Mission Promise Neighborhood Partner Interview Series (Part 3): Mission Graduates

Earlier in the Spring, CPNN met up with three of Mission Promise Neighborhood’s 15 partners: Tandem, Partners in Early Learning, Jamestown Community Center, and Mission Graduates. In our interviews with each organization, we learned why their community-rooted services are so vital to the Mission Promise Neighborhood (MPN) model, how they work across different community partners to maximize their reach, and why collaboration is key for them.

Below is our final interview with Mission Graduates.

A nonprofit established in 1972 in San Francisco’s Mission District, Mission Graduates asserts college education as a must for every child through a wide range of programs that help chart a path to higher education. They continue to impact over 5,000 children, youth, and families annually, and emphasize college as a means to success.

In our conversation with Senior Director of College and Career Programming, Catherine Marroquin, and Director of High School Programs, Jill Marinelli, they share how their partnership with MPN (Mission Promise Neighborhood) has been transformative as they shift the culture together around higher education a path full of support and guidance no matter the journey.

Interviewer: Why is your work vital to the Mission District and its community? 

Catherine Marroquin: We want to make college an expectation, not an exception in our community.  We serve about 77% Latino students, and many of our staff have either come through the SFUSD system, gone to college, and are now working in community, or have very similar backgrounds to the community that we serve. 

The change that we really want to make in terms of education is really trying to get to place where our community is not just getting by, but truly thriving. That is one of the vital pieces of the work that we do: from getting students into college or into different career paths, we do our best to ensure they're thriving in whatever field or career that they're choosing. That often means that we are supporting them post-high school graduation. 

Jill Marinelli: There's been so much gentrification, specifically in the Mission. The whole city is a very expensive place to live in. Supporting our students in accessing the careers that they are excited about and feel good about will allow them to stay in their community, give back to their community, and keep living in San Francisco, which is their home. 

“We want to make college an expectation, not an exception — and we’ll walk with our students every step of the way, no matter the path they take.”

— Catherine Marroquin, Senior Director of College and Career Programming

Interviewer:  How does your organization contribute to the Mission Promise Neighborhood (MPN)? 

Jill: We contribute in a really big way because there are not a lot of high school-to-college partners. So we're really the ones supporting the students through high school and college or post-secondary trades. There are a lot of organizations supporting the younger students, from early education to elementary, and then we take over. We're the core partner supporting the older students on their trajectory. 

Catherine: We're one of two organizations that work with this particular age group. And maybe the only ones that work with them beyond high school.

Interviewer: Which partnerships within the network complement or maximize your work? 

Jill: Especially at John O'Connell High School, we work closely with the MPN staff. There's a family success coach who has been there for many years, and we constantly refer families to him for support with the housing lotteries in San Francisco, the DAHLIA system, and he helps families apply to that. 

It's also currently tax season. So that's a big piece of work MEDA does: we're able to refer families to him to get their taxes done, to get support, and get ITIN numbers, which is really important for our students to apply to financial aid. 

We also work with the YMCA at John O’ Connell. We'll refer students to after-school programs if they're looking to get involved in sticking around after class and doing more enrichment activities. 

Interviewer: How does collaboration with MPN partners create more impact for Mission families? 

Catherine: I think the collaboration is really great when we can come in as a community and kind of make all these connections. 

When you look at the span of the work that we do from kindergarten to career, the biggest impact is where the resources are: early childhood education and the younger groups. It's telling when the K-8 programming has a good list of partners, and then you look at post-secondary and it's very short. That highlights that the work we do is important, because there isn't really anyone else carrying that work as much as Mission Graduates is. There's a lot of impact that happens with our parent partner program, the way the parent partner program is connected to the parents and to the school governance community. That work is really foundational and critical. 

I would love to see more connections, more partnerships, and more funding for the work that we do so that we can expand that work and make a bigger impact in our community.

Jill: I think MPN is doing a great job with the younger students and that's really meeting that moment of supporting them and getting to grade level with their writing and their math, and also building the college-going culture so that when they get to us, they are eligible for these systems and they can navigate them.

Interviewer: What is one story that has motivated your continued work with Mission graduates? (Note: key information has been changed to protect the privacy of those mentioned in the stories)

Catherine: We had a student in one of our earlier cohorts when we started College Connect. As a high school student, he was a really amazing kid, and his family had immigrated from El Salvador. 

