Equity Archives - Alameda Education Foundation

Celebrate Pride Month!

At AEF, we believe every student deserves to be seen, supported, and celebrated for who they are. During Pride Month and all year long, we stand with our LGBTQ+ students, families, educators, and community. We are aligned with AUSD’s affirmation of the rights of LGBTQ+ students as outlined in Superintendent Scuderi’s statement here.

Together, we’re building inclusive spaces where everyone feels a sense of belonging. To those living their truth with courage and compassion — we see you,

Standing with the Alameda Unified School District

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.

What Black History Month Means to Me

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!

AEF Affirms That Everyone Belongs Here

AEF believes that Everyone Belongs Here and we remain committed to serving and supporting our diverse community of public school students. We will continue to serve as a critical bridge toward equitable and inclusive educational outcomes for Alameda TK – 12 public school students. We remain and will remain committed to:

Showcasing artists and art that represent the beautiful mosaic of our culturally diverse Bay Area through our Art Changes and Art Across the Island programs
Encouraging student-athletes to participate in AEF sports programs that match their gender identity
Hiring instructors who represent the diversity of our student population for our sports,

Regina Mason speaks to high school students

Descendant of First Slave to Write a Narrative Speaks to High School Students

This article was featured in the Alameda Unified School District, Community Group for Newsletter

Students in AP African-American Studies at Alameda High School and Encinal Jr. & Sr. High School were visited last week by Regina Mason, the great-great-great granddaughter of William Grimes, an African-American barber who wrote the first narrative of a formerly enslaved American.

Ms. Mason has spent the last 20 years researching Grimes, whose book, Life of William Grimes,

‘Descendants’ Wins Film Award

‘Descendants: The Story of Us‘ was the Lunda Award recipient at the 22nd Annual Oakland International Film Festival in October 2024. This short film, created and produced by Shanti Lair–Croom and directed by Shaun Daniels, best exemplified the theme of the Lunda Award through its depiction of the journey and obstacles faced by several families right here in the East Bay in their pursuit of the American dream.

The Lunda people were known to have of the largest expansions in Central Africa.