Oakland Kids First

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Oakland Kids First

Oakland Kids First amplifies youth voice, leadership, and power to create engaging and equitable public schools where all students learn and achieve.

Founded in 1996 by a group of youth service agencies, OKF ensures that Oakland public high schools are places where students are empowered and supported to use their civic and cultural leadership skills through student organizing, academic peer mentoring and other meaningful leadership roles to create a culture of peer support, mutual accountability, and improved learning and achievement for all students.

10/08/2026

Join Oakland Kids First and the Sustainable Urban Design Academy at Castlemont High School next weekend for a community work day! Why are we inviting you? Because deep East Oakland is a food desert and grocery prices are at an all time high, which makes urban farming projects critical community resources for working class people. Please roll up your sleeves with us for the morning, pitch in on some projects, meet folks in your community, and connect with the land in the process.

Event Details:
🗓️ Date: Saturday, October 17th, 2026
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Location: Castlemont Farm, 8601 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94605 (Pull into the driveway to the left of the main building and drive to the back of the campus)

Please wear clothes and shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Remember to bring water and a pair of gloves if you have them.

👉Interested in sponsoring a workday? Please sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/u/0/d/e/1FAIpQLSfB9Nb2qq01IPzPcTM0F80gOP8KrrLtUDGJ2yTN1qx93oWOGg/viewform?pli=1&authuser=0

10/06/2026

🎉 Our 2025–2026 Impact Report is here!
Last year, over 750 Oakland youth showed up — not just for themselves, but for their communities. In the face of policy changes, budget cuts, and a political climate that too often overlooks young people, Oakland Kids First forged ahead to advance our core strategies, while redeveloping the leaders of today and tomorrow. Read our 2025-2026 impact report at the link below to see the ways we built youth power through student organizing, prepared youth for life after high school, and institutionalized youth voting this year. 💪✊

This work doesn’t happen without your support. If you believe in the power of Oakland youth, consider making a donation today at the link below — every dollar goes directly toward building the next generation of leaders. 🙏

Together, we’re proving that another world is possible — and Oakland youth are building it. 🌍

Read Impact report: https://www.oaklandkidsfirst.org/impact-report-2025-26/

Donate: https://www.oaklandkidsfirst.org/donate/

10/02/2026

For the past five years, our Harvest Festival has brought people together to celebrate the hard work and achievements of our Castlemont students and community. As we near the festival on October 28th, we’d love any support you can offer! Please consider making a donation or purchasing any of the items listed in our registry list at the link below to help make this year’s celebration our best one yet.

https://www.myregistry.com/organization/sabaa-shoraka-oakland-ca/5645633/giftlist

09/23/2026

Join Oakland Kids First at Castlemont High School next weekend to help us kick-off another school year at our amazing community farm. Deep East Oakland is a food desert and grocery prices are at an all time high, which makes urban farming projects critical community resources for working class people. Please roll up your sleeves with us for the morning, pitch in on some projects, meet folks in your community, and connect with the land in the process.

Event Details:
🗓️ Date: Saturday, September 26th, 2026
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Location: Castlemont Farm, 8601 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94605 (Pull into the driveway to the left of the main building and drive to the back of the campus)

We’ll spend the day engaged in w**ding, planting prep, chicken care, trash pick up & watering.

Please wear clothes and shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Remember to bring water and a pair of gloves if you have them.

Come ready to lend a hand and connect with our growing community. Let’s make a difference together. We can’t wait to see you there!

09/03/2026

🎉 Something big is coming... Stay tuned 🎬

30 years ago, a group of community organizers changed the future for Oakland youth by launching the Kids First! Initiative, which has resulted in over $350 million in funding for local youth serving organizations!. Today, the organization that was born from that victory (us!) is celebrating that history and doing the work today to lay track for a future we all deserve.

We’re so excited to share our 30th anniversary film with you very soon. For now, check out the trailer, share with your folks, and consider becoming a monthly sustainer to help us continue this work for the next 30 years. 👉 Donate at the link in our bio or visit: https://www.oaklandkidsfirst.org/donate/

“Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.” - Arundhati Roy

08/28/2026

🌟 We’re Hiring! Join Our Team at Castlemont High School!
We have three exciting opportunities to make a real difference in the lives of Oakland youth!

🏫 Castlemont Community Initiatives Senior Manager (Full-Time)
This senior leadership role is responsible for planning, overseeing, and implementing comprehensive programming for students at Castlemont High School, including our Knight Time, Castle Cares, and Castle Farm and Garden programs.

🏫 After School Program Assistant
Are you organized and detail-oriented with a passion for helping youth? Support the daily operations of our after-school program at Castlemont High School through a part time 20 hour per week administrative role and help create a positive environment for students.

📚 Academic Mentor
We’re looking for a dedicated and knowledgeable tutor to provide academic support in core subjects on a part-time basis (Mon, Tue & Thu 3:30–6PM, Wed 2–5PM).

All positions are based at Castlemont High School, 8601 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94605. To apply, email resume and cover letters to [email protected].

Ready to invest in Oakland’s future? Visit the link in below and apply today!

https://www.oaklandkidsfirst.org/join-our-team/

08/24/2026

🌱 This past Saturday we hosted a lovely multigenerational community workday at the at the Castlemont High School Farm & Garden. Kids, elders, and everyone in between came out to w**d, seed, transplant, harvest, and build community.

Some of our volunteers even left with fresh eggs, vegetables and bouquets — well-deserved rewards for all their hard work! It was a great reminder of what we can accomplish when people come together with a shared purpose. A huge thank you to everyone who showed up and made the day so special. 💚

Interested in hosting a work day for your organization? Sign up using the link in bio and we’ll confirm your date via email!

08/20/2026

🌱 Attention community organizations! The Castlemont Farm & Garden is entering its fourth year of monthly community work days — and we’re looking for organizations or groups like yours host one!

This is a wonderful opportunity for organizations, companies, fraternities/sororities, foundations, and other community groups to make a meaningful contribution to an urban farm in an East Oakland food desert. As a host organization, you’ll bring your people together for a hands-on day at the farm — and everyone is welcome to join in!

Hosting involves recruiting a team of volunteers and feeding them. That’s it! Oakland Kids First will oversee and manage all projects.

📅 Work days run one weekend per month, from 9:00am to 1:00pm
🌻 Activities include w**ding, seeding, harvesting, transplanting, composting, and more!

Interested in hosting a work day for your organization? Sign up using the link below and we’ll confirm your date via email!
👇 https://bit.ly/4wwvEaL

08/19/2026

Shout out to our longtime Lead Organizer Roxy Franco for helping Oakland Kids First celebrate our 30th Anniversary! 🎉

Roxy first joined our team in 2014, and made a lasting and meaningful impact on Oakland Kids First and hundreds of youth organizers. She led the establishment of our Youth Organizing Council, helped run the successful Free Supper for Hungry Minds campaign, supported our youth in developing our first ever Student Justice Platform, and played a critical role supporting landmark youth-led wins like the historic passage of Oakland Youth Vote - Measure QQ!

Now a Senior Powerbuilding Director with Yo Cali, she is still contributing to the field of youth organizing and took the time to reflect on the legacy of Oakland Kids First. Thanks for everything Roxy! 💜

Address

3700 E 12th Street, Unit 3
Oakland, CA
94601

Website

http://www.oaklandkidsfirst.org/

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