrest and conviction sparked a legal battle that would challenge the foundation of civil liberties in America.
Korematsu’s fight culminated in the Supreme Court’s initial ruling against him in 1944. He spent years in a Utah internment camp with his family, followed by time living in Salt Lake City where he was dogged by racism.
In 1976, President Gerald Ford overturned Executive Order 9066. Seven years later, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco vacated Korematsu’s conviction. He said in court, “I would like to see the government admit that they were wrong and do something about it so this will never happen again to any American citizen of any race, creed, or color.”
Korematsu’s dedication and determination established him as a national icon of civil rights and social justice. He advocated for justice with Rosa Parks. In 1998, President Bill Clinton gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom saying, “In the long history of our country’s constant search for justice, some names of ordinary citizens stand for millions of souls … To that distinguished list, today we add the name of Fred Korematsu.”
After Sept. 11, 2001, Korematsu spoke out against hatred and discrimination, saying what happened to Japanese Americans should not happen to people of Middle Eastern descent.
Korematsu’s roots in Oakland and his education in OUSD are a source of great pride for the city, according to the school district. His most famous quote, which is on the Korematsu elementary school mural, is as relevant now as ever, “If you have the feeling that something is wrong, don’t be afraid to speak up.”
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