The only way that he was going to be able to go to college was to receive a lot of scholarships. And this kid was so motivated, even while also working and doing construction with his family. He was so active in the program, coming in all the time. Every time I approached him saying: ‘there's a scholarship opportunity. You got to do it’, he was ready. 

In the end, he received so many scholarships, was able to go to school without any debt, and got his degree. This allowed him to take over his family's construction business. One time he came to tell me he received an award for being one of the fastest-growing businesses. And he now gives to our organization’s College Connect program. When he started donating to us, it was like a full-circle moment. I'm just so proud of him. It really built a path before a path was even there in a lot of ways. 

Jill:  We had a student graduate in 2020, which was a pretty tough year to graduate. He was really smart kid who got really good grades, but his family was homeless for most of his high school years. He lived in a car with his mom and his two little brothers, and he worked trying to support them. 

“He built a path before a path was even there — and now he’s giving back so others can do the same.”

— Catherine Marroquin, on a former student and College Connect alum

In his senior year, they finally got into housing, but it was far from the cit, across the bridge. He still finished most of his senior year before the pandemic hit, coming into school, applying for a ton of scholarships, and receiving a handful, including the Mission Promise Neighborhood Scholarship, which is a very grassroots endeavor between MPN and Mission Graduates. He wanted to go to college, but he just had all this family pressure of supporting his mom and siblings. While he was accepted to the University, he struggled and ended taking some time off. But he stayed in touch with me, went back to City College and continues to take classes there. He also actually just got hired at our local high school, so I see him every day now. It's great to witness how he is building relationships with students, mentoring them and providing safety that way. Every day, he promises ‘I'm still going to get my degree, I still want to be a social worker’. He's still working on that path, even though he's had this nontraditional journey. And I think that's really part of the key work– not everyone has this straight line. Everyone has their different paths, and our doors are always open to students. If they take a break, if they pause programming, they can come back. To see that they're still on their path, and that they're still working towards their goal means that what we’re doing is working.

Mission Promise Neighborhood Partner Interview Series (Part 2): Jamestown Community Center

Earlier in the Spring, CPNN met up with three of Mission Promise Neighborhood’s 15 partners: Tandem, Partners in Early Learning, Jamestown Community Center, and Mission Graduates. In our interviews with each organization, we learned why their community-rooted services are so vital to the Mission Promise Neighborhood (MPN) model, how they work across different community partners to maximize their reach, and why collaboration is key for them.

Below is our interview with the Jamestown Community Center.

Guided by the cultural traditions of communities they serve, the Jamestown Community Center provides youth development services such as sports, arts education, parent leadership development, before and after-school academic enrichment, and much more. Through their efforts, they support youth and families on their way to becoming healthy, thriving members of society. 

We had the chance to sit down with Jamestown Community Center’s Executive Director, Nelly Sapinski, and Director of Programs, Jessica Linares, who shared how the cultivation of trust and safety with underserved youth and families acts as the foundation for connections that transform lives.

Interviewer: Why is your work vital to the Mission District and its community? 

Jessica: We’re providing a safe space for youth, especially when their parents have to work. As a community center, we are able to speak the language that our community uses, as well as be reflective of the community itself.  One of our biggest strengths is that a lot of our staff have been in the schools and in the shoes of the students or in the parents who are sending their youth to the community schools we are located in. We have that face-to-face relationship since we're present as the go-to person for the parents, and we're able to connect them with the larger community at and in school.

Nelly: Jamestown has been in the Mission community for over 50 years. We are a trusted organization, not only for the families and youth that we serve, but also citywide. People know what Jamestown is, and they know that we are here to support our most under-resourced youth and families. We support them not only by the work we achieve, but also through our collaborations and partnerships. For example, recently we’ve been bringing in mental health specialists to support our young people through both services for traumatic experiences, as well as for general socioemotional learning. They’ve provided the opportunity for children to learn how to navigate their world with the expertise that our kids and families may not otherwise be able to afford. We’ve also brought in partnerships that support technology, STEM activities, singing, dancing: whatever it may be, our kids receive additional experiences with us that they may not otherwise get regularly.

