Lincoln Program Spotlight: New Highland/RISE Family Resource Center

Unlike our community-based Mandela Family Resource Center in West Oakland, Lincoln pioneered a school-based model to serve our families in East Oakland in 2014. The New Highland/RISE Family Resource Center (NHR FRC) serves families through two elementary schools, New Highland Academy and RISE Community School. East Oakland, a neighborhood too often stereotyped as drug, poverty, and violence-ridden, overcomes stigma in spaces such as our NHR FRC.

The Center offers a wide range of services to all families whose students attend either schools. From employment and housing support, to mental health resources and monthly food banks, to Zumba classes and immigration workshops, and so much more, the Center stands as a haven of empowerment for East Oakland families. 

A diverse area, East Oakland is home to one of the largest Mam communities worldwide. The Mam are a Guatemalan indigenous people group. While many Mam speakers cannot read or write, and know only the Mam language, there is an increasing need for language support—with the Department of Justice listing the Mam language as within the top ten of requested languages in immigration court. New Highland / RISE FRC seeks to aid these families in need of services, and limited English and Spanish proficiency. According to KQED and other media group’s California Dream series, “at the Oakland Unified School District, Guatemala surpassed Mexico as the top country of origin for students who have lived in the US less than three years.”

With deep roots in this community and OUSD schools, Lincoln is well positioned to lead efforts for Mam language access in East Oakland. We hired staff from the community who are Mam bilingual, opening up support and services to many disconnected families.

For Mariela Ramirez, Bilingual Program Supervisor, along with much of the NHR staff, there is strength to be derived from the resiliency of community members: “I am in awe of the resiliency that the families have to survive, they still have a smile and love to go through it, they still laugh over the phone and Zoom, even when struggling. What inspires me most is seeing the families come back to build a relationship, I love to build relationships with them and hearing their stories, their struggles.” 

It’s clear that New Highland / RISE Family Resource Center is making change by creating safe spaces for growth and nurturing of families and East Oakland youth. One example of this is the Spanish-speaking book club occurring virtually during the pandemic. One parent was impressed by her child who typically rarely participates in class, but in the book club was very active, feeling safe in the group setting to raise their hand, participate, and read. 

This is exactly what the Center is all about: “Families come and tell you, ‘what you provided me has made a change not just in my own life but in my whole family’s life.’” 

Mariela’s vision for the NHR FRC to engage more with English-speaking families now that the Center has a full staff. She is excited to have the ability to serve the whole school community, expanding the scope of who can get help. Thanks to our dedicated staff at the Center, the future is bright in East Oakland!