What Does It Mean To Be Yemeni At School? Getting Closer to Answers

(A guest post from Edrees Saied a recent graduate from Oakland Tech and one of Oakland’s Energy Convertors) What does it mean to be Yemeni at school? Who knows? But I’m finding communities that are helping me figure that out. After participating in the event, “Yemen: Global to Local to Household,” I got closer to learning how…

Her School Cut the Mic on this Courageous Valedictorian when She Talked About Sexual Assault, Please Read and Share the Full Story, and Help End a Culture of Silence

Lulabel Seitz is a model student to most, an example of hard work paying off, and rising from humble beginnings to a valedictorian. Her commencement speech at Petaluma High School touched on the challenges students faced in the North Bay; fires and displacement, a teacher strike, and her own personal struggles to climb the educational…

Why You Should Attend Black Grad Nights: A Graduate’s Reflection From Oakland Tech’s First

(A guest post from Edrees Saied, a graduating senior from Oakland Tech, headed to San Jose State in the Fall, who walked this week at Tech’s first Black graduation, he has some other powerful work here) Limitations only exist in the mind, so don’t get it confused. That’s what I said as I walked the…

He’s More Than Just a Teacher, Mr. Bey Is a Game Changer

This is a piece by Oakland student Alondra Gonzalez, part of the Energy Convertors Fellowship led by Charles Cole III. This is me with my teacher, Mr. Bey. In the six months our class has known him he has earned not only our respect, but our love. I met him my first day of freshman year. I…

A Second Chance for a Life Changing Trip; Helping Albert Get Back to Africa

Last year we planned a trip to South Africa, it started amazing but ended early when thousands of dollars were stolen. Football teaches you that you need to get up when you are knocked down, so we are planning the trip again, and this time we will get it right and I need your help.…