Interviewer: How does your organization contribute to the Mission Promise Neighborhood (MPN)? 

Jessica: We have high numbers in our program, and our day-to-day activities really help the MPN with the data collection. Beyond data, we also provide on-the-ground perspective. We're in the community schools Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., whether they're on holidays or on summer break.

Some may believe it’s easy to think of a solution for a community, but when you have on-the-ground expertise, being in the nitty-gritty day-to-day allows us to give better feedback to any of the strategies that MPN is thinking of implementing. So in that sense, that day-to-day experience allows us to speak through the data.

Interviewer: Which partnerships within the network complement or maximize your work? 

Jessica: One key partner would be the Instituto Familiar de la Raza: specifically, our IFR mental health consultant. They have supported in so many capacities at the school site by helping to bring solutions with the school team and with our team. They build capacity by educating the youth on how to self-care and regulate, as well as teach us how to get a different perspective on connecting with the family or a youth so that they're able to receive the support to be successful in school. We also have a great partnership with the school administration, such as the principals and teachers. Our teams really get to become part of the school day. 

“True trust comes from really listening — not telling the community what’s best for them, but showing up, being present, and walking with families through both the challenges and the triumphs.”

— Jessica Linares, Director of Programs

Interviewer:  How does collaboration with MPN partners create more impact for mission families? 

Nelly: When MEDA does bring partners together, we're able to discuss the data that we're each providing, how things make sense for the network, and how we can support each other in a variety of ways. For example, we can collaborate with each other through peer support, like executive director to executive director, or development officer to development officer.

We also have shared learning around best practices. Our network of partners has grown from a small community to include a more diverse city-wide representation. This is vitally important since many of our youth and families are living beyond the Mission district, but they still come to the Mission district on a constant basis. So, having those relationships and knowing where our partners are also providing services is helpful, whether it’s here or in locations outside the Mission area.

Interviewer: What is one tool or strategy within your organization that helps build trust in your community? 

Jessica: One is never over-promising, right? I think that's big. So is also being there for the families when they need us. If it's for parents, it could be a desperate phone call, like ‘I don't know where my kid is at’, and being able to stay calm and guide them. When you go through those experiences, when the bad just happens, that's really when trust starts building. 

It’s also incredibly important to us to really hear them out. Sometimes organizations may come in with a solution in their back pocket, thinking they’ll just tell the community what is best for them. But that doesn't inspire trust, right? True trust comes from really listening and not giving a prescribed idea of what success means.

It’s in the way that we treat them and the way that we greet them. It’s reassuring community members that ‘if you don't have your tax forms to register for the program, that it’s going to be okay’. Letting them know that someone will help you figure out where you're at and not to trigger shame is how we approach it. When there are those moments that are awkward, but we're able to continue to push through and support families. That's how trust is built.

“Jamestown has been in the Mission community for over 50 years — not just as a service provider, but as a trusted partner walking alongside our youth and families to build brighter futures together.”

— Nelly Sapinski, Executive Director

Interviewer: What is one story that has motivated your continued work at Jamestown? 

Jessica: One that comes to mind is a newcomer student that started with us in middle school around sixth grade. He came to the country with just his father, had very unstable housing, and did not speak English. 

The staff picked up on his needs just by observing him in our after-school program. They then took the initiative to make sure to pack him extra food during the weekends, or find clothes that miraculously showed up at the site that perfectly fit him, and continued to support however possible. To see him go from a very shy newcomer youth to now a leader, speaks volumes. It also shows the success of our work that he understands when he's having a hard time, he has people to go to. Although he's in high school now, he's still so connected to the youth. To be able to see the youth grow through that cycle is what always makes it worth it for me. There are the students who would have struggled or not have found their go-to person as easily, who’ve found their way when they are in our program.

Nelly: A mom was recently registering one of her sons into our program for Summer when she stopped and told me a story about her older son who had been in Jamestown programs.

She attributed his exposure to sports for the first time to Jamestown. He then went on to play baseball in Pee Wee Little League, and then started playing baseball in high school. The mom was just so grateful that he had exposure to different enrichment activities at Jamestown, and she's was so happy about her brilliant son who is now a baseball player. He's looking to get a baseball scholarship when he applies to colleges. I felt all the appreciation and the love that this parent had for all the staff and everything Jamestown has been able to allow her kids to experience so that they can have successful futures. That was just really sweet. She opened up and I loved it. She trusted me. 

