Guiding Beliefs & Values

The OLC's work towards our mission is guided by our beliefs:

  • Literacy enables learning and liberation.

    Allowing children to become powerful advocates for themselves, their communities, and their world.

  • Families are powerful agents of change.

    Families want what’s best for their children and have many different assets. Families deserve strong allies to support their children’s learning.

  • All kids can learn, succeed, and thrive.

    With strong instruction, caring adults, and opportunities that affirm who they are and respond to their needs.

     

  • Our collective success depends on one another.

    And how we work in authentic and sustained partnership as a community.

And rooted in our core values:

  • Equity

    All students and families deserve the support they need to learn and access their civil right to literacy. We center the needs of students from historically marginalized communities.

  • Anti-Racism

    The literacy crisis in Oakland is rooted in structural and systemic racism and is itself a form of racial violence. Fulfilling our mission requires naming, confronting, and dismantling racism.

  • Strengths-Based

    We value the assets, aspirations, power, and potential of our students and community. We know our community holds our own solutions and has the power to achieve them.

  • Community

    We are more effective when we work together. And it’s necessary to truly create the conditions for all kids in Oakland to succeed.

  • Relationships

    Authentic relationships drive progress. We work to build the trust that allows for honest conversation and accountability

  • Learning

    We serve from a place of continuous learning, listening and responsiveness to students and families and our network of organizations and partners.

  • Expertise

    In our commitment to outcomes, we are rigorous about identifying and elevating effective practices to drive student learning.

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