Education Excellence

Oakland Community After School Alliance (OCASA)

OCASA member organizations, small and large, school-based and non school-based, have a long history of working with young people and families to provide them with programs that positively impact in their lives. With this community-based focus, OCASA is making strides towards filling the void in leadership around youth development and after-school issues in Oakland. This effort comes at a critical time -- Oakland needs a well-coordinated and effective body to help navigate the upcoming changes in youth development policy and practice.

OCASA's 2006 priorities:

• Advocating for and participating in the creation of a permanent and powerful citywide infrastructure to support the formation and operation of a comprehensive after-school learning center at every public school in Oakland by 2010.
• Advocating for and collaborating on the improvement and re-authorization of the Measure K-Kids First Initiative – a voter-approved measure which set aside 2.5% of the City General Fund for direct services for children and youth and which established the Oakland Fund for Children and Youth (OFCY).
• Building and strengthening OCASA membership to include 100 community organizations, schools, and intermediary organizations in order to effectively advocate for the changes listed above.

Benefits of OCASA membership:

• Active participation in improving quality, equity and access of after-school in Oakland, Alameda County and California;
• Grievance representation with the Oakland Unified School District and with city and county officials;
• Access to the most current news and information related to after-school;
• Networking with peers and leaders in youth development and after-school;

Join OCASA to learn and advocate for positive change. Together, we can find a greater strength than by ourselves, and we can make a difference.

Membership registration form [MS Word document]