The Oakland Literacy Coalition is a long-time grantee of the Kenneth Rainin Foundation. Their vision of an Oakland where every child learns and loves to read is deeply aligned with our mission. By offering resources, advocating for effective practice and building networks, they are strengthening the literacy ecosystem to improve outcomes for children. Their work is critical to citywide literacy efforts.
We invited Cassie Perham and Sanam Jorjani, Co-Executive Directors of the Oakland Literacy Coalition, to reflect on their newly refreshed three-year strategy in this guest blog. Below they share how their work is rooted in the science of reading, Oakland’s student data and the organization’s years of experience.
Guest Blog: A Glimpse At Oakland’s Literacy Landscape
By Cassie Perham and Sanam Jorjani
There are two realities about literacy in Oakland. The first, and harshest reality, is that Oakland has yet to deliver on the fundamental right to literacy for all students. Only one in three Oakland Unified students have grade-level mastery in literacy, but this number also masks deep racial and economic inequities. While 81% of white students whose family income is above the federal poverty threshold are on grade level, only 40% of Black students and 54% of Latine/x students are on grade level. When the families’ income is within the federal poverty threshold, the outcomes are even worse with 35% of white students and only 14% of Black students and 19% of Latine/x students being at grade level.
At the same time, there are many bright spots, and the city’s literacy ecosystem is getting stronger and more connected all the time. When you venture into Oakland’s diverse neighborhoods and schools, you see powerful examples of literacy in action.
When you venture into Oakland’s diverse neighborhoods and schools, you see powerful examples of literacy in action.
Here’s a snapshot of what unfolds in our vibrant community:
- A World of Imagination at School Libraries. At school libraries and Oakland Public Library branches, you’ll find children immersed in the world of storytime, their imaginations taking flight with every turn of the page, their eyes sparkling with curiosity. The Oakland Literacy Coalition’s School Library Partnerships program connects school libraries with volunteers and resources to purchase new, high interest books for their collections and Sora digital library.
- Literacy on the Move. A visit from the Eat. Learn. Play. Bus is a thrilling experience for many students and teachers. It pulls up to a school, and students and educators flock to the tables in front of the bus, grab a nourishing meal and explore an amazing selection of free books. The Oakland Literacy Coalition curates these high quality, culturally affirming books that reflect our community’s beautiful diversity.
- Interventions to Support Students In and Out of Classrooms. Older students and adult volunteers settle in alongside young readers for one-on-one tutoring. During these sessions children practice reading skills and do activities to support their learning. Multiple programs serve Oakland schools, including several by Oakland Literacy Coalition member organizations. Through forums, trainings and our annual Literacy and Justice for All Symposium, the Oakland Literacy Coalition provides ongoing learning and support to deepen program quality and efficacy.
- Engaging Students with Evidence-Based Curriculum. Students in classrooms across Oakland are receiving evidence-based literacy instruction with more support for foundational skill development. The Oakland Literacy Coalition successfully advocated alongside the Oakland NAACP, FULCRUM and other community partners for the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) to replace Balanced Literacy with Structured Literacy, which is rooted in reading research and evidence for student outcomes.
- Community-Led Literacy Initiatives. Across the city, community groups host literacy programs in Oakland’s vibrant neighborhoods and cultivate literacy in unique and powerful ways. Families gather at their children’s schools for literacy nights, where they might be invited to wear pajamas and curl up with a book. Families browse the Oakland Reads website for age-appropriate literacy activities and read-alouds in their native language. Community reading events are supported by free books and resources through the Oakland Literacy Coalition’s Reading Everywhere action grants program.
In Oakland, literacy isn’t just a word; it’s a force that shapes the future. It’s found in the hushed whispers of students decoding words, the laughter of families sharing stories and the determined scribbles of budding writers.
In Oakland, literacy isn’t just a word; it’s a force that shapes the future. It’s found in the hushed whispers of students decoding words, the laughter of families sharing stories and the determined scribbles of budding writers.
The Big Picture: Addressing Structural Barriers
As the examples above illustrate, supporting students to become successful readers is complex and requires a mix of conditions and experiences. That’s why it’s so important to have a well-connected, effective and aligned ecosystem around literacy.
Oakland Literacy Coalition staff are building partnerships across the literacy spectrum, from OUSD’s Literacy Department to organizations like FULCRUM and Oakland Starting Smart and Strong. We field questions from reporters, policymakers and educators and keep our eyes on the data and the latest research on literacy instruction so that we can serve as a trusted source of information.
These efforts will continue to be part of our work, but in order to solve the literacy crisis our new strategic plan aims to confront root causes and systemic issues. The Oakland Literacy Coalition’s core values include equity and antiracism, and fulfilling our mission requires naming, confronting and dismantling the systems that have created unequal conditions.
The Oakland Literacy Coalition’s core values include equity and antiracism, and fulfilling our mission requires naming, confronting and dismantling the systems that have created unequal conditions.
Our Roadmap
We aim to expand access to high quality learning opportunities and experiences for all Oakland children, enabling the conditions for all students to learn and grow. Our new three-year strategic plan lays out key levers to achieve our vision of an Oakland where every kid learns and loves to read.
- Cultivating reading-rich environments. No matter your zip code or where your family is from, all kids deserve access to high quality books they can see themselves in.
- Building capacity for effective literacy programming. This includes training, peer learning spaces, and tools and resources that enable educators and organizations to provide high quality literacy learning aligned to the science of reading.
- Coalition building for a connected and impactful literacy ecosystem so that Oakland’s literacy efforts work synergistically rather than in silos or at cross-purposes.
- Working in coalition to impact systems. Many of the root causes are structural and systemic and can’t be solved through programming alone. We’re designing a process to engage community stakeholders to identify and advocate for the necessary investments, conditions and policies that support literacy. Through this work, we also hope to shape new narratives about our community’s literacy aspirations, challenges and needs.
These four strategic priorities intersect and overlap because aligning the literacy ecosystem takes continual work, reflection and authentic relationships. We’re excited to see our roadmap take shape. We are counting on our community of peer organizations, members, supporters and funders to collaborate with us so that we can deliver what Oakland students deserve.
These four strategic priorities intersect and overlap because aligning the literacy ecosystem takes continual work, reflection and authentic relationships.
What’s Next
In March 2024, we’re excited to host our third annual Literacy and Justice for All symposium. It will be a space to highlight what’s possible and dig into what people can do individually and collectively to guarantee the right to read for all children.
About The Authors
Sanam Jorjani‘s career in education is all about keeping language, learning and community at the heart of our shared experience. A skilled facilitator, she connects people and ideas to break down silos and help people and organizations work better together. In her role as Co-Executive Director, Sanam is responsible for the strategic development and direction of the coalition network, initiatives and partnerships.
Cassie Perham is a lifelong bookworm and a wholehearted believer in the transformative power of literacy. In her role as Co-Executive Director, Cassie is responsible for the growth and development of the Oakland Literacy Coalition as an anchor organization for Oakland’s literacy efforts. Cassie leads the organization’s operations, fund development and strategic partnerships.
