Champions for Children!

Our second annual Champions for Children 5K is in three weeks!
Have you registered?

Registration is $25 (same as last year) and you will get a CfC T-shirt and a goodie bag.
Registering ahead of time will ensure that you get the correct-sized shirt and also guarantee you that bag of treats!

So sign up to walk or run now, start fundraising to win that iPhone5 and meet us at the Lake on October 20th!
We'll be there bright and early at 8:15am.

La Escuelita Opens

Perhaps it's is a bit of old news, but it is exciting to me (Madalyn) because I will be tutoring at La Escuelita this year.

I visited La Escuelita last year a handful of time. The first time, I was dismayed--portables everywhere, loud construction happening next door, a cement playground. The Excel Reading Clinic was located in a portable that was crowded with mix of computers that seemed to range in age from a couple months to about a decade.

As the year continues, you can look forward to posts about my tutoring experience at La Escuelita. Take a look here at some pictures of new campus.
So that's what all the construction commotion was about!

More Sandia news

If you loved reading about the Family Science Night in the latest Faith Network newsletter, then here is a lengthier article from the team that brought FSN to Prescott: Sandia National Laboratories!

To see the article, scroll down to the second article titled, "Turning teacher in retirement offers a ‘purposeful and enjoyable way’ to help others."
Faith Network has a great partnership with Sandia National Laboratories and retired scientists Mark and Joanne Perra who are volunteering in our STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) program at Prescott Elementary in West Oakland.

The Irving C. Lambert Award

Here at Faith Network, we are beaming from ear to ear about the award that Randy received for his work. Not only does the award speak highly of our president, but it also honors Faith Network as an organization.

Below are some of the words that are written on the plaque that Randy received.
We share these words with you, our volunteers, donors, champions, partners in ministry--you make Faith Network possible.

"Your creative entrepreneurial spirit, prophetic and visionary understanding, and pastoral wisdom led you to launch Faith Network of the East Bay as an effort to improve the whole health of children and families in that area of the city."

"Through this outreach ministry, vulnerable children and their families are given hope, leading to transformed lives, homes, communities and ultimately impacting the city of Oakland."

"In collaborative partnership with churches, schools, community organizations, and individuals, you seek to bring equity to an unbalanced educational system in the urban environment. Faith Network provides space and place for restoration and redemption in broken communities, bringing academic and life skills, empowerment and hope to many"

"While deflecting praise and spotlight away from yourself, you have earned the respect of your city and its leaders, both religious and secular. Your ministry exemplifies the statement, 'For God's glory and neighbors' good.'"

News for your summer blues

SERVE FREE LUNCH, SUPPORT A TEACHER, OR BE PART OF OUR EVENT!

One. We are looking for great people to commit to1.5 hours during lunchtime, to serve lunch to children of Oakland Public Library. Dates: June 18 - August 17, 2012 Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Two. Support a teacher and touch a child by preparing bulletin boards for Piedmont Avenue Elementary School. Lunch will be provided Date: August 18, 2012  Time: 9am-2pm  Place: 4314 Piedmont Ave, Oakland  Three. Help out with our Champions for Children 5k. Come set-up, serve snacks, record times, tear down, have fun!  Date: October 20, 2012 Time: Early morning Place: Lake Merritt If you are interested in any of the above opportunities, email: info (at) faith-network (dot) com.

Newsletter surprise

This picture will be back in September. We promise!

You might think that summer is a relaxed time in the Faith Network office. Considering the fury with which we work during the school year, "relaxed" can be a relative term.

So when you get your monthly newsletter for August, please blame a moment of unwinding when you see that we have encroached upon the President's Corner without our president's authorization. With Randy briefly out of the office, we couldn't help but toot his horn since he would never do it himself.

Also in the newsletter is a Family Science Night feature with pictures of West Oakland kids having a blast at Prescott Elementary.


Can't wait?
Follow us on FB to get linked to the newsletter before we send it next week!

Summer in Oakland

For schoolchildren around the nation, summer means no school, no homework, and in many cases, no learning. All this contributes to the "summer slide" where kids forget what they have learned during the previous school year. The summer slide is especially steep and slippery for vulnerable children--those with low-income families and those who do not have access to extracurricular activities.

Maybe this summer will be different in Oakland.

At Madison Middle School, 50 students are studying math and science. Thanks to corporate grants and their STEM program, students at 17 Oakland schools have the opportunity to have an enriched summer with hands-on activities that encourage science, technology, engineering and math.

Similarly, Faith Network is also playing a part in trying to keep students at the top of their learning abilities so that they will be ready for the next grade. At Prescott Elementary, Succeeding by Reading (one of Faith Network's three core programs) is having a summer reading program where kids can come for one-on-one literacy tutoring.

Also, students are having experiences with nature with our summer camp program. A great part of not having school is that kids can go on vacation and have experiential learning. But for students whose parents must work through the year with little to no vacation, the opportunity to go to our free, week-long camp is immense.

Here's to hoping for not only more summer opportunities for our students we go into our eleventh school year, but also a greater participation from those students and families as those opportunities arise.