OKF partners with OUSD to ensure that high schools are places where youth are empowered to use their leadership skills through academic peer mentoring, meaningful leadership opportunities, and youth organizing to create a culture of peer support and mutual accountability that improves student learning and achievement. The mission of Oakland Kids First (OKF) is to create leadership opportunities for young people to transform their schools so that all youth graduate with the skills and motivation to reach their dreams. OKF partners with Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) to ensure that high schools are places where youth are empowered to use their leadership skills through academic peer mentoring, meaningful leadership opportunities, and youth organizing to create a culture of peer support and mutual accountability that improves learning and achievement for all students.

By building strong partnerships between school staff (including principals, teachers, and community school managers), students, and families, OKF builds the capacity of OUSD adults and youth to work together, create positive culture change in schools through meaningful engagement of students and families, ensure the voices of youth of color are treated with dignity in schools and improve academic achievement and equity. OKF’s mission and vision are closely aligned with OUSD’s focus on academic achievement while eliminating inequity and serving the whole child. For twenty years, OKF has partnered with OUSD to ensure that students develop the skills and motivation to be prepared for college, career, and civic engagement in their communities.