December 2024

Progress Newsletter

By Cayman Bentley, Social Media Manager and Savannah Lira, Program Manager

At PVF, we aspire to make philanthropy more responsive and collaborative and to tackle issues to improve peoples’ lives and best serve the community, including improving public education.

In addition to our Teacher Resource Grants Program which have given over $10 million in grants these past 24 years, we are proud to act as a fiscal sponsor for charitable initiatives dedicated to transforming public education, including IDEAL Bay Area, 3Ls The Academy (Literacy, Leadership & Liberation), and Agency by Design Oakland (AbDO).

Agency by Design Oakland (AbDO) provides professional development for educators to cultivate their agency so that their students experience joyful and deep learning and become independent problem solvers. Grown out of Project Zero’s Agency by Design research project based at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the Oakland leadership team decided to launch Agency by Design Oakland with PVF in 2019, noting the equity-focus of maker-centered learning and the transformative power of inquiry based professional development.

PVF staff attended AbDO's most recent Maker Meet-Up held as part of their See It Series. These short, single session workshops allow educators to get a taste of some aspects of the Agency by Design framework with a focus on building connections along with emergent topics that are relevant at the moment.

We learned how to make paper circuits, a fun project that can be taught and done with students using copper tape, batteries, and LEDs to create designs that have working lights in them and teach the basics of electricity and how circuits function.

Last month, PVF attended an inspiring workshop hosted by IDEAL, a nonprofit dedicated to transforming public education through culturally sustaining, human-centered tools. The workshop, led by artist, educator, and designer e. bond, brought together educators from Eden Gardens Elementary and Mount Eden High School to explore bookmaking and bookbinding as tools for fostering creativity and connection in classrooms.

The designer guided us through the hands-on process of folding, stitching, and binding pages into unique handmade books. The activity wasn’t just about artistry—it was about imagining how these skills could nurture self-expression, creativity, and belonging among students. The workshop, one of many hosted throughout the school year, also emphasized building community among educators. Collaborating with colleagues from different schools was a powerful reminder of the shared vision for education that centers creativity and inclusivity.

This experience reaffirmed the value of investing in professional development that equips teachers with innovative tools and perspectives. Thanks to IDEAL Bay Area, e. bond, and the dedicated educators who participated, this workshop was a meaningful step toward creating classrooms where every student feels seen, valued, and empowered.

In Oakland, California, where only 13% of Black and Brown children read at grade level, 3Ls The Academy is proving what's possible when we reimagine literacy education through a lens of justice and community power.

3Ls implements "Radical Literacy" - a community-led model for eradicating disproportionate literacy outcomes for Black and Brown students. This approach:

1. Creates anti-racist learning cultures to improve student literacy, leadership and liberation

2. Builds capacity across the system - ensuring educators, leaders, and communities have skills to create improved outcomes

3. Centers student and family voices - recognizing that schools improve when we listen to and act on input from Black and Brown students and families

Their vision is clear: a world where schools become safe, fun, and inclusive spaces for Black and Brown children to thrive, where school systems truly partner with communities, and where ultimately, 3Ls The Academy is no longer needed because we have achieved just and equitable schools for all.

"This isn't about empowering communities - they already have the power. This is about ceding power to families and providing the resources, systems and structures that let them lead the transformation of literacy outcomes in their own neighborhoods."

PVF is proud to support incredible organizations such as these who are working to make education more equal, inclusive, and just.

Honoring a Legacy of Commitment and Community

At the heart of Vallejo, California, there exists a powerful legacy of love, dedication, and service to others. The James & Ursula Williams Family Teacher Resource Grant Program is a tribute to the remarkable lives of James and Ursula Williams—two community activists whose tireless work ethic and devotion to family and education made a lasting impact. Through this program, their enduring commitment to improving the lives of others continues to thrive by supporting educators in Vallejo who share their passion for nurturing future generations.

Savannah Lira, Program Manager, is responsible for program management and development, as well as communication materials at PVF. She is an AmeriCorps Alum and has a background in economic development and grantwriting.