The Kenneth Rainin Foundation has announced that Lotus Bloom, Lead Liberated, Parent Voices Oakland, Oakland Literacy Coalition and The Teaching Well are recipients of the Rest and Care Award for Education. Each organization will receive a $40,000 grant to support a six-week sabbatical for its Executive Director—all of whom are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) women. The grant covers pro-rated salary and benefits, sabbatical expenses and organizational expenses related to planning and leave coverage. These one-time awards commemorate the Foundation’s 15th anniversary of formal grantmaking and its vision of a world where all Oakland children read at or above grade level.
The Rest and Care Award, a collaboration between the Arts and Education programs, honors the dedication and perseverance of nonprofit leaders by providing the opportunity to step away, rest and focus on themselves. The pandemic and current socio-political challenges have significantly impacted communities, placing additional financial pressures, funding uncertainties and emotional burdens on already stretched organizations. Our hope is that the six-week sabbatical will be dedicated time for renewal and self-care, enabling these leaders to regain their balance and return invigorated, ultimately enhancing both their organizations and the field.
“This award is our way of saying ‘we see you’ to the leaders who have shown resilience and guided their organizations through the challenges of the pandemic and the evolving education landscape,” said Nicole Kendrick, Education Program Officer. “By investing in their well-being and encouraging them to disconnect and recharge, we hope they can return to their organizations revitalized and ready to continue the vital work they do in our community.”
About The Rest And Care Awardees For Education
Lotus Bloom is a network of family resource centers that provides safe, welcoming and inclusive community spaces to traditionally underserved children in low-income Oakland flatland neighborhoods. Their founder and executive director for 15 years is Angela Louie Howard.
Lead Liberated is an Oakland-based nonprofit that equips education leaders with the tools to interrupt racism within themselves and co-design antiracist cultures within their schools. Their Executive Director of three years is Daneen Keaton.
Oakland Literacy Coalition is a coordinating and capacity-building organization dedicated to improving literacy outcomes in Oakland. Their Founding Co-Executive Director of eight years is Sanam Jorjani.
Parent Voices is a parent-led grassroots organization that advocates for affordable, accessible, quality childcare. Their Executive Director of 12 years is Clarissa Doutherd.
The Teaching Well supports educator retention by consulting with school leaders on human-centered policies and providing educators with trauma healing and wellness programming. Their Executive Director of three years is Lindsey Fuller.
Learn more about the organizations that received the Rest and Care Award For Education. Learn about the recipients of the Rest and Care Awards for Arts.
I want to be able to model resistance to sacrificing my health for younger advocates learning the work. Having rest and care provides an opportunity to begin a healing process of dismantling the harmful messages about my own value as a person that I have internalized and that show up in my work habits.
Clarissa Doutherd, Parent Voices
How Organizations Were Selected To Apply
Current and former Education grantees were invited to apply based the following criteria:
- Tenure: Served in a leadership position at their organization since 2021. This criterion recognizes the additional work and stress of managing an organization during and after the pandemic.
- BIPOC Leadership: Priority was given to BIPOC leaders to acknowledge their unique and disproportionate challenges.
- Organizational Capacity: Evidence that the organization will continue functioning effectively in the leader’s absence.
- Work Commitment: Years of service, field contributions and community involvement.
One of my most sacred life goals is to facilitate a life for my own three children that they won’t need to heal from. Modeling rest will stop the multi-generational trauma history with me. Life extending healing practices such as rest, radical self-care and embodied sustainability will enable me to more fully support the marginalized communities I want so deeply to be free.
Lindsey Fuller, The Teaching Well
How Leaders Will Be Supported
Beyond the $40,000 grant, the Rest and Care Award also includes a comprehensive support program including:
- A half-day orientation focused on deepening participants’ understanding of the principles and practices necessary for creating experiences centered around rest and renewal. This gathering will provide practical tools, frameworks and templates to assist participants in developing comprehensive organizational plans to support their leave.
- Ten hours of personalized sabbatical coaching.
- Wellness Workshops led by the Teaching Well that will explore the “Four Pillars of Wellness” and enable participants to go deeper into the components that impact each pillar. This five-week virtual workshop series will be offered four times throughout the grant period and will be available to all current Arts and Education grantees. More information will be shared in the spring.
The Rainin Foundation remains focused on our goal of every Oakland child entering kindergarten ready to learn and reading at grade level by third grade. We believe that investing in the well-being of leaders and their staff is essential for sustaining the impactful work they do in our community and necessary to realize our vision for Oakland children.
A sabbatical in 2025 would come at a time where I can reset my intentions and expectations as a leader so I can show up in better ways for the team as I complete nine years with the organization.
Sanam Jorjani, Oakland Literacy Coalition
