Join Our Movement to Support Oakland’s Young Learners
To Fulfill their College and Career Dreams
Striving to create equity, Oakland Promise (OP) empowers Oakland’s young people with opportunities to make a difference in their lives and in our world.
Join us for an Oakland Promise Family Reunion!
Party for the Promise
We are thrilled to announce this year’s Party for the Promise on Thursday, May 19, 2022. We are looking forward to a chance to gather and raise a glass to toast our incredible Oakland Promise community.
This year we are thrilled to have our annual gala, the Party for the Promise, one day before our annual Awards Ceremony, when we celebrate graduating Oakland Promise Seniors as they embark on their journey to and through college with the Oakland Promise scholarship! This will truly be a first-ever Weekend of Promise.
Please join CEO Sandra Ernst, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, our governing board, special guests, and amazing community partners like you for the 7th Annual Party for the Promise taking place at Lake Chalet!
7:00 to 10:30 | Food, Drink, Auction, and Live Entertainment
To get tickets, go here!
To become a sponsor, contact [email protected] and see sponsorship opportunities here.
Scholar Awards Ceremony
For the Scholars Awards Ceremony on Friday May 20th, we will be welcoming and celebrating our incoming Class of 2022 Scholars! Over 700 Scholars will get to meet their Mentors and fellow Scholars, hear from engaging speakers, and enjoy the celebration with our community. Due to limited seating, we are offering a LIVE broadcast of the event for our community to show its support!
Join us on zoom to celebrate the new 2022 Scholars!
Save your virtual seat
and RSVP today!
For Students & Families
Learn about our programs for supporting the education of young people at each stage of their growth.
Ways to Get Involved
Learn about opportunities to donate, mentor, volunteer or champion OP.
Current Oakland Promise Scholars
Get access to the Scholar Hub resources to equip you for college and career.
Current Mentors
Get access to the resources to help you in mentoring OP Scholars.
What We’re Doing
To achieve our mission, we are a(n):
- 1.Leader in Direct Action
- 2.Intermediary Convener
- 3.Influencer of Policy
College Affordability
We strive to make college and career technical education (CTE) affordable for families through scholarships, college savings accounts (CSAs), advocacy for lower tuition policy and partnerships.
College-bound Identity and Persistence
We support students to and through post-secondary education by providing resources, mentorship, guidance, college-culture expectations and community.
Families’ Engagement in Children’s Education
We share information, expectations, resources, and financial guidance with parents and caregivers so that they feel confident in supporting their student to make college or career technical education a reality.
Financial Capability
We provide guidance and advisory support to help families plan for the financial commitments needed for post-secondary education completion.
Here’s How Oakland Promise Supports Young People to Finish Post-Secondary Education
Over 79% of Oakland Promise funding goes directly to the young people and families in Oakland. Since the founding of Oakland Promise in 2016, here are some highlights:
1500+.
Families of infants and kindergartners set up a 529 college savings account (CSA) for their child, seeded with funds from Oakland Promise.
25,000 students.
Elementary school students have a $100 Kindergarten to College (K2C) Early College Scholarship Fund.
9,000.
Middle and High school students receive targeted college and career readiness supports.
2,100+.
Students receive $17 million in OP scholarships and persistence supports. Over 1,300 Scholars were paired with a Mentor. 88% of OP Scholars persisted from first year to second year of college.
Stories of Our Impact
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Kamala Harris, VP of USA Shares About the Work of Oakland Promise
Communications
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Our Participants From 4 Programs Talk About OP as “The Family We Grow With”
Communications
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Highlights of 2021 Community Briefing (11/5/21)
Communications
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Stories Shared by OP Program Participants
Commentary by parents, educators, students and alumni
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OP Volunteers Speak on the Joys of Being Mentors
Three of of mentors share their experiences
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Our Partners Speak on Partnering with OP
Leaders from Harlem Children's Zone, Oakland NAACP & #OaklandUndivided share their perspectives.
I am impressed by the bold and comprehensive approach of the Oakland Promise which has pulled together best practices from around the country. As former US Secretary of Education, I've seen many initiatives across the country ---- Oakland Promise is one of the most strategic and effective and has the potential to be a national model... it leverages private philanthropy for public dollars and has already achieved outstanding results. OP changes the trajectory of our Oakland students from the time they are born, through the time they graduate from college and enter the workforce. Oakland Promise is truly a game changer for Oakland and its future generations.”
Arne Duncan
Former Secretary of Education under President Barack Obama (2009-2015)
Stay Informed
Learn the latest news on Oakland Promise and in the field of education and community in Oakland.
