Who We Are

Equity Allies for OUSD is a group of parents and community members who want equity in opportunities, access, and outcomes for all children in Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) schools.  

 

Our Vision

To leverage funding, policy, and collective commitment to dismantle the structural inequities in the Oakland Unified School District.  

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Our Values

• COMMON GOOD: Public education is not a commodity, nor a marketplace. It is a public service that provides opportunity for the full community of Oakland’s children, not just our own. 

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• EQUITY: We believe every public school in Oakland should provide a meaningful educational experience for every child, regardless of race, gender, or economic background. 

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• EMPATHY: Wherever possible, we examine challenges in our community through the lens of the people most affected by them. We listen to everyone in an effort to truly understand all sides of the issues confronting our city’s public education system.  

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• SELF-REFLECTION: We recognize that by doing this work, we may enter spaces in which our role and privilege could actually hinder progress. We commit to examining our own privilege, identifying our blind spots, and admitting we don’t have all the answers.

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• COMMITMENT: We show up to do the work even when it is difficult or uncomfortable.

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• PARTNERSHIP:  We work closely with other groups and organizations committed to an equity agenda.  We maintain contact and engagement with a range of groups and organizations who organize within low-income communities of color in Oakland and who are creating opportunities to bring Oaklanders together around issues of equitable access and outcomes for our children. 

 

Key Milestones​

• 2023: Made a 3-year commitment to 10 schools of $20,000/year

• 2022: Raised $300,00 and donated $20,000 each to 15 schools. 

• 2021: Raised $150,000 and donated to 10 schools.

• 2020: Raised $100,000 and donated it to 20 schools. Signed on the following PTSAs as donors: Edna Brewer, Peralta, Crocker Highlands, Oakland Tech, Chabot, Emerson, Sequoia, and Glenview elementary school.  

• 2020: Co-sponsored the March 4th Day of Action for Schools and Communities First

• 2019: Partnered with Integrated Schools to collaborate on podcast listening events

• 2019: Launched yearly enrollment events for parents to broaden exposure to a wider range of schools

• 2019: 3rd Equity Forum

• 2019: Raised $100,000 from 230+ donors and donated it to 10 OUSD schools

• 2019: Collaborated with Bread for Ed to organize daily meal distribution for 45 schools during OEA teacher strike

• 2018:  2nd Equity Forum

• 2018: Launched the Equity Fund

• 2017: Organized within our own school communities to fight against site-based budget cuts to OUSD schools

• 2017: Co-sponsored several forums on school closures and budget cuts

• 2017: Launched a yearly Equity Forum, attended by parents, educators, organizers, students and community members from across all of Oakland 

• 2016: Began meeting in November