Keith Givan Excels at St. Leo the Great School

By Tasion Kwamilele

Keith Givan, raised by his grandmother Elenda Givan since birth, is a young boy who strives for excellence. Whether it’s the discipline he practices in his martial arts or his passion for academics, his commitment to achievement speaks highly of his character even though he is only 8 years old.
Keith attended New Day School Preschool, started by two women who had graduated from Cal State East Bay. It was here that Keith began to blossom, and his qualities of leadership began to flourish. By the age of 3, he began reading and could even count to 100.
Now attending St. Leo the Great Catholic School in Oakland, Keith continues to excel. His test scores in reading and comprehension, science and math are above average. In first grade, he learned how to write and began making detailed reports on various subjects, with vocabulary far beyond his years.

Berkeley Wins Federal “Solar Showcase” Grant

Berkeley, Oakland, and West Contra Costa Unified School Districts are receiving up to $500,000 in assistance from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to adopt solar generation technology and develop master plans to speed the installation of solar power in schools across California and the nation.
The DOE Solar America Showcase award is intended to support companies and local government entities that are “highly committed” to adopt solar technology and to accelerate the installation of photovoltaic (PV) panels across the country.
The coalition includes the Sequoia Foundation, its sponsored project, KyotoUSA, and Moore Iacofano Goltsman, Inc., a Berkeley consulting firm.
The Sequoia Foundation’s application on behalf of the three school districts detailed a specific effort to evaluate the energy consumption and solar electricity generation potential on all schools and facilities within the Districts.
School districts stand to save millions of dollars in energy costs – the result of energy conservation, better energy efficiencies, and renewable energy systems.
During the 18-month grant period, the districts will select one or more schools to become a “showcase” where the most efficient and effective solar arrays will be installed.
Berkeley Unified School District Superintendent Bill Huyett is excited about the grant.
“We are very interested in exploring solar options for Berkeley’s schools, and this grant from the Department of Energy will be a big help,” he said. “We already have one solar school (Washington Elementary) in the district, so we already see first-hand both the advantages and the potential challenges.”
“Over the past two years, we have been talking to school districts throughout California about solar. There are two big challenges for districts – planning and financing. The Solar America Showcase award will go a long way to resolving both issues”, said Tom Kelly from KyotoUSA.

Schools Receive Federal “Solar Showcase” Grant

Berkeley, Oakland, and West Contra Costa Unified School Districts are receiving up to $500,000 in assistance from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to adopt solar generation technology and develop master plans to speed the installation of solar power in schools across California and the nation.
The DOE Solar America Showcase award is intended to support companies and local government entities that are “highly committed” to adopt solar technology and to accelerate the installation of photovoltaic (PV) panels across the country.
The Sequoia Foundation’s application on behalf of the three school districts detailed a specific effort to evaluate the energy consumption and solar electricity generation potential on all schools and facilities within the districts.
School districts stand to save millions of dollars in energy costs – the result of energy conservation, better energy efficiencies, and renewable energy systems.
During the 18-month grant period, the districts will select one or more schools to become a “showcase” where the most efficient and effective solar arrays will be installed.
“Oakland Unified School District is excited to be a participant in this innovative coalition of school districts,” said OUSD Assistant Superintendent for Facilities Planning and Management Timothy White.
“This grant will provide the type of high level assessment necessary to pave the way for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements throughout the district. We can’t wait to get started,” he said.

Adult schools to Cut Classes for Seniors and Disabled Adults

By Katy Murphy
Oakland Tribune

Adult schools across California have dramatically reduced their offerings in response to deep state budget cuts and a new budget policy that lets school districts dip into their once-protected coffers.
While the financial situations and priorities vary between districts, one of the biggest casualties statewide is programming for seniors and disabled adults.
In addition to programs for “older adults,” California’s adult education schools teach English to refugees and immigrants, give struggling teenagers a second chance to earn a diploma, show parents the ropes at their child’s public school, and provide career technical training opportunities.
Art, music appreciation, exercise and communication classes, often provided at community health care or adult day care centers at little to no cost, will be all but wiped out in some districts, such as San Leandro and the Union City-based New Haven district.
The San Leandro Adult School provides classes to 4,000 students a year, and its budget has been $2.4 million, including $398,000 in federal funds. Of the remaining $2 million, the state has cut $369,619.
“How did we get to this point?” asked Darlene Brown, activity coordinator for the Adult Day Health Center in East Oakland’s Foothill Square shopping center.
Last week, Brown and her students said goodbye to their teacher, Dapo Sowole, who recently learned he was out of a job. Sowole had taught seven classes for the Oakland Adult School and three for the Berkeley Adult School. All were targeted to seniors or the disabled, and all ended this week, he said.
At the moment, the Oakland school district does not plan to take money from the adult education fund, district spokesman Troy Flint said. The West Contra Costa school district, however, is using $1 million of its adult school’s $2.5 million budget next year to close a $25.7 million budget gap.
Knowing that more of their programs’ already diminished resources could be sucked into the school districts’ general funds, some adult school directors are protecting classes that match most closely with their school districts’ missions. Adult schools in Oakland, Hayward, San Leandro and West Contra Costa, for example, are trying to preserve such programs as parenting education and high school diploma classes — those with clear benefits to their local school systems.
The Oakland Adult School, one of the largest in the state, might reach some of its seniors with courses such as grandparenting, Director Brigitte Marshall said. Still, of the 254 classes it has eliminated, 206 were designed for “older adults.”
“I think everyone’s intentions are good, but there’s a little bit of shortsightedness here, said Roberta Tracy, program director of a low-cost adult day care program at the North Oakland Senior Center, which is losing all of its teachers. “This is such a vital service for this population. It’s keeping them out of nursing homes.”