CPNN Communities of Practice

Learn how CPNN partners put the Communities of Practice model into action, and why it's helping ensure better data, stronger programs, and brighter futures for California children and families.

Corning Promise: Storytelling

Corning Promise (Everette Freeman Promise Neighborhood) released three new articles to their Storytelling Series. Check out how the Junior Cardettes are making a difference in their community; ways the Corning Union High School district is making careers more accessible for students; and why mental health is top of mind in the Corning Promise community.

Mission Promise Neighborhood Partner Interview Series (Part 1): Tandem Partners In Early Learning

CPNN, in partnership with Mission Promise Neighborhood, interviewed three of their MPN partners: Tandem, Partners in Early Learning, Mission Graduates, and Jamestown Community Center. In our interviews with each organization, we learned why their community-rooted services are so vital to the Mission Promise Neighborhood (MPN) model, how they work across different community partners to maximize their reach, and why collaboration is key for them. We are proud to share our interview conversation with Tandem, Partners in Early Learning. CPNN will be sharing the other two conversations throughout the Summer.

Tandem, Partners in Early Learning is working at the intersection of social justice and early childhood education. Collaborating alongside Bay Area school districts, early childhood education providers, and community-based organizations, they strive to co-create equitable, high-quality early learning experiences for children. Abriendo Puertas is a national curriculum that focuses on early childhood development, early literacy, health, social-emotional well-being, numeracy, school preparation, and parent advocacy. In San Francisco, Tandem’s Early Learning Specialist Margarita Gomez and San Francisco Program Supervisor Carola Mulero, are local practitioners leveraging this service model to listen to and implement services based on the critical needs of the local community.

In our interview with Margarita and Carola, we learned about how their work with Tandem through Abriendo Puertas is bridging crucial resources and holistic support to empower underserved mothers, children, and families⁠.

Interviewer: Why is your work vital to the Mission District and the community?

Margarita Gomez: My job is to be a facilitator of the Abriendo Puertas program, where I receive the recently arrived immigrant community members and guide them in the education of their children. It is a popular educational program, in the sense that from home we can be the teachers—the  first teachers of our children. I teach them how to advocate for their children in schools, at the doctor's, and how to guide them in healthy, wholesome nutrition. We connect them with resources in MEDA and across other MPN partners, which in turn helps them find housing, jobs, computer classes, food, since we know that they are newcomers. We direct them and we guide them to where they can go. These are through sessions in which all the mothers participate and learn from each other.

Interviewer: What exactly is the work that you do with Abriendo Puertas?

Margarita: We implement Abriendo Puertas twice a year, with a total of 30 mothers. We hold 10 meetings with them, and distribute 120 books among participants during each session. This material is important because it is how they have the tools to be able to start reading to their little ones at an early age. We also listen to the needs of the mothers, which is what is important. Through the different Tandem programs, I also offer readings to the children and technical assistance and workshops to the educators in the schools. I also offer playgroups in some of the different agencies.

Carola: We have programs in the mission that are dedicated to the more formal schools, such as the district schools. Then we also have formal schools, but they are run by agencies. Through another program that we have called Read&Play, we also offer playgroups and facilitate workshops for educators from this program who have family childcare. So Margarita offers a demonstration of how to do a reading and then, based on that reading, she has already developed an activity and facilitates the activity with the mothers, with the fathers, with the caregivers who are present, and the children. The goal is for them to learn, to teach them from a more open point of view, one that is not obligatory.

Interviewer: What partnerships within the MPN network complement or maximize your work?

Carola: MEDA [the backbone agency for Mission Promise Neighborhood] is a great resource for Margarita because every time she facilitates the Opening Door sessions, she is constantly connecting to the mothers within the different services that MEDA has. In regards to housing, for example, there are many mothers who, when they arrive, do not have a home, so Margarita connects them with MEDA too. MEDA helps them find accommodations and settles them.

There are also English classes. Through these classes, Margarita creates that bridge to the Department of Education because they are the ones who provide the funding for the schools and agencies that Margarita works with in the Mission.

