Campaigns

Victories and Milestones

With a rich history spanning decades, Oakland Kids First has been empowering youth since our founding as a community coalition to successfully navigate and transform inequitable school conditions.

Every year, young changemakers in our programs immerse themselves in participatory action research and then take the lead to organize campaigns that make public education more equitable and engaging for all Oakland students.

For an exciting journey through our inspiring youth-led campaigns and victories, see the timeline below.

2022- Present
Student Justice Platform
Youth leaders researched priorities to improve the quality of public schools in OUSD and developed a Student Justice Platform.
A group of OKF and Coalition Partner staff smiling and posing for the camera
2022- Present
2022- Present
OUSD “Supporting the Implementation of Measure QQ in High Schools Resolution”
The Oakland Youth Vote (OYV) coalition partnered with school board members to pass a resolution that ensures high schools prepare newly enfranchised teen voters to participate in school board elections.
Youth watching CPR demonstration
2022- Present
2021- Present
Reparations for Black Students Resolution
The Justice for Oakland Students (J4OS) coalition - which OKF is a member of - organized Black students and families to inform demands included in the Reparations for Black Students Resolution that passed with board approval, and continues to advocate for implementation of this policy.
Teachers on strike for their students
2021- Present
2020- Present
Oakland Youth Vote - Measure QQ
Youth leaders partnered with Oakland City Council to author and advocate for Oakland Youth Vote, which advanced to a public vote as a ballot measure in 2020, passing with 67% of the vote. Oakland Youth Vote changes the law to give 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote in local school board elections.
Young people performing dance on a stage
2020- Present
2022 - Present
Student Justice Platform
Youth leaders researched priorities to improve the quality of public schools in OUSD and developed a Student Justice Platform.
2022 - Present
2022 - Present
OUSD “Supporting the Implementation of Measure QQ in High Schools Resolution”
The Oakland Youth Vote (OYV) coalition partnered with school board members to pass a resolution that ensures high schools prepare newly enfranchised teen voters to participate in school board elections.
2022 - Present
2021 - Present
Reparations for Black Students Resolution
The Justice for Oakland Students (J4OS) coalition - which OKF is a member of - organized Black students and families to inform demands included in the Reparations for Black Students Resolution that passed with board approval, and continues to advocate for implementation of this policy.
2021 - Present
2020 - Present
Oakland Youth Vote - Measure QQ
Youth leaders partnered with Oakland City Council to author and advocate for Oakland Youth Vote, which advanced to a public vote as a ballot measure in 2020, passing with 67% of the vote. Oakland Youth Vote changes the law to give 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote in local school board elections.
2020 - Present
2020
Endorsed the George Floyd Resolution to Eliminate the Oakland School Police Department
OKF endorsed “The George Floyd Resolution” that was developed from the Black Organizing Project (BOP)’s Peoples’ Plan for Police Free Schools (2019), to eliminate the school police department and use those resources to support schools.
2020
2020 - Present
Student Relief Fund Established
OKF established a Student Relief Fund during the pandemic to provide students in our programs with financial assistance and connections to resources during periods of unexpected hardship.
2020 - Present
2020
Town Force 1: And the Battle for East Oakland Comic Book Published
4 youth leaders partnered with a local artist a local artist Jimmie Robinson to tell the true story of their fight against gentrification and to save their East Oakland high school in the comic book Town Force 1 comics are available on our shop page.
2020
2019
Free Supper for Hungry Minds
OKF’s Youth Organizing Council and REAL HARD youth leaders rallied to reinstate the free supper program when it was cut due to a budget crisis by securing $3.6 million from a sweetened beverage tax and winning a $250k commitment from OUSD to not just continue, but to grow free supper from 32 to 52 schools.
2019
2019
Youth Leadership and Organizing During Teacher Strike
Students across OKF programs mobilized hundreds of their peers, spoke at OEA rallies, and marched in solidarity with their teachers during a strike following budget cuts to advocate for better pay and improved learning conditions.
2019
2018 - Present
Youth Organizing Council (YOC) Established
OKF established a cross-campus Youth Organizing Council to grow a broader student base and organize for regional campaigns.
2018 - Present
2017 - Present
Justice for Oakland Students (J4OS) Coalition Formed
Justice for Oakland Students (J4OS) coalition was formed as a multi-racial, intergenerational movement-building vehicle for students, parents and educators to work together to improve educational justice in Oakland.
2017 - Present
2017 - Present
Castlemont Community School Initiatives Launched
Castlemont high school selected Oakland Kids First to serve as lead agency of their 21st Century funded extended day programs, allowing OKF to serve as a core community school partner on campus.
2017 - Present
2014 - 2016
Meaningful Student and Family Engagement (MSFE)
OKF’s pilot MSFE Initiative had a goal of increasing educational equity by incorporating the needs, priorities, and solutions of the students and their families into shared decision making for school site plans, school budgets and district budgets.
2014 - 2016
2015
Civic Engagement and Social Movements course A-G credited
OKF developed the first leadership course curriculum to receive A-G credit called “Civic Engagement and Social Movements” so youth leaders could both receive “G” elective credit while also contributing to school improvement campaigns.
2015
2013 - 2020
Code of Respect Campaigns
REAL HARD youth leaders worked with students, teachers and administrators to research and develop shared Codes of Respect that were adopted school wide and provided an alternative to punitive disciplinary practices.
2013 - 2020
2009
A-G for All policy passed
OKF partnered with the district to align OUSD’s graduation requirements with UC/CSU college entry requirements to ensure that all high school student graduates in Oakland would graduate with an option to attend a college or university.
2009
2008
Measure 00: increased OFCY funding
OKF spearheaded the Kids First! 2 Coalition that successfully led a ballot measure campaign to increase the annual set aside of city revenue from 2.5% to 3% for distribution through Oakland Fund for Children and Youth (OFCY).
2008
2005 - 2014
PASS-2 program expands
The Peers Advising Students to Succeed (PASS-2) program was created by students as one solution to address the shortage of counselors in high schools by empowering youth to provide academic mentoring and information to peers so all students could graduate.
2005 - 2014
2005 - 2007
MSE Collaborative and Standards Established
OKF worked in coalition to advocate for the district to establish a Meaningful Student Engagement (MSE) office and collaborative, and in 2007 helped to author a Meaningful Student Engagement Standards policy that was adopted district-wide.
2005 - 2007
2005
PASS-2 Peer Academic Counseling Program Created
Youth leaders responded to the shortage of counselors in Oakland high schools by developing their own program PASS-2 that trained students as academic mentors who provided workshops for 9th grade students to help them navigate into and through high school successfully.
2005
2003
Student Power Resolution
As part of a Student Power Campaign, OKF drafted a resolution to re-define the role of student government representatives for high schools in order to provide structured skill development, shared decision making power and opportunities for students to engage in school improvement efforts.
2003
2002
Student Voices Count Report
REAL HARD youth organizers collected and analyzed data, then released a blueprint of youth created policy recommendations to address the findings of over 1,000 Student Report Cards.
2002
2002
Bus Pass Campaign
Youth organizers led the Youth Bus Campaign to provide free bus passes for all Oakland middle and high school students after organizer identified that paying for transportation to attend school was a financial barrier for low-income students and families. The Youth Bus Campaign reduced the price of monthly youth bus passes almost in half.
2002
2002
Incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
Oakland Kids First officially changed names from the Kids First! Coalition and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
2002
2001
OPD Out of Schools Campaign
Youth led efforts to reduce the Oakland police department’s presence in schools to reduce punitive discipline practices, disrupt the school to prison pipeline and improve school culture and climate.
2001
1996
Kids First! Initiative
Oakland Kids First was formed as a community coalition advocating for the passing of Measure K: Kids First! Initiative, which won and set aside city funding for programs and services for children and youth, which is now distributed through the Oakland Fund for Children and Youth (OFCY).
1996
Image of Senayt Sium