First 5 California Kicks Off Campaign On Dangers of Secondhand Smoke

 First 5 California is launching a grassroots outreach effort to raise awareness among African Americans and other diverse communities about the dangers of secondhand smoke on young children and to promote California’s “Smoke-Free Cars with Minors” law.

“When compared to other ethnic groups, African American children are more likely to be exposed to secondhand smoke and suffer from higher rates of tobacco-related illnesses, disorders and death,” said Kris Perry, executive director of First 5 California. “That’s why it’s essential for African American parents and caregivers to become informed about how secondhand smoke can harm young children and negatively impact the well-being of our communities.”

As part of this awareness campaign, First 5 California is partnering with African American churches, regional Black Infant Health programs, community organizations and several well-established businesses in California, including Farmers Insurance and Pep Boys. In addition, regional Black Infant Health programs will distribute campaign materials as part of its ongoing efforts to provide health education and other support services to pregnant and parenting African American women.

These partnerships will enable First 5 California to distribute smoking cessation information at locations that millions of families regularly visit - places of worship, insurance offices, auto repair stores and community events.

California’s “Smoke-Free Cars with Minors” law took effect last year and made it illegal for adults to smoke in a car when children are present. Fines for violating this law can reach $100.

East Bay Youth Join Alabama Civil Rights Pilgrimage

Two local high school students are participating in the Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage March 6 - 8, representing the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center.

The pilgrimage, created and hosted by Congressman John Lewis of Atlanta, Georgia, offers members of the U.S. Congress a link to the history and sacrifices of the Civil Rights movement and an opportunity to reflect on ways to carry forward the struggle for civil rights.

Congresswoman Barbara Lee chose the Freedom Center to participate in this year’s pilgrimage, based on the center’s work for peace and democracy. [Read more]

Generation “NeXt”

Many tend to disregard today’s generation as the ones who are not and will not contribute anything of value to society.  Drugs, sex and violence are often seen to be the controlling factor, and there are far more reports of youth being sent to the penitentiary than news of their positive acts.

However, Tasion Kwamilele, a product of the Oakland School System and a student at a Historically Black University, sets out to prove that her generation is a caged bird waiting to fly and that Generation X is truly Generation Next.

Kwamilele graduated from Oakland School for the Arts (OSA). Not only talented in music, which was her emphasis at OSA, she has a knack for the literary world – competing in the Brave New Voices International Poetry Slam. [Read more]

Walter Hoyes Returns to Clinic

 
On Tuesday, February 24th , Walter Hoye, President of the Issues4Life Foundation, returned to the clinic where he was formerly arrested for holding a sign on a public sidewalk stating, “GOD LOVES YOU AND YOUR BABY, LET US HELP YOU.”

Family Planning Specialist Medical Group, is an abortion clinic (aka an Infanticide Clinic) which, according to their website, became the first abortion provider in California to be accredited with the CMA/AAAHC. [They] received a three-year accreditation, the highest level possible [and] have consistently received three-year accreditations ever since.

Hoye states, “Fetal homicide is the number one killer as it relates to the Black Community. Abortion alone ensures the Black community will not be able to replace ourselves - we are, nationally, below the birth replacement rate.” [Read more]

Committee Considers Repeal of Measure OO Funding

By Brian Lavelle

The Oakland City Council’s Finance Committee on Tuesday wrestled with the problem of next year’s projected $50 million deficit, agreeing that youth program spending mandated by Measure OO needs to be modified or cut. 

Dozens of Measure OO supporters turned out to express the opposite view.

Councilmember Jean Quan said that the $17 million in spending mandated by Measure OO would mean cuts from other city services and that “the entire budgets for Parks and Rec and Senior Services do not equal $17 million.” 

Passed by Oakland voters last November with 53 percent of the vote, Measure OO provides that 1.5 percent of city revenues, rising to 2 .5 percent in later years, be set aside for grants to organizations serving children and youth. [Read more]

Academics and Discipline Produce Success

 

 

By David Scott

Oakland Military Institute College Preparatory is a public charter school that can boast that 80 percent of its graduating class attends four-year universities and colleges. 

The academy, chartered in December 2000 as a partnership between former Mayor Jerry Brown and the California National Guard, is dedicated to academic excellence through character building and leadership instruction. 

Known as O.M.I., the school has scored 694 and 696 on the state Academic Performance Index, up 57 points from last year.

O.M.I. has a student body of 500 students in 6th through 12th grades, who dress in military uniforms and are divided in groups – 125 in each of four companies: Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, Delta. [Read more]

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