Another example– there is a very important event that takes place in the Spring called Children's Book Day, and if I remember correctly, we have been participating in this event for six years now, which is a very big event in the Mission neighborhood organized by the San Francisco Library. Margarita leads it with volunteers that she works with through Opening Doors. She even knows the people she serves, and through Tandem, we donate 400 books, most of them in Spanish or bilingual, so that there is also exposure to Spanish and facilitation to English as well. And this is an event organized by the San Francisco Library.

Interviewer: How does collaboration with MPN partners create greater impact for mission families?

Margarita: The truth is we are connected, and the impact is that mothers, especially new mothers, are the ones who have the greatest need. They come homeless, they arrive at a shelter, and they arrive with practically nothing. So, what we do is connect them so that they can get all the available resources to help the immigrant community. For example, MPN is connected to Support for Families, an agency that goes to mothers who have children with disabilities. The families connect with that agency, and that agency guides them. Support for Families are not therapists, they are not doctors, but they have all the connections to send the mother with the needs that the child has to them. And it is a great help, as I say, they guide them, because they arrive without knowing where to go.

Since we started Abriendo Puertas, those contacts, those families, those mothers, don't just disappear like that, they're done, okay, goodbye. No, we follow up with them. We continue giving them resources. They also send us messages. For example, one mother whose girl is already in third grade sent us messages, thanking us for the support, thanking us for the tools, thanking us for the books we gave her for her daughter.

And that is what we do, to ensure that these contacts are not lost.

Carola: Through the different programs that we have at Tandem, one is called Story Cycles, which is a bag rotation program through the schools, and Margarita is in charge of that. She visits the classes and she is on top of the teacher and tells him how it is going, how the rotation is going, whether it is working or not, and how they can help them. Margarita is constantly helping the Story Cycles program work, and when it works, the children, in the end access at least 100 books a year. We offer each child in family care receives 10 books a year, and activity guides with materials in a backpack. We also offer them 4 playgroups a year that are in Spanish, Chinese and English, we do everything at the same time. Then each of the educators receives a monthly workshop based on a topic that they have indicated at the beginning of the year.

Each of our programs is designed and created to listen to the needs of the participants. If the teacher, for example, is not rotating the book bag, it is an indicator that we have to listen to the teacher and offer alternatives so that the children continue to have access to those books.

There are surveys that we do as well for the moms that Margarita also facilitates at Opening Doors, which is why I was saying we go in the direction that (the mothers) direct us.

February 2025 Newsletter

Read here.

Bridging Opportunity in Rural California: Klamath River and Corning Promise Neighborhoods

The California Promise Neighborhood Network (CPNN) is transforming communities across the state by addressing long-standing disparities in education, health, and economic stability. Among its diverse portfolio, two rural Promise Neighborhoods stand out: Klamath River Promise and Corning Promise (Everett Freeman Promise) Neighborhoods. These initiatives bring the nationally recognized Promise Neighborhood model to underserved rural regions, offering truly unique place-based strategies to improve outcomes for children and families.

Klamath River Promise Neighborhood

Klamath River Promise Neighborhood, rooted in Del Norte and Siskiyou Counties, works to improve education and career outcomes for youth in one of California’s most remote regions. The initiative emphasizes early literacy programs, college readiness, and workforce development, ensuring that students—particularly those from Indigenous backgrounds—have equitable opportunities to thrive. A notable achievement is the Klamath River Early Learning Initiative, which has expanded preschool access and introduced culturally relevant curricula to support Native learners.

Additionally, the Promise Neighborhood has focused on mental health support, recognizing the impact of historical trauma on Indigenous youth. By integrating mental health services into schools and offering trauma-informed care, Klamath Promise is paving the way for healthier, more resilient communities.

Corning Promise (Everett Freeman Promise Neighborhood)

The Corning Promise (Everett Freeman Promise Neighborhood), in collaboration with patterning organizations, have made remarkable progress in improving student outcomes and overcoming systemic barriers to educational success in rural California. Led by local schools and community partners, Corning Promise provides a continuum of solutions, including supporting positive parenting programs, recreation activities, attendance improvement initiatives, no-cost school-based therapy services, rural service integration, Career Technical Education (CTE) optimization, and other solutions that are creating conditions for children to success. Data from the state’s web-based data reporting system shows the partnering high school district has maintained its high school graduation rates at 94% for two consecutive years. One of Corning Promise’s standout initiative, investment is a district initiative focused on optimizing existing career technical education (CTE) pathways, which is helping high school students prepare for postsecondary education and vocational opportunities. The project is focused focused on system alignment through articulation of courses with colleges, building capacity of educators, increasing learning opportunities through work-based learning and job shadow days and engaging in activities leading to economic mobility and educational success.

