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Ernesto's Journey: From Youth to Leader

Today, Ernesto is 16 years old, but his story with EOBA began when he was only six.

For ten years, we have had the privilege of watching him grow up here. He watched families walk through our doors when they needed food, care, and a place where they could feel supported without judgment. At one point, his own family needed that same support.

As Ernesto grew older, he moved from watching the work to becoming part of it. He helped serve families through our food distribution program. He tended our gardens, caring for the fruits and vegetables that would later be placed on our tables for other families to take home.

Ernesto has grown taller, wiser, and more mature. Thankfully, he is still just as goofy. He is kind, thoughtful, dependable, and supportive. Over the years, he found his voice and stepped into the leadership that was developing inside him all along.

Today, Ernesto serves on the Youth Advisory Council for the Rise East 40X40 youth initiatives. The child who once received support from this community now helps shape opportunities for young people across Deep East Oakland.

We are deeply proud of Ernesto, of the compassion he carries, the responsibility he has accepted, and the young man he has become. Now we hope he will help guide the next generation of young leaders, just as this community helped nurture him.

Celebrating Black August At EOBA

Black August at EOBA with our partner Youth ALIVE! was a whole vibe.

The Plate of History is always one of my favorite parts. Fun, educational, and did I mention delicious? Our Taste of History cook, Angela Southall, served up some good eats while connecting food to history and culture.

This year we added the Fun Zone for the kids, because you really cannot go wrong with a Fun Zone. I also loved seeing everyone chillin in the outdoor lounge, catching some Vitamin D and just enjoying a Friday evening together.

A big thank you to our friends at CORO for Our Young People, who made sure the audience walked away knowing so much more about the history and meaning of Black August. Thank you to the League of Women Voters Oakland for their civic leadership and for getting our young people informed, ready, and registered to vote.

And I cannot say enough about giving your mind permission to just go and be free, even if only for a spell. I have got to lock in on my meditation practice.

Most of all, thank you to our partner Youth ALIVE! for making this happen with us. Good food, history, civic engagement, kids having fun, and community enjoying community.

That is a good Friday evening in East Oakland.

Donor Spotlight:

Larry Brundage and Thrivent Showed Up and Showed Out

Some people talk about supporting young people. Larry Brundage walks the walk.

Larry is the Northern California Engagement Leader for Thrivent Financial, an avid boxing fan, and one of those people whose warmth fills the room before he even says hello. From the first time he connected with EOBA, Larry made us feel like our young people and our work truly mattered.

Thrivent Financial came through as a major sponsor of our Summer Showdown. They sponsored the VIP Champions Lounge and kept our young athletes ready to compete by sponsoring the Hydration Station inside the boxers warm up room.

And Larry did not send a check and disappear. He came to the showdown, pulled up ready, and showed out. You could see that his support was personal. He loves boxing, respects the discipline behind the sport, and understands what a strong boxing program can mean in the life of a young person.

Thrivent’s support has reached far beyond the ring. Larry and the Thrivent team hosted lunch and financial literacy training for 75 EOBA youth interns. They gave our young people information they can use now, including how to think about money, prepare for their futures, and make sound financial decisions.

Thrivent also purchased tickets to our May Day fundraiser, showing their support for EOBA as a whole and helping us continue the programs that serve young people and families throughout Deep East Oakland.

Larry is warm, welcoming, genuine, and consistent. He believes in relationships, and his actions match his words. He has supported our youth, our boxing program, our workforce development efforts, and our larger mission.

Larry, you are officially part of the EOBA family. Thank you for pulling up, standing with our young people, and showing us what real community partnership looks like.



We appreciate you, Larry. You are a true champion for EOBA.

If you think EOBA's After School Program is a place where kids come, sit down, finish their homework, and wait to be picked up, you might want to come see us in action.

We believe kids learn in different ways. Some learn by reading. Some need to build something, move their bodies, get their hands messy, make something, or work alongside other kids. So we designed our after school program around that.

And yes, if your child wants to box, they can box. But EOBA is way more than a boxing gym, folks.

Every day brings something different.

Mondays are for STEM. Kids explore science, technology, engineering, and math through hands on projects that get them thinking, building, testing, and figuring things out.

Tuesdays are all about creativity with arts and crafts. They get a chance to make something of their own, try new ideas, and sometimes make a pretty good mess while doing it.

Wednesdays, we get moving with our Homework Olympics. This is one of our favorites. We take learning off the page and combine academics with movement, games, exercise, and friendly competition. Kids are active, they are learning, and most importantly, they are having a blast doing both.

Thursdays, we head to the kitchen. Sometimes we make something healthy. Sometimes we make something just because it is fun. Kids have baked cakes and learned how to prepare simple things they can make at home, including foods that do not require using a stove. They learn basic kitchen skills, how to follow directions, work together, and yes, clean up after themselves.

Then comes Friday.

FREE DAY.

No homework. We let our hair down and have some fun. After a full week of school, kids need time to laugh, play, hang out with friends, and enjoy being kids.

Behind all the fun, something important is happening. Kids are building friendships. They are practicing teamwork. They are learning how to communicate, solve problems, try new things, and become more confident around other young people and adults.

So if you are looking for an after school program where your child can get homework support, be active, explore new interests, develop their social skills, make friends, and have some fun along the way, come check us out.