"From Danville to Oakland with Love"...this headline on the Oakland Tribune quickly caught my eye the other day.  I used to be a youth pastor in Danville and now reside and work in Oakland.  It was a heartwarming story of two very different high schools, Monte Vista, predominantly white and from the wealthy suburb of Danville, and McClymonds, predominantly African-American from West Oakland.  McClymonds beat Monte Vista in the basketball playoffs, and when reports came that McClymonds needed financial help to stay in a hotel in Sacramento for the state tournament, Monte Vista parents and coaches rallied to raise money for the McClymonds team.  Seems simply incredible and beautiful, right?  Well, maybe...

The Tribune is now reporting that McClymonds has been ordered by the school district to return the money.  Supposedly there was a miscommunication between the OUSD and the McClymonds coach, and they will be taken care of by the school district after all.  There is understandably some awkwardness at this point in the story.  It is all very strange, but predictable at the same time.  So often acts of charity across cultural lines, which may be well intentioned, just don't work out all that well.  Money is given for the wrong thing.  Assumptions are made about what the real needs are.  Pride and ego exist on both sides of the transaction.  Sometimes there is condescension, and sometimes there is the pure love that is assumed to be condescension.  It's just plain hard. 

I think one thing we can learn from this story is to do our homework and due diligence when giving aid of any kind, in full recognition of the difficulties and intricacies that are present.  In the end, Oakland needs Danville, AND Danville just may need Oakland just as much.

Read more about the story here.

 
 

On Sunday we received the keys to a little storefront at 7511 MacArthur Blvd.  We are thrilled.  After a couple of months of looking for a place in the right spot for the right price (next to nothing) we found the perfect place for Shalom of Oakland to take a new step into serving the people of East Oakland.  If you're in the area you should stop by and check it out.  Actually, if you're in the area in the next couple of weeks you should stop by and mop, sweep or paint with us.  And while you're mopping, sweeping and painting, keep in mind that we are looking for furniture...chairs, loveseats, quality children's toys, desks, etc.  We want to create a warm and hospitable atmosphere.

 
 

So, the big day finally came.  After hours upon hours spent visiting elementary schools, touring facilities, talking to teachers and principals, filling out forms, picking our top 6 and staying up late staring at pie charts and test scores, we got the big letter revealing what school Kayla will be assigned to in the Oakland Unified School District.  Whatever the letter revealed could have far reaching consequences...siblings have first dibs at getting into schools so Chase and "the baby coming in a few weeks that will be named later" could go to the same school. 

From all we had heard we were prepared to be assigned a school on the other side of town with the lowest test scores, worst facilities and biggest lack of resources.  Instead, we were amazed that we got our first choice, Cleveland Elementary.  It's a wonderful smaller elementary school with a diverse student body and a great staff.  We count ourselves very blessed.

However, the incredible disparity in the public school systems was disheartening.  One day we're taking a walk through a crowded school with a teacher the principal grabbed since they apparently were not aware it was the week for potential kindergarten parents to visit.  Teachers stare at us with nervous eyes and sometimes allow the entire class to stop and stare at us awkwardly as we pop our heads in the classroom.  Socially awkward staff aren't quite sure how to talk to us.  There is no art program, P.E. teacher, computer lab or Parent Teacher Association.  The next day we're on a guided tour led by the PTA that raised some huge amount of money last year, complete with a P.E. teacher hired by money the PTA raised, the computer lab, tasty muffins and Peet's Coffee during the closing speech by the principal.  It was ridiculous and eye opening.  I was reminded of the wide variety of neighborhoods and the wide range of economic realities within Oakland.

I hope and pray that as things continue to morph in our school district that the city of Oakland does not write off the so-called "failing schools" but instead figure out a way to adequately fund basic education so that each young person is given tools to succeed in this world.  I'm grateful for the work of Perimeter Primate and The Education Report for helping me begin to understand what's going on behind the scenes.