Building Blocks for Health Equity Steering Committee
January 25, 2013
Markus Foster Campus, OUSD
Present: Bina Shrimali (ACPHD), Nora Downs (ACPHD), Courtney Winterbauer (ACCFB), Deja Kono (ACPHD), Vella Black-Roberts (ACPHD), Jessica Luginbuhl
(ACPHD), Aisha Brown (Supvr. Keith Carson’s Office ), Aviva Lipkowitz (ACPHD), May Funabiki (I Heart Mama), Lisa Morris (STEP), Susana Morales- Konishi
(Youth UpRising), Kiko Malin (ACPHD), Nailah Hunter (Brighter Beginnings), Rachel Paras (ACPHD-NS), Aeeshah Clottey (AHC), Tammy Wakerling (DSAL), Lisa
Forti (SSA), Maddy Oden (ACPHD), Rebecca Flournoy (ACPHD), Glenda Monterroza (Kaiser Permanente), Susan Miranda (Kaiser Permanente – GSAA), Anna
Gruver (ACPHD), Elizabeth Carmody (EBRPD), Alíce Swarens (ACPHD), Mariela Cedeno (Mandela Marketplace), Hilary Bass (ACSO-DSAL), Kali Cheung (ACPHD),
Hilary Ayer (ACPHD), Michelle Grant-Groves (OUSD), Keisha Nzewi (ACCFB)
Recorder: Hilary Ayer
Item
Discussion
Opening
Greetings – Rebecca Flournoy – recommended an article re Health Equity also early childhood education was identified as important
by President Obama this week.
Introductions—what inspires me about The Building Blocks Coalition – responses:
Diversity – new hope – breaking down silos – grass roots – the people – the energy – commitment – grounded – different way of
approaching the work – HOW MY UNIT CAN SUPPORT – authenticity -- relationship, friendship, love – opportunity for community to
be up close to the people who work in the system – encourage the Public Health Department to look at trauma and work with it – to
be part of the change – leadership from partners – grounded in community – creating different outcomes – carries the work in a
warm atmosphere – Strong feminine energy – creative energy that everyone brings to the table – appreciate aspirational movement
– whole people in whole communities – commitment – recognizing and accomplishing – org 7 MISSIONS COMING TOGETHER FOR
AOMMON GOAL – building partnership, recognition of common goal – ALL THE WORK, ALL THE PREPARTAION, strong partnership –
strong collaboration – collaborations, access to programs and partners
Member Spotlight:
Oakland Unified
School District
Michelle Grant-Groves, OUSD Birth to 3rd grade – OUSD Strategic plan – community feedback thrivingstudents.org
The highest leverage for closing opportunity gaps is 3-5 yrs, then 1st- 3rd grade to social emotional & academic
learning all braided together
African American Male Achievement Office growing this work into every single sector, this age group a target within
a target, lifts up every sector – will send Puffs of research articles if requested. Five key (The Urgency of Now –
African American males, longitudinally – 4 key
Grade level reading by 3rd grade
Double Jeopardy article shows that children who are not at 3rd grade reading level by third grade are 6x less likely to
graduate high school than their peers
Deeply rooted in the neuroscience of how brains are built
p-3
74% of our African American boys are reading below grade level at 3rd grade. Means 6 x less likely to graduate
We are the system – take time to have moments of accountability – takes deep internal looks at selves through
research data & assessment
Item
Discussion
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Building Blocks
Collaborative Theory
of Change & Best
Babies Zone
From cradle to career, pathway, green bands on diagram are where we lose our kids (Pre K to K0, 5-6 grade, (Get
diagram) Creating protected seamless experience, positive transitions.
Why are youth leaving school? Our internal systems are not culturally & developmentally sensitive. Cognitive
dissonance and personal disruption of students, physical environment, curriculum, teaching, constantly learning &
helping parents to help children learn. Challenge for a supportive parent that other parents not supporting children
in class – this affects whole class.
Question - What research is taking place on steering committee for African American Males
Question - Are you sharing this with other school districts? Not yet. Still only the 11 th month of program. T mobile
flash mob an example – willing to speak on these efforts to any community group. Community feedback will drive
this initiative.
Race to the Top – new education initiative – CA new accountability system – ranks early childhood classrooms (QRIS
systems)
1.
