Alameda Education Foundation

Let’s Not Throw It All Away

The last two weeks have been very exciting in Alameda. Now things are about to get way more exciting!

Over the last two weeks we’ve seen budget cuts of breathtaking dimensions; high school students walking out in protest; local, state and national coverage of AUSD’s fiscal challenges; and the launch of a new parcel tax to help the district.

Now the fun (and the work) is really about to begin: Starting today, AEF is launching its “Step Up” campaign, a public awareness effort designed to educate Alamedans about what we’re about to lose in our schools — and inspire them to Step Up and do something about it.

Driving around town in the last few days, you may have seen our “Public Education is Too Valuable to Throw Away” lawn signs. (Our heartfelt thanks to the dozens of volunteers who got these onto lawns over the weekend–that was quite a feat!) And this morning, you may have noticed that ACI trucks have giant decals with words to the same effect (thank you, ACI!).

But if you come to Park Street, Webster Street, and the Alameda Towne Centre today from 3 pm - 6 pm, you’ll see just how deeply we believe that message. We believe it so much, in fact, that we’re going to…we’re finally going to reveal the big secret…put real teachers, real students, and real staff in real (clean) garbage cans.
This campaign couldn’t have been done without the ideas, expertise, and donation of hundreds of volunteers–especially Kevin Lee of the ad agency Wrecking Ball, who came up with the whole idea and figured out how to make it happen (thank you, Kevin) and XYZ Graphics and Belaire Display, who turned the idea into reality (thank you!). But that’s what Alameda is all about–community pulling together to make a friendly-family community where our children are nurtured, enriched, and protected.

Here at AEF, we truly believe in the excellence of our teachers, our programs, and our students. And we truly believe it would be a tragedy to just throw all that away. So Alamedans, we have to ask you: Please, Step Up and Donate to your schools.