February 5, 2019
A Word From Jesus Portillo –
Our Social Justice Committee has been working on Education in Oakland since 2010. Our Aspire and Achieve (A&A) program has been at Oakland Tech since 2014. We have worked with 100 Black Men and African American Male Achievement and have provided mentoring, tutoring and visits to colleges and cultural events. This February 17 at our Forum, you will hear Darryl Richardson and our own Derrick Nesbitt talk about the ongoing work and growth of the program.
While A&A is doing well, there is a crisis happening in the Oakland Unified School District and it demands our attention. OUSD is facing a likely teacher strike, a $30 million deficit, and closing and combining schools. Our Social Justice Committee is looking to join with OCO, Oakland Community Organizations’ Education 4 Liberation Committee to seek a community voice in the needed changes. We seek to have parents, students, teachers and community organizations work with OUSD collaboratively, compassionately and intelligently in finding just solutions to problems that can no longer be kicked down the road. This is easier said than done and that is why we are asking for your help. We are asking for your faith in action.
On Wednesday evening, February 13, at 6:30 in the Family Room, Our Social Justice Committee is asking you, our members, to come hear OCO Education Leader Katy Nunez-Alder speak at our meeting. Please come and hear the work OCO is doing and the many ways and options you have to strengthen our schools, our children, our neighborhood, our church and our future. In the narthex you can find a letter outlining the stance OCO has taken in support of students, teachers and community involvement in OUSD decision making.
MLK on Education:
“We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character–that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only power of concentration, but worthy objectives upon which to concentrate. The broad education will, therefore, transmit to one not only the accumulated knowledge of the race but also the accumulated experience of social living.
If we are not careful, our colleges will produce a group of close-minded, unscientific, illogical propagandists, consumed with immoral acts. Be careful, “brethren!” Be careful, teachers!”
Join us Wednesday, February 13 at 6:30 and help us be careful.
Prayers of the Congregation
All who are grieving, Don Dresser (health), Jamie Reid (health), Cynthia Nelson (health), Jewelle Gibbs (health), Cecil White (health), Sandra Dunn (health), Gloria and Phil for June, Billy, Jane, Tiffany, Alfonso and granddaughter Arielle (health), Mary Karne for daughter Maryla (health), LeAnn Flesher for her dad (health), Rafael Soto for his work colleagues and for the people of Puerto Rico, Marie Johnson (health), Julio Cash for his mother, The homeless residents of the Bay Area, all our students, teachers and school employees, all our young adults, Margaret Oladoja, thanksgiving for the LABC office staff and volunteers, Bjoe Morris in need of housing, Helen Harrison for Brody and Dave Prado as they mourn the death of their mom/wife (Brody is a good friend of Sam Harrison), Wayne Hutton (health), Jeanne Robinson for her sister-in-law Laurlee, Celestine Bennett as she cares for her sister, Dale Edmondson for his family, Christopher Thom, Rita Jennings (health), Evelyn Wong (health) John and Laura (health) Landgraf, Al Johnson and Roy Browner, Lloyd Scott, the Joachim family on the death of Evan’s aunt, A fair contract for OUSD teachers, Brian Byamukama, Jesse Lucas, Sydney Webster (work demands)
As we continue our celebration of African-American History Month we also recognize that many people around the globe are celebrating the beginning of the Lunar New Year. Joy to all and prayers for peace.
Announcements
Flick Flack (Friday Night, 7:00, Family Room, RSVP Pastor Allison), Forever Young (Saturday, 12:30, Family Room, RSVP to Alodia Corpuz or George Lee), The solar panels are scheduled to be installed on the sanctuary roof beginning this Saturday!
Thanks to all for helping us reach our goal of $2000 for the Retired Ministers and Missionaries Offering.