We’ve expanded our team! 🎉 Please join us in welcoming Monica Chaidez, our new Executive Assistant to the CEO, and Danielle Jones, our new Director of Communications, to the Oakland Promise family! We’re thrilled to have Monica and Danielle a part of our team and look forward to the leadership and expertise they’ll bring as we continue our work to support Oakland youth and families and advance our cradle-to-career mission. Welcome to Oakland Promise, Monica and Danielle!
Oakland Promise
Higher Education
Oakland, CA 5,081 followers
Oakland Promise is a cradle-to-career nonprofit that empowers young people and families with scholarships and support.
About us
As a 501c3 non-profit, our vision is that every child in Oakland graduates high school with the expectations, resources, and skills to complete college and be successful in the career of his or her choice. We aim to accomplish this dream through our four programs: Brilliant Baby, Kindergarten to College, Future Centers, and College Scholarships and Completion. Brilliant Baby helps parents raise thriving children by offering a supportive community, reducing financial stressors, and establishing a college savings account ($500) as an early investment in your baby’s bright future. We are a resource for parents and guardians during the first critical years of your baby's life. The program provides financial coaching and a supportive community for parents. K2C's vision is to serve the 5,000 students who start Kindergarten in Oakland Public schools each year. There are thee main components for K2C: (1) we open an Oakland Promise college scholarship seeded with $100 as a start (that can grow to $500 at high school graduation) for all Oakland public school kindergarten students, (2) support families to open their own 529 college savings accounts and 3) create a college-going culture at schools with K2C teams consisting of teacher, parent, principal and community liaison. College Access Future Centers are school based advising centers in Oakland high schools and large middle schools to support college and career planning for all students. Staff at these Future Centers will ensure that all students develop a career and college plan. They also will support all seniors to apply for college, financial aid, scholarships, and high leverage internships. Our College Completion team provides advising and mentorship support along with scholarship distribution. OP will provide financial support to address the cost barrier that unrepresented students experience in pursuing a college education. Students at 2-year and technical colleges will receive from $2,000 to $4,000 per year.
- Website
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https://oaklandpromise.org/
External link for Oakland Promise
- Industry
- Higher Education
- Company size
- 11-50 employees
- Headquarters
- Oakland, CA
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Founded
- 2016
- Specialties
- K-12, Higher Education, College Access, College Savings Accounts, Parent Coaching, Community Engagement, Public Education, and college scholarships
Locations
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Primary
Get directions
Oakland, CA 94607, US
Employees at Oakland Promise
Updates
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Oakland Promise reposted this
This past May, I graduated from The Wharton School with a B.S. in Economics, concentrating in Marketing, and a minor in Cinema and Media Studies. When I arrived at Penn, I didn't really know what to expect. I was stepping into an environment that was entirely new to me. My dad was a newspaper delivery driver, and my mom worked as a caregiver. They spent years working long days so my siblings and I could have opportunities they never had, and graduating is a reflection of their sacrifices as much as my own. The last four years weren't always easy. There were setbacks, failures, and plenty of moments where I had to figure things out as I went. Looking back, those experiences taught me just as much as the successes. They pushed me to be more resilient, more curious, and more willing to keep going even when things didn't go as planned. I'm incredibly grateful to Girls Inc., Thrive Scholars, HSF, Oakland Promise, and the mentors who believed in me and continued to open doors along the way. Thank you for investing in my education and my future. As a first-generation, low-income student, I am so proud to now be a college graduate and an alumna of the University of Pennsylvania. I can't wait to continue learning, growing, and carrying everything these last four years have taught me into this next chapter. #WhartonGrad #PennGrad #FirstGen #Classof2026
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We'd like to give a huge shoutout to our Board Chair, Susan Stutzman for being named a recipient of the Golden State Valkyries Power Forward Award, presented by PG&E! Susan was recognized for her excellence and commitment to supporting the Bay Area community. As a philanthropist and proud Oakland resident, she continues to champion our youth and families, helping advance opportunities for young people from cradle to college to career. Thank you to the Golden State Valkyries, Golden State Community Foundation, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and Ay'Anna Moody for recognizing Susan and celebrating her continued dedication to uplifting Oakland.