How the Promise Neighborhood Model Works for Rural Communities

Rural communities face unique challenges, but they also have unique strengths. While access to services, healthcare, and economic opportunities can be a challenge, rural communities know how to build dynamic systems of support across with limited resources across vast geographical areas. The Promise Neighborhood model is particularly effective because it fosters cross-sector collaboration, ensuring that tribal governments, schools, healthcare providers, nonprofits, and community organizations work in tandem to provide programs and wraparound services for children and families. In places like Klamath River and Corning, this model serves as a lifeline for long-term community transformation.

A Future Built on Community Strength

Both Corning Promise and Klamath River Promise Neighborhood demonstrate how place-based, community-driven strategies can create lasting change in rural areas. By leveraging local leadership and resources, and delivering tailored support systems, these initiatives are not only improving individual outcomes, but ensuring stronger, more resilient communities for generations to come.

CPNN commits to highlighting the remarkable work and wisdom of California’s rural Promise Neighborhoods. Stay connected to learn more about Corning Promise (Everett Freeman Promise) and Klamath Promise Neighborhoods.

Transformative Collaboration: An Introduction to CPNN's Communities of Practice (CoP) Model

Over the last few years, the California Promise Neighborhood Network (CPNN) has pioneered an innovative approach to community transformation through its Communities of Practice (CoP) model. This unique framework has become a cornerstone to CPNN’s success, proving that diverse collaboration and transparency is a model that works for Promise Neighborhoods.

CPNN is an initiative aimed at supporting communities in their efforts to improve education outcomes and address systemic challenges. Each of the six Promise Neighborhoods of CPNN (Mission, Hayward, Corning, San Diego, Chula Vista, and Klamath River) have a unique set of organizational partners, approaches, and resources to address the needs of their unique communities. 

CPNN’s CoP model is a robust collaborative structure that allows neighborhoods at different stages of development to learn from one another while implementing tailored solutions. The network's Communities of Practice focus on three (3) critical areas: Chronic Absenteeism, College Retention, and Family Engagement & Partner Alignment. Each community consists of practitioners and experts from one of the six California Promise Neighborhoods. All come together intentionally to share resources and expertise, act as thought partners through each of their neighborhood’s toughest challenges, and build sustainability for the statewide network. The leaders embedded in these neighborhoods—from school administrators to community organizers—bring vital local knowledge that, when combined with CPNN's structured support, creates powerful momentum for change.

"You're working with people. It's not static. It's a constant development of learning, how to adapt. That's what makes CPNN different. We are intentionally putting resources, and time towards making a difference across communities," explains Dr. Iris Zuniga, one of the CPNN Consultants supporting theCoP model. “What makes this model particularly effective is its recognition that each promise neighborhood is at a different level of the work. Ten years of investment versus a few years make a difference. By creating spaces where established neighborhoods can share their hard-earned wisdom while newer initiatives bring fresh perspectives, CPNN fosters an ecosystem of continuous improvement and mutual support.”

The impact of this approach was evident during the CPNN San Diego convening last October, where neighborhoods engaged in a gallery walk to review program strategies and data sets from each community. This collaborative experience allowed participants to identify blind spots, provide feedback, and refine their strategies through collective wisdom.

CPNN's CoP model represents not only a framework for collaboration, but a testament to what's possible when communities come together with a shared purpose and vision. Best practices emerge across focus areas. Concrete action commitments are made by participating neighborhoods— from Hayward Promise’s deep focus on reducing chronic absenteeism, to Corning Promise's approach to prioritizing mental health for young people— these communities implement evidence-based strategies, adapting them to their unique contexts, all while building impact and sustainability.  

“These practices represent the culmination of shared learning and collaboration.” explains Dr. Zuniga, “By leveraging collective wisdom and sharing the burden of problem-solving, neighborhoods can maximize their opportunity as a true Network.”

