Who’s Breaking the Tie for Oakland students?!

We can’t have a governance board that is driven by the egos of all the adults in the room. Tie votes, refusing to vote on budget cuts, rescinding school closures without even knowing how much it would cost – this is just ineffective governance.  It demonstrates no one is governing on behalf of children, they are only representing the adults in the community– and wasting time and energy on things that have nothing to do with student progress.


Guest Voice on OUSD: What Will the OUSD Board of Education Cover During Their Back to School Retreat on August 5th?

By Jumoke Hinton, Co-Founder of SoBEO and West Oakland Grown Initiatives As the Oakland Unified School District Board of Education prepares for the new school year, will they take time to reflect on their effectiveness? Will they reflect on the tension present whenever they are working together? The public sees a very disjointed and antagonistic school board…


Guest Voice on School Closures: What is going on in Oakland?

Jumoke Hinton-Hodge, A SOBEO (State of Black Education Oakland) member speaks on her feelings about the current state of Oakland. I’ve always experienced Oakland as a deeply-rooted land of diversity brimming in both culture and intellect.  Currently, it feels like folks have lost Oakland’s vision. Our city’s governing bodies are tearing down carefully-built trust and…


Happy Kwanza, Pt II: Nia

NIA  To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community to restore our people to their traditional greatness.  SoBEO always wants to encourage and lift the work of Black Education in Oakland. There are stories and narratives to be told. Oakland struggles with sometimes a fear of being Unapologetically Black (Yes, Home…


Happy Kwanza: SoBEO Celebrates the Season Of First Fruits

Habari Gani! The Power of the Nguzo Saba  (7 Principles)   SoBEO is reaching out in the spirit of the Ngzo Saba – 7 Powerful Principles that speak to the social,  economic, and spiritual wellbeing of the Black Community. Kwanzaa is celebrated from Dec 26 -January 1st. Today we greet you in the Spirit of…