Better schools? Join new study groups in West Oakland at Prescott-Joseph Center For Community Enhancement

Published on Monday, August 16, 2010
Last updated on 06:01AM, Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Photo from Loughborough University Library Flickr photostream.

The West Oakland Education Brain Trust was established in 2009 to sustain and strengthen the varied assets of West Oakland families, community members and neighborhoods.

As part of the vision of the Prescott-Joseph Center For Community Enhancement, the trust’s focus is on improving the community school concept to include healthcare, social and mental health services, job training and legal aid access, thereby creating a self-sustaining and healthy Prescott area known as the Lower Bottoms. 

Parents, families and community members are encouraged to attend a series of study groups that will address these and other issues. Enrollees may choose from either of the following groups – which run from 6 to 8 p.m. – and will be paid a small stipend at the conclusion of the series. 

Series 1: Tuesdays, Aug. 17, 24, 31 and Sept. 7
Series 2: Thursdays Aug. 19, 26, Sept. 2 and 9

The study groups will take place at Morh 1 Apartments Neighborhood Center, 741 Filbert St., at Seventh St. in West Oakland.

To enroll in advance, please contact Brandon Sturdivant or Sara Nuno at (510) 575-7890 or the Prescott-Joseph Center at (510) 208-5651.

About Debi Mason
Debi Mason has traveled throughout the United States for more than twenty years performing her stories, poems and other musings in front of youth and adult audiences at universities, conferences, festivals, libraries, schools and churches. An accomplished actress for many years, Debi is the recipient of a performance grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to study and master the art of story.   She is the former Managing Artistic Director of the award winning Black Theatre Troupe, Inc. in Phoenix, Arizona and is the founder and artistic director of Spoken Word Ministries whose focus is to provide enrichment to the community through performances that heal, motivate and inspire.  Once turning her life over to Christ, Debi is a spiritual voice for hurting and abused women and men.  She has been awarded the distinction of being a Master Storyteller by the National Association of Black Storytellers (2006) and has been a member of the award winning Black Storytellers of San Diego for ten years.  Her author credits include a book of poems and essays, Speaking Boldly, As I Ought To Speak, Vol. 1 and two published plays, Granny’s Porch and Keys to The Kingdom.  She is currently a member of Center of Grace Ministries in West Oakland where she is active in the Arts and Culture Ministry.  A personal testimony, Arizona Clay, is currently in print and can be purchased on-line through Barnes & Noble.com and Amazon.com
riverandavery's picture
riverandavery commented at Tue, 17 Aug at 11:54pm

 

"Study group" makes it sound so formal...


There was lots of information to take in last time, but there was also good food, lots of talk & some laughing! We talked about what our community needed, what were examples of places that were working, & how to move forward. The Harlem Children's Zone offers some inspiration:

 

       

 

   The West Oakland Education Brain Trust steps up


They showed the OUSD School Board this when a dozen or more folks organized & took the floor at a meeting to speak out about what's going on in West Oakland, what needs to be happening & gave them a written request for a response! They also ensured that West Oakland was included in an application for the Promise Neighborhoods.

 

Come be part of the solution!