 Learn more about CPNN’s Communities of Practice work, including their launch of a new CoP Toolkit later this year, by subscribing to CPNN’s newsletter and following CPNN on LinkedIn and X.

December 2024 Newsletter

Read here.

Promise Neighborhood Leaders Gather in Hayward, CA: Showcasing the Vision of an Inspiring ‘Education City’

Back in April, the California Promise Neighborhood Network welcomed guests from all over the country for their annual convening. This year’s gathering took place in Hayward, CA, located in the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area. Hosted by the Hayward Promise Neighborhood (HPN), one of six California Promise Neighborhoods, the event was a beaming reflection of the history of bold leadership and innovative success that has permeated the State since the beginning of the 2012 Promise Neighborhood movement in California. 

Inspired by Geoffrey Canada's Harlem Children's Zone, the Promise Neighborhood movement aims to break the cycle of poverty by providing wraparound support services to children and families living in distressed communities. These initiatives recognize that education is not just about what happens within school walls, but is deeply intertwined with several social and economic factors. By addressing these systemic issues holistically, Promise Neighborhoods aims to create environments where every child can thrive.

On this special day, education advocates and community leaders across all of the State’s programs and folks from supporting agencies across the country proudly came together to meet each other and share insights, strategies, and success stories.

Hayward Promise Neighborhood leaders were enthusiastically poised to host this year, evident in the opening remarks from Mayor Mark Salinas and Edgar Chavez, HPN Executive Director. A beautiful story of multigenerational success from Julieta Martinez, HPN beneficiary and current outreach coordinator, and her daughter, Samantha Lopez Martinez, set the tone for a day of immersive gathering and storytelling. But it was the Mayor’s initial declaration of Hayward’s impressive track to becoming California's first Education City that had hosts like Chavez noticeably eager to show guests what being an “Education City” was all about.

What is an “Education City?”

At the core of this vision is the belief that cities that are home to every educational system - from preschool to higher education - should be able to work collectively with local government, businesses, community organizations, and families to ensure that every child has a seamless pathway from birth to career. The concept of an “Education City” is also a lens for all leaders to ensure that policies, practices, and priorities serve the purpose of building economic and educational opportunities for all community members. Promise Neighborhoods serve as a critical equity strategy for this concept by investing in the neighborhoods with the highest child poverty rates and ensuring that programs and resources reach the families they were designed to support.

Chavez describes several Key Pillars for how HPN supports the Education City Concept:

1. Comprehensive Support Services: Children cannot succeed academically if their basic needs are not met. Therefore, a range of support services, including healthcare, mental health counseling, housing assistance, and nutrition programs, reduce sources of stress in households and ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive.

2. High-Quality Education: Central to the education city concept is the provision of high-quality education from early childhood through post-secondary education. HPN works closely with local schools to implement evidence-based practices, provide professional development for schools, and create enriching learning environments that meet students where they’re at, and inspire them to reach their full potential.

3. Community Engagement and Empowerment: HPN understands that sustainable change can only happen when communities are actively engaged in the process, which is why they prioritize community empowerment through initiatives such as community leadership initiatives, youth councils, and neighborhood revitalization projects that give residents a voice and tools in shaping their future and of their community.

4. Economic Development and Opportunity: An essential aspect of the education city concept is the creation of economic opportunities that uplift families and provide pathways out of poverty. HPN partners with the city and career technical education programs to engage local businesses and organizations to offer job training, entrepreneurship programs, and internship opportunities that equip students and residents with the skills and resources they need to succeed in the workforce.

A Commitment to Building Momentum: The History of Hayward Promise 

Since its inception in 2012 through California State University Hayward (now California State University, East Bay), HPN has made significant strides in improving educational outcomes and fostering community resilience. What started as a federally funded, place-based initiative in the Jackson Triangle Neighborhood, HPN monitored data on 15 indicators mandated under the 1993 Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA). Over the course of the program, HPN leaders supported these “GPRA Indicators” through three partnership networks: Early Learning Network (ELN), Cradle-to-Career Education Reform Network (C2CERN), and Neighborhood Health and Empowerment Network (NHEN). Over time, HPN saw that its commitment to investing in these indicators was working, and the program expanded to serve more parts of the city. Over the last 14 years, kindergarten readiness, graduation, and college enrollment rates have increased, and families reported feeling more connected and supported. Despite the growth and success of HPN, leaders within the Network realized that challenges remain, including persistent poverty, inadequate funding, and additional systemic barriers.