Theories of change 2-tiered strategy – (Tier 1)Space for, workshops on root causes – Jessica will be sending out survey for directions for
change (Tier 2) strategy that is incremental – dominoes – more and more focused – BBZ focus 15- year life expectancy for children in
poverty – Intervention in Castlemont intervention in other small defined neighborhoods  other interventions
BBZ is only 7x 12 blocks. 100 births per year. Can start with very small grant for piloting small one-time interventions to build momentum (and
buy-in), leverage successes to gain more. End up with what we really want – better health outcomes, vibrant economic community, (schools)
Keep feeding both tiers, encouraging small success, engaging leaders, (see notebook notes)
2. Values & Guiding Principles Conversation – what values
Integrity, Authenticity  how those values create a guiding principle (direction being resident-led)
Mini-Grants
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Networking break
Food to Families - Minigrants: cycle though happened Wednesday night – 14 applicants
Last cycle – Sheriffs – Deputy Sheriffs' Activates League – “Walk it out” coming out of homes to walk together for an hour – not successful
as planned, “Talk it out” 2 hours per week for youth on topics, have added walking to this check in while walking, then an hour of topic
Community policing group now has stronger relationships, have not yet used incentive, community policing is partnering with events (alert
id online – shows what is happening by address – new crime prevention subgroup)
Last cycle City Slicker Farms – partner with Mandela Market Place & West Oakland HC 28th & Peralta bought land for garden & park,
Backyard garden program (building community capacity to grow own food) 180 families and day care centers – quarterly mentoring –
meeting people where they are at. 25,000 lbs of food per year. Normalizing food. Partnership w First 5 for gardens. Second year doing this.
Other sites where they can have a farm stand, buy locally.
Brighter Beginnings partnered w Mandela Market place to give 3 workshops (parenting, financial success, Ask the Doula – pregnancy &
birth experiences, supporting post partum)
Ashland-Cherryland garden network sent their power point
Announcements
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Nailah talk Volunteer Income Tax Assistance – starts next week –Richmond and Oakland, one at Mandela Gateway too – low
income residenests
20th annual trails challenge in the park district – breakthrough program can do a group signup, family signup – Will lead guided
hikes for these trails
Hunger in America 2014 study/survey soup kitchen, pantry – client survey (April-August ) audio assisted tab let & ear phones –
clients interview themselves in a way – contact Alameda County Community Food Bank at one of member agencies Keya (Junk)
I Heart Moms -- Would like to partner giving classes with new moms - exercise routines
Item
Wrap Up and Next
Steps
Discussion
Agenda items for next time:
Photovoice Project Presentation
ECommernce Development Work from Mandela Marketplace
Light Box Collaborative communications training
Look at trauma & violence (not necessarily in March)
Summer opportunities for families
Bring back statement of values/guiding principles
Report on mini-grant winners and information on next cycle.
Values (*’s signify chosen as top 3)
Honesty, Humility, Transparency, Authenticity, Solutionsfocused, Community Drive
Open minded/giving
Sustainable***,
Dedication***
team-manship,
fun,
integrity
fairness
Principles (*’s signify chosen as top 3)
Ground-turning/rooted/listening & responsive***
Collaborative/focus on greater good***
Realistic/attainable
Sustainability/not a ‘pilot’/building community capacity***
Transparency
Discovering assets and coordinating the assets to benefit
community
ALL VOICES ARE HEARD, VALUEDS, INTEGRATED & EQUALLY
ACCOMDATED (PROTOCOLS ARE CRITICAL)
All voices are heard, valued, integrated & equally accommodated
(protocols are critical)***
Love & Kindness are our leading guide***
Creating equitable pathways to achieve EQUAL outcomes
Honoring & sharing multiple “funds of knowledge” in decision
making structures
Community voice is authentically prioritized
Building community buy-in & leadership
community guided & led,
Community driven change,
Continual effort for sustainability***
everyone has a voice, everyone is worth it***
*Humility
*Awareness –self awareness – honoring
-- informed – acknowledge difficulties
*Self-determination
1) Acknowledge ownership of ideas, change
2) Use social capital
3) Support empowerment / prepare to use power
*Commitment / prep.
– 100%
-- worth the time
--Involvement
-- follow-through
Respect
Caring
Humility
Empathy
Genuine
Acceptance
Integrity
+
Great space & décor
-- Inviting
Stayed on time
New faces
Good host presentation
-- thoughtful
-- data
Lots of (variety in) speakers & facilitators
Food
Toddler!
Car pooling
**Meeting people where they are and no assumptions
***Deep Democracy – every voice should be valued & accepted
--sharing knowledge
**Child- Centered,
Walk the talk
Build Relationship
Δ
More men
Hard to hear
Transit access (not sufficiently made aware of car pool from 1000
Broadway options)
Feedback for OUSD Presentation Jan 25, 2013
* requests copy of presentation
Name
Organization
What Excites you?
Glenda Monterrza
Kaiser Permanente
Keisha Nzewi
Alameda County Community
Food Bank
That the district is looking at
the whole child, starting early
from the cradle.
