|
|
June 2022
Progress Newsletter
|
|
Tiger Pursuing Peace Throughout Oakland |
|
This school year, two Oakland elementary schools were experiencing unsafe conditions for students and families. Trybe, an innovative grassroots nonprofit serving the San Antonio district of Oakland, partnered with these schools on two community mural events, creating a safe space for people to gather and uplift the community.
Franklin Elementary School had been impacted by over ten pedestrian and traffic collisions in the past two years on the streets around the school, resulting in pain and loss for community members, with families in fear of the walk to school. In addition to these traffic collisions, many senior Asian residents of the neighborhood were also hesitant to leave their homes due to recent violent crimes in the area. In an effort to promote community connections, healing, safety, and advocacy for safer roads, Trybe collaborated with the school to host a mural project painted along one entire street bordering the school. Over 150 community members and students created the mural promoting a message of peace, belonging, and community love.
|
|
To see a full video of the 250 foot street-long mural on the theme of “Tiger Pursuing Peace Throughout Oakland” click on the image below: |
|
Bella Vista Elementary School has had a long relationship with the adjacent Bella Vista Park, which is a place where people of all ages have sought refuge. But, when kids returned to school after the COVID-19 pandemic, they returned to a park that was unfamiliar and contested. Long term residents who send their kids to the school no longer felt like the park was a safe place for their children. New neighbors had made it into a dog park and there had been multiple incidents of dog bites. The DIY skatepark was expanding and conditions for school children were unsafe. As a response, community groups held meetings to build trust between dog owners, skateboarders, and parents of school kids to find common ground in community agreements for the usage of the park.
|
|
To support this much needed healing, Trybe partnered with the school to host a multi-day
mural event where the park was vibrant with over 100 diverse community members and
students contributing to a 40-foot circle celebrating “Beloved Bella Vista.”
In both projects, Visiting Artist Ryoko Tokuho, led the students and community members in the mural projects which used art as a catalyst for change to bring community together. PVF’s Visiting Artist in the Classroom grants helped to fund both projects, in support of Trybe’s mission to build upon the resilience of engaged young people and their families to solidify a sense of belonging.
|
|
PVF has a new Teacher Resource Grant Program! |
|
The Technology, Engineering and Design Thinking (TED) Program is now available to teachers serving low-income students in TK-12th grade in San Mateo County public schools. This program offers grants of up to $500 for school year and summer learning sessions to fund Technology, Engineering, Design Thinking and STEAM curriculum in the form of hands-on projects, classroom resources, curriculum supports, guest subject experts and professional development.
You could use this grant to supports the needs of an afterschool or summer STEAM Club. You could purchase reusable design thinking resource kits like “Rigamajigs” for your class. You could even bring in a subject expert to your classroom!
As a new program, we welcome innovative ideas and creative requests. Submit and application for review today!
|
|
|
|
James Higa, Executive Director, brings 28 years of executive experience from Silicon Valley, working with Steve Jobs to change the face of technology. He was at the birth of the personal computer revolution as a member of the original Macintosh team and was deeply involved in the creation of many products and services at Apple over 3 decades. He has a long history of public service as a board member of Stanford's Haas Center and in grassroots relief efforts.
|
|
|
|
Bill Somerville, Founder, has been in non-profit and philanthropic work for over 50 years. He was the director of a community foundation for 17 years, and in 1991, he founded Philanthropic Ventures Foundation. Bill has consulted at over 400 community foundations, on creative grantmaking and foundation operations. Bill is the author of Grassroots Philanthropy: Field Notes of a Maverick Grantmaker.
|
|
PVF is a demonstration foundation practicing unique forms of grantmaking
and innovative philanthropy. Our primary interest is in the creative
and significant use of the philanthropic dollar.
|
|
Philanthropic Ventures Foundation | 1222 Preservation Park Way, Oakland, CA 94612 info@venturesfoundation.org | (510) 645-1890 |
|
See what's happening on our social sites: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
