On December 16, teachers, staff and even students of Island High School and the Alameda Child Development Center (ACDC) were treated to a holiday pancake breakfast hosted by AEF staff!
AEF is glad and grateful to share the campus with these two schools, and to be able to collaborate with and support the teachers and staff there .
As the summer winds down and the new school year kicks off, we like to reflect on the successes of the past year. All of us at AEF – board, staff and volunteers – are honored to serve such a diverse and vibrant community in ways that make a real impact.
The 2024-25 school year was an incredible one for AEF, filled with programs and support that made a difference for students and teachers across the district.
» Read more about: AEF’s Impact on Students and Teachers in 2024-25 »
AEF Executive Director, Julia Owens, was interviewed by Island City Beat‘s Angie Watson-Hajjem (who is also a former AEF Board member) in July 2025. Here’s Julia’s introduction:
In January Julia Owens took over as head of the 40-year-old organization that has stepped in where school funding for many activities has been cut. She comes from a background in non-profits focused on children’s needs, and is excited about continuing AEF’s vital work in Alameda.
» Read more about: AEF Executive Director Featured in Island Podcast »
AEF is delighted to welcome Stacy Proctor as the latest addition to our Board!
Previously, Stacy spent eleven years at the ARC of San Francisco, serving on the Business Advisory Council for five years, then as Chair for the last three years, and finally as a member of the Board of Directors, where she served a six-year term. She is also an HR professional with over 25 years of experience working across five industries,
» Read more about: Meet Our Newest Board Member Stacy Proctor »
AEF is thrilled to introduce Lily Gates-Tilles! She writes: “I...
AEF is grateful to be the recipient of the generous grant from Rotary in 2025! These funds will go to support our Teacher Mini Grant program. The Rotary Club of Alameda distributes thousands of dollars in community grants each year through its Season of Giving Program. Funds for the program are generated by a Lobster Dinner, the generosity of sponsors, and the Alameda Rotary Endowment Foundation. Many nonprofits received grants, all of which ended up contributing to the greater good of our community.
With the recent news out of Washington D.C., AEF stands with Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) as we navigate the concerns raised by Superintendent Pasquale Scuderi about the potential dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education. While the full impact of this proposal remains uncertain, we share the superintendent’s worry about the disruption it could cause—especially for our most vulnerable students.
AEF plays a crucial role in supporting AUSD’s mission to provide an equitable education and opportunities for all students.
» Read more about: Standing with the Alameda Unified School District »
by Renate Westbrooks, from the AUSD Newsletter Community Voices
For this month’s Community Voices essay, we [AUSD] asked Renate Westbrooks to write about what Black History Month means to her. Ms. Westbrooks, a longtime educator here in Alameda, currently works as the Focal Scholars Advisor at Ruby Bridges Elementary School. She also serves on the board of the Alameda Education Foundation, and this year, Girls Inc. of the Island City chose her as one of its Women Who Dare Awardees!
