March 2022 Newsletter: We’re only as good as our people
Bigger and bolder.
We may have started with just a handful of parents five years ago, but we’ve never been folks who think small. Taking on systemic inequities in our schools demands big ideas and bold action, like the Opportunity Ticket, our Family Hub, and now our Literacy Liberator Center (LLC) model. When our babies aren’t getting what they need to thrive, we don’t wait for the system to step up — we build it ourselves and then show how it’s done so more families get the opportunities they deserve.
We’ve proven we can do big, bold things, and folks are starting to take notice. That’s why I was invited out to the SXSW EDU conference this month to share our story of parent power alongside other powerful mamas and leaders of parent organizations who, through their grit and advocacy, are opening the doors to opportunity for kids in their communities. It was energizing and inspiring to connect with these powerful allies in the fight for better schools for our babies.
And, ICYMI, we also caught the eye of MacKenzie Scott, who just this month decided to give The Oakland REACH $3 million — our largest gift to date — so we can make even bigger and bolder plans a reality!
Her generous donation and those of so many REACH supporters have enabled us not only to continue building on our programming and advocacy work but to start brainstorming on how we’re going to transform math learning in Oakland. Our Literacy Liberators have already shown that when they get the right support, our babies can make huge gains in reading — just this fall, they worked with 250 K-3 students in OUSD’s virtual school, and on average, the students who attended at least half of the sessions mastered HALF a YEAR’s worth of reading in just 2.5 months!
So now we’re focused on cooking up new offerings in math, where we know there is a huge need AND demand. More than four out of five parents that we surveyed in December told us they want more high-dosage math tutoring, and it’s no wonder — last month, we learned at the Board meeting that, as of this past fall, fewer than 2 in 10 Black and Brown kids (14%) were reading at or above grade level; fewer than 1 in 10 Black and Brown kids (5%) are doing math at or above grade level. We’ve already begun piloting a new program designed to get kids learning and having fun, so stay tuned for another parent-powered solution!
And, of course, the boldest work requires the most passionate fighters. And lucky for us, that’s what we’ve got at The REACH. From our founding members of mamas and grandmas to the newest members, we’ve got the best minds on this. And we’re growing our organization — with our people, partners, and supporters — to keep going and to keep adding more brilliance.
We know we are only as good as our people. And we need everyone now more than ever as we tackle the work in front of us.
Read more below — and join me in extending a warm welcome to our growing team and celebrating some of our OG’s!
Lakisha Young
Founder & CEO
To read March's full newsletter, please click here.