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Oakland Kids First (OKF) is a community-based nonprofit organization empowering Oakland youth to grow their leadership, reimagine unjust systems, and organize for equitable public schools.

Since 1996, OKF has worked with thousands of youth leaders to change the future for students of color in Oakland – one campaign, program, and internship at a time.

We believe in partnering with youth to transform inequitable systems, while helping them navigate their existing conditions. To that end we:

  • Train 150 youth organizers per year
  • Lead educational equity campaigns in schools
  • Build youth voting power
  • Provide 400 internships/workbased learning opportunities per year
  • Serve diverse needs through a Student Relief Fund, enrichment, care management, and community school initiates for East Oakland youth

Youth leaders are powerful advocates for educational equity and racial justice, and you can help amplify and sustain their work with your generosity.

Please give generously to help us put Oakland kids first!

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Oakland Kids First (OKF) is a community-based nonprofit organization empowering Oakland youth to grow their leadership, reimagine unjust systems, and organize for equitable public schools.

Over the last 27 years, OKF has worked with thousands of youth leaders to change the future for students of color in Oakland – one campaign, program, and internship at a time. OKF’s youth leaders are powerful advocates for educational equity and racial justice, and you can help amplify and sustain their work with your generosity.

Each year, OKF empowers 125 youth leaders, offers community school supports for an additional 400 students, and engages thousands more through youth-led campaigns that build power for public school students across Oakland. Your donation will go a long way to provide OKF hundreds of youth with the resources they need to thrive and the organizing support they need to create a more just and equitable school system. 

Please give generously to help us put Oakland kids first!

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Thank you for supporting our movement to build youth power in Oakland, CA! Our programs and campaigns are made possible by individuals like you.

Oakland Kids First is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by U.S. law.

You can send a check to Oakland Kids First at 3700 E. 12th St. Suite 3. Oakland, CA 94601

Many employers offer matching gifts programs, which can help you increase the impact of your donation! Check with your employer about their contribution process and consider donating using the Benevity Causes Portal and email us at Info@kidsfirstoakland.org if you are interested in providing a gift that can be used as a match for fundraising purposes.

Contact Finance@kidsfirstoakland.org for ACH form

Now you can help to raise funds for causes close to your heart. If you’d like to plan a peer to peer fundraiser on behalf of OKF, consider using Facebook, Network for Good or Charity on Top. Let us know your plans and we will share on our social media channels.

Reach out to us at Info@kidsfirstoakland.org first to discuss what items you have to donate and to make sure we can put things like office supplies, technology or school supplies to good use.

Other Ways to
Donate:

Thank you for supporting our movement to build youth power in Oakland, CA! Our programs and campaigns are made possible by individuals like you.

Oakland Kids First is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by U.S. law.

You can send a check to Oakland Kids First at 3700 E. 12th St. Suite 3. Oakland, CA 94601

Many employers offer matching gifts programs, which can help you increase the impact of your donation! Check with your employer about their contribution process and consider donating using the Benevity Causes Portal and email us at Info@kidsfirstoakland.org if you are interested in providing a gift that can be used as a match for fundraising purposes.

Support OKF by shopping for Oakland based merchandize

Contact Finance@kidsfirstoakland.org for ACH form

Now you can help to raise funds for causes close to your heart. If you’d like to plan a peer to peer fundraiser on behalf of OKF, consider using Facebook, Network for Good or Charity on Top. Let us know your plans and we will share on our social media channels.

Reach out to us at Info@kidsfirstoakland.org first to discuss what items you have to donate and to make sure we can put things like office supplies, technology or school supplies to good use.

Please contact Finance@kidsfirstoakland.org to discuss transfer of stocks or other assets.

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.