Modeling the Hayward “Education City” Promise 

On the first day of the convening, several tours filled the schedule. The first stop at the Hayward Public Library was a room filled with educators, administrators, and community partners from HPN’s C2CERN. Focused conversation could be heard on topics such as innovative solutions to increasing attendance, and ideas on promoting pathways for college and career readiness. On full display was Hayward’s education ecosystem, engaged in powerful, and sometimes emotional conversations while deeply listening to each other’s perspectives and expertise. Evident was HPN’s commitment to collaboration and collective thought partnership with their educational experts.   

“I grew up with nothing, and now I just want to give what I have received to everyone else.”

Guests’ next stop was Brenkwitz High School, an alternative high school providing smaller class sizes, flexible scheduling, and a strong counseling program for 16 to18-year-olds. Perhaps the most convincing of HPN’s impact was hearing from Brenkwitz’s students themselves. In a panel, current students detailed stories of going from dismay and defeat, to curiosity and thriving in their education journeys. They discussed ways the school helped to build their lens on what was possible, and how opportunities and supportive mentors such as their school Principal, Dr. Beavers, and Student Success Coach, Michael Harris, showed them what they were capable of. One of the student panelists described how connection and intentional investments changed his viewpoint on his future: “I grew up with nothing, and now I just want to give what I have received to everyone else.”

The tour continued to an unassuming classroom at the back of the campus. Opening the door revealed a portal of possibilities, where tools and materials, including a series of 3D printers, a T-shirt press, and video equipment lined the room in stations. Projects, both finished and unfinished, sat displayed in a scattered but artful sequence. We learned of the esteemed Mr. Liu and his “Makers” space– what he describes on the door as an “incubator for innovation and entrepreneurship.” Here, students were able to explore the intersections of academics, creativity, and entrepreneurship, something many of the students described as what catalyzed their interests in their education.

The tour concluded with a panel of local Promotores and Family Navigators from Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center and Community Child Care Council (4Cs) of Alameda County. Moderated by Rosemary Vazquez, Family Engagement and Equity Specialist at Cherryland Elementary School, these women shared moving stories of how each bridged gaps between neighborhood families and the education system. They provided insights into a critical network of support through in-language check-ins and culturally informed access to services and resources that kept families healthy, going to school, and engaged in their children’s education. This look into the often invisible components of such a holistic operation was to understand that HPN was highly intentional of the unique needs of its beloved families and students.

“Transformative education, the center of HPN’s vision, was more than possible.”

The tour ended with a beautiful summation of HPN’s collaborative values– a panel of city education leaders, including Cal State East Bay President Cathy Sandeen; City of Hayward Mayor, Mark Salinas; 4Cs Executive Director, Renee Herzfeld; Hayward Unified Superintendent Dr. Jason Reimann; and Chabot College Vice President of Student Services, Matthew Kritscher. Each highlighted their collaborative roles and how their institutions planned to continue to support HPN’s vision around education. A most valuable message amongst the group was that “collaboration is alignment and not competition,” and this is vital to the success of advancing HPN’s vision.

Worthwhile Investment

A mesmerizing sunset over the back of California State East Bay’s campus saw departing guests off after an afternoon of reception festivities and networking. A parting message for all, including those visiting from one of CPNN’s other five Promise Neighborhoods:

However, a more implicit message gleaned from the day: “How do we continue to support and sustain this success?” For other leaders, advocates, policymakers, and philanthropists, the experience as a first-hand witness to HPN’s grassroots movement was a call to action. All have a role in ensuring the CA Promise Neighborhood Network thrives for generations to come. Whether it is funding more Success Coaches, continuing education for teachers, or materials for school classrooms, securing long-term resources is paramount to the Promise Neighborhood movement, and something Network partners have more than proven is a worthwhile investment

Editor’s Note: In October, 2024, after the writing of this blog piece, Cal State East Bay, who is the lead collaborative partner for HPN, announced a new agreement with Hayward Unified and San Leandro Unified School Districts to automatically enroll qualified graduating students. You can read more about this here.