Senayt Sium

Organizer

(She/Her/Hers) is a Program Coordinator for REAL HARD and facilitates after school programs at Oakland Tech and Oakland High School. She attended OUSD public school and is a proud alumni of Oakland High School. Senayt is a first generation college graduate from University of California, Davis in Sociology with concentration in Law and Society, Public Health Science and Chicano/a Studies. One of her key passions is advocacy. She strongly believes in addressing and combating systemic issues that affect marginalized communities.

She strives to empower and support youth in developing essential skills while fostering activism. As a former REAL HARD student organizer, Senayt is very excited to be working with youth, and provide them with the necessary resources to support and help them accomplish their goals.

Peter Truong

Peter Truong

PROGRAM MANAGER

Peter (he/him/his) supports staff across OKF programs to incorporate best practices in positive youth development. Peter oversees the REAL HARD after school program and supports all chapters to develop youth-led transformational school culture campaigns.

Peter also writes curriculum for Oakland Kids First programs and supports organization-wide youth organizing campaigns such as development of the Student Justice Platform. A life long learner and educator, Peter earned a degree in Ethnic Studies at the University of Oregon.

Cara Holiday

Cara Holiday

SENIOR DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Cara (she/her/hers) is the Senior Development Manager who oversees fundraising, communications, grant writing and reporting and also serves on the senior management team. She has been part of the OKF community since 2009 in a range of roles including volunteering as a board member from 2009-2012, and then working on staff.

Cara currently works for OKF remotely from her hometown of St. Louis, MO. Throughout her career, Cara has focused on supporting students to reach their individual goals to graduate and access post-secondary education while also advocating to improve systems and equity in public schools. She earned a MA in Education Policy, Organization and Leadership Studies from Stanford University, a teaching credential from San Francisco State University, and a BA in English from Washington University in St. Louis.

Previous positions include working as Assistant Director at the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement at Washington University, as a Community Programs Manager for Alternatives in Action and as an English teacher on the McClymonds high school campus in OUSD. In her free time, Cara enjoys hiking with her family and two dogs, and exploring the local food scene.