Focusing on lifting up the
lowest performing block to lift
all kids
Mariela Cedeño
Mandela Marketplace
Lisa Morris
STEP
Liz Maker
Alameda County Public Health
Synergy / Collaboration
Opportunities
Our organization are strong
supporters of the district
Hunger impacts learning. We
can inform teachers / admin of
food sources to share with
families.
I am impressed by the focus of Our youth team is currently
OUSD on thinking beyond the
working in McClymonds to
classroom and investing in
teach a nutrition ???action
furthering common
class to a class of 9th grade
understanding of the
girls. There is an incredible
importance of the years before value in this peer-to-peer
school begins. I look forward to model, and I’d be interested in
seeing the impact / shift
seeing if we could expand this
created by this holistic
program to reach other schools
approach.
in West Oakland. We also plan
on doing some focused
recruitment from the WYSA
team in West Oakland High
Schools in July.
I am very glad to see that
I work with BUSD and would
OUSD recognizes the need to
love for the two to collaborate
focus on youth academic
so that we are all on the same
success & outcome starting at
page.
birth.
Using current knowledge of
My unit (Community
brain development to support Assessment, Planning,
child development.
May Funabiki
I Heart Mama
* Susana Morales Konishi
Youth Uprising
Aeeshah Clottey
AHC www-oakland.org
Courtney Winterbauer
ACCFB
“Inspired; I am a recent
graduate; I understand”
Nailah Hunter
Brighter Beginnings
Nailah.hunter@gmail.com
Education and Evaluation
‘CAPE’ is working with RAD at
OUSD to crunch and share
data.
Acknowledging infant / toddler Our fitness classes for new
education
moms with their babies is
modeling gross motor skills
and language. What skills and
activities are planned for age 02?
1. You! I’m so glad we have you 1. YU works very close with
Michelle! 2. I’m so glad / really OUSD.
proud to see OUSD taking this
2. I want to work with you
on!
because I’m a “research geek”
too! I want to apply to RWJ.
Let’s talk soon.
3. As you know, YU also sees
this as a crisis & I want to make
sure that you know you can
always count on us.
4. I’m reading How Children
Succeed and The Sandbox
Investment.
The work to focus on lifting up Work w/parents can support
the base in the system
the vision of OUSD.
A vision: lots of research and
Food; kids are hungry and
readily available information;
cannot focus in school to pay
clear and amazing
attention and get and
presentation, strong
education
ENTHUSIASM
I am thrilled that OUSD Is
It would be wonderful to
recognizing the importance of
partner w OUSD to help bring
social/emotional development parents into the
and home environment
Anna Gruver
Public Health
Kiko Malin
ACPHD
Aviva
ACPHD
conversations/teachings about
home influence in academic
achievement. Also interested
in task force.
Finally a focus on early
Connection between MCAH
childhood! Its so glad to focus
work in Public Health and
on AA boys – needed and
OUSA – can we connect data
important. Michelle, you are a  the correlation between
brilliant presenter and your
early intervention services such
work is exciting
as home visits, family support
services, developmental
screening to school readiness
and 3rd grade reading level.
Let’s connect our families to
track our impact.
It’s absolutely fantastic to hear In theory the 0-8 convergence
a school district talk about
table is a place to establish
“birth to 8” as a focus and to
working linkages between
see the enthusiasm for building school districts and the early
links to the organizations that
childhood efforts – let’s make
are working with kids before
it work! Michelle, let’s really
they start school.
meet to talk about this – KM
Very happy to hear about the
I want to let you know about a
coordination of early childhood documentary coming out this
and K-3 education. Also the
year called “The Raising of
focus on young boys of color. I America” about early
think it’s really important to
childhood and equity. They can
retain more families in the
help you advocate for your
public school system, so that
work. Based in SD
there’s more diversity, more
resources, more parental
support, more investment, and
more equality.
Vella Black-Roberts
ACPHD
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Elizabeth Carmody
EBRPD (East Bay Regional
Parks_
Everything! Sounds like
there is a LOT of
progressive transformation
in the works
Maddy Oden
ACPHC / MCH
Birth to 3rd – starting with
prenatal & the enthusiasm
of Michelle
It is finally on target
I am happy that they
are engaging all levels
of the school/education
We work with prenatal women
and serve children p to age 2
and encourage our families to
get their children into the early
child system. I have interest in
working with early childhood
education including Head Start
& Family Child Care Providers
to serve more children. Maybe
in these types of programs. Are
you engaging them with
respect to seeding into your
schools?
I would love to incorporate
time in nature, nature play &
physical activity.
Lots of synergy for P-12
opportunities/levels. Looking
forward to setting up a
meeting with Michelle!
MCH can support efforts
specifically prenatally and early
age – by specifically drafting
policy to support efforts & for
Board of Supervisors