In a week filled with reflection and gratitude, we are honored to share the story of Okeena and her family who have found a place of joy and belonging at Lincoln Families’ East County First 5 Center.

In times of uncertainty, there is nothing more powerful than strong communities. Engaging in active generosity puts the power of community change in your hands. Additionally, studies have shown that giving to causes that personally resonate can boost one's own feelings of wellness and positivity. This December 3rd, Giving Tuesday, offers you the chance to do just that. Whatever gift you are able to make holds the ability to remind us all of the interconnectedness of humanity, and why kindness, generosity, and positivity truly matter. Together, we can create a ripple effect of compassion that changes lives and strengthens communities.

We at Lincoln Families are thrilled to share our 2024 Annual Report, which features our new vision for the future as well as stories celebrating youth and families thriving in our communities. These stories highlight how your support and partnership help us respond to needs in our work to strengthen and support our communities.

Throughout the years at Lincoln Families, young individuals have developed confidence and nurtured aspirations for the future. We are delighted to announce that 51 teenage graduates from Lincoln Families programs have enrolled in postsecondary education this autumn! They will be pursuing studies at institutions like UC Merced, Laney College, and different trade schools, marking a remarkable achievement in their educational paths.

For a leader of a company or nonprofit, one of the best ways to be recognized is through employees’ admiration. That’s why the 2024 Energage awards for top leaders in three categories (small, midsize and large businesses) are so meaningful.

Sonya Mughal, CEO of Bailard, a wealth and asset management firm, won in the small business category. Allison Becwar, CEO of Lincoln Families, won for midsize employers. Andy Mastorakis, president and CEO of Fremont Bank, won for large companies.

Based in Oakland and founded in 1883, Lincoln Families’ mission is to disrupt cycles of poverty and trauma and help people build strong futures through therapist-guided mental health services, Becwar said.

Asked to describe her leadership style, Becwar said it’s “service.” The “best way to show up as a leader is to be in service to others,” she said. “The priorities of our organization are defined by those we serve.”

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended the Lincoln Families' Emerald Ball for Mental Health Awareness. Thanks to your incredible generosity and support, we raised an amazing $190,000 for our school- and community-based programs.

New Year, New Successes, and New Opportunities!

As we enter 2024, we would like to take a moment to reflect on all the successes that we accomplished in 2023. We are immensely proud of what we have achieved, and we know that we could not have done it without the generous support of our partners, donors, and funders.

Lincoln Families has begun our strategic planning for the next five years and we invite families, Lincoln team members, board members, and partners to join us. Just five minutes of your time will do so much to help guide our future!

Aurora Sanchez was confident she was doing the right thing following her husband to start a new life for her family in the U.S. Adjusting to a different language, culture, and way of life in her new country was filled with unknowns and isolation. Aurora felt stressed, lonely, and depressed.

That's when she found Lincoln’s Family Resource Center (FRC) at her East Oakland neighborhood’s elementary school.

Happy Fall and Seasons Greetings, Lincoln Families' Community!

We are excited to share Lincoln Families' 2023 Annual Report highlighting our community impact over the last 140 years. Discover how we've innovated and adapted since 1883, creating ripples of impact and multi-generational change.

In 1883, the year of our founding, people across the nation were beginning to see electric lights, new bridges, and extended railroad lines. As cities and populations grew, so did the number of children living under desperate circumstances. Options for quality care and necessary services for families were rare. It was in that world that our founder, Rebecca McWade, made history by incorporating the Little Workers Home, the first racially integrated orphanage in Northern California.

While the world is significantly different today, children remain the poorest age group in America, with children of color and children under five and their families suffering from the highest poverty rates. This year, the U.S. Surgeon General declared the nation’s level of loneliness and isolation an epidemic, having widespread impacts on the mental health, physical well-being and educational outcomes of Black and Brown youth in particular. The most recent Nation’s Report Card shows students in almost every state performing at their lowest levels in decades.

We are grateful for everyone that was able to join and share their thoughts, reflections, and recommendations in regards to the findings. Lincoln is excited to continue growing partnerships and building relationships with community stakeholders across sectors in Pittsburg and throughout Contra Costa County.

As we promised, we are sharing the final report of the Pittsburg Community Needs & Strengths Assessment here.

This month marks 140 years that Lincoln Families has worked to disrupt cycles of poverty and trauma in Bay Area communities. As the oldest operating nonprofit founded in Oakland, we have grown to offer critical mental health, family resources, and literacy programming throughout Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. We are proud to be a part of a legacy that has supported children and families since 1883.

Over the past year, despite the significant impacts of the nation’s mental health crisis, we at Lincoln Families have seen stories of resilience everyday. We are truly stronger together. We are all part of the wellness ecosystem that every child needs to thrive and flourish.

Giving Tuesday is just around the corner!

End 2022 with what matters most, spreading joy to children and families. A gift of any amount on Giving Tuesday next week, 11/29/22, changes lives and strengthens communities!

Welcome to Community Perspectives, Lincoln Families' (Lincoln) introductory E-newsletter. I am humbled to have led this incredible organization over the past three years and celebrate our transformative work in the community.