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Oakland Promise reposted this
🌟 A Season of Momentum, Milestones, and New Possibilities 🌟 Our Q2 College Promise Newsletter is here! This quarter, we're celebrating a decade of impact from pioneering Promise programs like Achieve Atlanta, Richmond Promise, Oakland Promise, and LA College Promise, while continuing to invest in the future through learning communities focused on student parents, male mobility, and strengthening communications across the Promise field. Inside this issue: ✅ Upcoming events and engagement opportunities ✅ New tools and resources for Promise leaders ✅ Insights from the field ✅ Save the date for the 2026 College Promise Careers Institute - Oct 21-22 in LA! Thank you to the leaders, practitioners, partners, and students who continue to advance opportunity, economic mobility, and shared prosperity through Promise. 📖 Read the newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gbbt5HpV #CollegePromise #EconomicMobility #StudentSuccess #HigherEducation #WorkforceDevelopment #PromisePrograms #SharedProsperity
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✨ PARTNER SPOTLIGHT! ✨ Hively is dedicated to supporting families across Alameda County by providing essential resources, educational opportunities, connections to child care providers, and access to mental health support. Through our partnership, Hively has helped connect families to Oakland Promise’s Brilliant Baby Program, where families can open college savings accounts and participate in financial literacy workshops that support long-term financial well-being. We are incredibly grateful for the Hively team and their commitment to empowering families and creating brighter futures for our community. Thank you for your partnership and support! 💜
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✨ Partner Spotlight ✨ We’re proud to highlight MISSSEY (Motivating, Inspiring, Supporting, and Serving Sexually Exploited Youth), a remarkable organization dedicated to supporting youth who are at risk of or impacted by sexual exploitation and violence. As the first survivor-led, survivor-informed nonprofit serving sexually exploited youth in Oakland, MISSSEY provides critical resources including a food pantry, emergency housing, and school-based programming that helps young people heal, grow, and thrive. Oakland Promise is honored to partner with an organization making such a meaningful difference in our community. Thank you, MISSSEY, for your unwavering commitment to Oakland’s youth and for the life-changing work you do every day. 💙
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Oakland Promise reposted this
OUSD is proud to celebrate the Class of 2026 as graduation season begins. At the Oakland Promise Pathways to Opportunity Awards Ceremony, 1,605 students received nearly $6.5 million in scholarships to support their education after high school. The event highlighted the talent, resilience, and ambition of Oakland students, as well as the community partnerships that help make their next steps possible. Among the seniors recognized: Jacqueline R., from Coliseum College Prep Academy, is heading to San Francisco State University. She shared how proud she felt to be recognized and credited CCPA with helping her stay on track through college classes, programs, and extracurricular opportunities. Alex L., from Oakland High School, is a first-generation college student preparing to attend UC Riverside. He described the ceremony as a meaningful moment as he took the next step in his life. Emily O., from Skyline High School, plans to earn her associate degree at Merritt College before transferring to a UC. She shared appreciation for Skyline’s College and Career Center and the trusted adults who helped guide her through scholarships and applications. Gilberto C., from Skyline High School, will attend Merritt College with the goal of becoming an EMT and eventually a firefighter. He said Skyline helped connect him to the Highway to EMT program and prepare him for the path ahead. Madison J., from Fremont High School, gave one of the event’s main speeches and is heading to North Carolina A&T. She spoke about overcoming challenges, building her future, and the support she received from Oakland Promise and Fremont High School. David A., from McClymonds High School, is heading to Stanford University. His advice to other students: set goals, stay focused, and take advantage of every opportunity. Congratulations to these students and to all OUSD seniors preparing for graduation and life after high school. Their accomplishments reflect the promise of Oakland’s young people and the power of investing in their futures. Read the full story on our website: https://ow.ly/JSZ650Z3o1N #OUSD #OaklandSchools #ClassOf2026 #OaklandPromise #StudentSuccess #PublicEducation
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Still reflecting on the incredible energy from our 11th Annual Oakland Promise Awards Ceremony. ✨ Together, we celebrated over 1,600 Oakland public high school graduates and the power of investing in our students, families, and future. We’re especially grateful to KTVU reporter Amber Lee for covering the event and beautifully capturing the heart behind our work — uplifting scholar voices, expanding access to opportunity, and showing what’s possible when a community invests in its young people. Check out the news story here: https://lnkd.in/gqBDdQcm Thank you to everyone who continues to support and believe in Oakland students. 🎉
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We are so proud to celebrate our 2026 Scholars! 🎓 At our 11th Annual Awards Ceremony, over 1,600 Oakland public high school graduates were awarded nearly $6.5 million in scholarships as they prepare for the next phase of their educational journeys. We are deeply appreciative of everyone who showed up in support of our scholars and mission– From elected officials, donors, partners, school leaders, students, families, and so many others who continue to believe in the power and potential of Oakland’s young people. As we celebrate 10 years of Oakland Promise, moments like these remind us why this work matters. Congratulations to the Class of 2026 on all of your accomplishments! Whether you are attending a four-year university, community college, or trade program, we wish you continued success on your pathway of opportunity. We are honored to support you through every step of your postsecondary journey. 💛
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Oakland Promise reposted this
Over the weekend, I met with fellow commissioners from the Oakland Children’s Initiative to align on our vision of strengthening high-quality early childcare through college and career readiness in Oakland. I’m proud that Oakland voters have made clear that access to quality childcare and higher education are top priorities. Thank you Jennifer Cabán, MPA for your grit and tireless leadership. I’m excited that Marriah Segura joins to help advance this heart work. Oakland Children's Initiative Pete Haviland-Eduah, MPP Edgar Rodriguez-Ramirez Michelle NewRingeisen Michael-Sesen Perrilliat Sam Davis Marcy Whitebook Priya Jagannathan Kym Johnson First 5 Alameda County Emma Batten-Bowman Priya Jagannathan Oakland Promise
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