A large gathering at La Escuelita Elementary highlighted concerns over proposed cuts to after-school programs serving over 18,000 Oakland students. Parents, students, and teachers emphasized the essential role these programs play in providing safe childcare, fostering personal growth, and supporting academic attendance. Many speakers voiced their need for these services, detailing how such programs offered not only recreational activities but also vital community support like food pantries and clothing closets. The potential budget cuts could drastically affect funding and access to these resources for thousands, making community advocacy crucial in the ongoing discussion with the Oakland school board.
"Programs like Youth Together have been a lifeline for me. They've given me a safe place to go to when my parents were working long hours just to make ends meet," said Lina Nguyen, a Skyline High School student.
"In addition to what you might think of as a traditional after-school program, they do a clothing closet, they do a food pantry, and last, and most importantly, they support us with attendance," said Krista Toumi, a sixth grade teacher at Roosevelt Middle School.
#education #after-school-programs #community-support #parent-advocacy #oakland-unified-school-district
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