Eliminate Disparities for High School Students of Color!

The following is a press release from Oakland Community Organizations.

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OAKLAND, CA — On Thursday, June 14th, Clergy and lay leaders from Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church and St. Columba Catholic Church will announce an emerging partnership between the Center for Social Justice at Holy Names University and Oakland Technical High School to support at-risk African American and Latino males. Like many schools in Oakland and all over the nation, African American and Latino males at Oakland Tech experience an enormous achievement gap that increases their likelihood to dropout and hinders their opportunity academic success. Specifically, only 4 out of every 10 African American Males graduates from high school in Oakland. These inequities show up later in the lives of our young men as rampant rates of unemployment and high rates of violence perpetration or victimization. Leaders from Lakeshore and St. Columba are determined to help eliminate these quality of life disparities!

Who: Interfaith clergy, lay leaders from St. Columba and Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church, representatives and students from Holy Names and Oakland Tech
What: Announcement of a partnership supporting Latino and African American males
When: Thursday June 14th, 2012 at 6:30pm
Where: Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church, 3534 Lakeshore Ave in Oakland
"This forming partnership has the potential to supply Oakland Tech with mentors, teacher assistants, parent liaisons, case managers, workforce connectors and career counselors from Holy Names graduate and undergraduate programs," said Lakeshore congregation member and OCO leader Jesus Portillo. Robert Paige, OCO leader and student at Oakland Tech, intimately understands the importance of support. "A few years ago my brother dropped out of school because he had to do it all on his own. As a result, he faces an uphill battle because he doesn’t have a diploma or GED, and he is formerly incarcerated. I was headed down the same path until I received academic help and a mentor. So, I know this will help lots of students at Tech!"

Partners from Oakland Unified School District’s African American Male Achievement Initiative, Oakland Tech Parent Teach Association, Teach for Tomorrow and Be a Mentor and education advocate Danny Glover will all be on hand to celebrate and pledge their support.

This event is organized by Oakland Community Organizations, a PICO (People
Improving Communities through Organizing) affiliate.

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For more information, contact:
Brandon Sturdivant Sr.
Oakland Community Organizations
510-684-1399
brandonsturdivant@gmail.com