Promise Neighborhood Leaders Gather in Hayward, CA: Showcasing the Vision of an Inspiring ‘Education City’

Back in April, the California Promise Neighborhood Network welcomed guests from all over the country for their annual convening. This year’s gathering took place in Hayward, CA, located in the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area. Hosted by the Hayward Promise Neighborhood (HPN), one of six California Promise Neighborhoods, the event was a beaming reflection of the history of bold leadership and innovative success that has permeated the State since the beginning of the 2012 Promise Neighborhood movement in California. 

Inspired by Geoffrey Canada's Harlem Children's Zone, the Promise Neighborhood movement aims to break the cycle of poverty by providing wraparound support services to children and families living in distressed communities. These initiatives recognize that education is not just about what happens within school walls, but is deeply intertwined with several social and economic factors. By addressing these systemic issues holistically, Promise Neighborhoods aims to create environments where every child can thrive.

On this special day, education advocates and community leaders across all of the State’s programs and folks from supporting agencies across the country proudly came together to meet each other and share insights, strategies, and success stories.

Hayward Promise Neighborhood leaders were enthusiastically poised to host this year, evident in the opening remarks from Mayor Mark Salinas and Edgar Chavez, HPN Executive Director. A beautiful story of multigenerational success from Julieta Martinez, HPN beneficiary and current outreach coordinator, and her daughter, Samantha Lopez Martinez, set the tone for a day of immersive gathering and storytelling. But it was the Mayor’s initial declaration of Hayward’s impressive track to becoming California's first Education City that had hosts like Chavez noticeably eager to show guests what being an “Education City” was all about.

What is an “Education City?”

At the core of this vision is the belief that cities that are home to every educational system - from preschool to higher education - should be able to work collectively with local government, businesses, community organizations, and families to ensure that every child has a seamless pathway from birth to career. The concept of an “Education City” is also a lens for all leaders to ensure that policies, practices, and priorities serve the purpose of building economic and educational opportunities for all community members. Promise Neighborhoods serve as a critical equity strategy for this concept by investing in the neighborhoods with the highest child poverty rates and ensuring that programs and resources reach the families they were designed to support.

Chavez describes several Key Pillars for how HPN supports the Education City Concept:

1. Comprehensive Support Services: Children cannot succeed academically if their basic needs are not met. Therefore, a range of support services, including healthcare, mental health counseling, housing assistance, and nutrition programs, reduce sources of stress in households and ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive.

2. High-Quality Education: Central to the education city concept is the provision of high-quality education from early childhood through post-secondary education. HPN works closely with local schools to implement evidence-based practices, provide professional development for schools, and create enriching learning environments that meet students where they’re at, and inspire them to reach their full potential.

3. Community Engagement and Empowerment: HPN understands that sustainable change can only happen when communities are actively engaged in the process, which is why they prioritize community empowerment through initiatives such as community leadership initiatives, youth councils, and neighborhood revitalization projects that give residents a voice and tools in shaping their future and of their community.

4. Economic Development and Opportunity: An essential aspect of the education city concept is the creation of economic opportunities that uplift families and provide pathways out of poverty. HPN partners with the city and career technical education programs to engage local businesses and organizations to offer job training, entrepreneurship programs, and internship opportunities that equip students and residents with the skills and resources they need to succeed in the workforce.

A Commitment to Building Momentum: The History of Hayward Promise 

Since its inception in 2012 through California State University Hayward (now California State University, East Bay), HPN has made significant strides in improving educational outcomes and fostering community resilience. What started as a federally funded, place-based initiative in the Jackson Triangle Neighborhood, HPN monitored data on 15 indicators mandated under the 1993 Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA). Over the course of the program, HPN leaders supported these “GPRA Indicators” through three partnership networks: Early Learning Network (ELN), Cradle-to-Career Education Reform Network (C2CERN), and Neighborhood Health and Empowerment Network (NHEN). Over time, HPN saw that its commitment to investing in these indicators was working, and the program expanded to serve more parts of the city. Over the last 14 years, kindergarten readiness, graduation, and college enrollment rates have increased, and families reported feeling more connected and supported. Despite the growth and success of HPN, leaders within the Network realized that challenges remain, including persistent poverty, inadequate funding, and additional systemic barriers.

Modeling the Hayward “Education City” Promise 

On the first day of the convening, several tours filled the schedule. The first stop at the Hayward Public Library was a room filled with educators, administrators, and community partners from HPN’s C2CERN. Focused conversation could be heard on topics such as innovative solutions to increasing attendance, and ideas on promoting pathways for college and career readiness. On full display was Hayward’s education ecosystem, engaged in powerful, and sometimes emotional conversations while deeply listening to each other’s perspectives and expertise. Evident was HPN’s commitment to collaboration and collective thought partnership with their educational experts.   

“I grew up with nothing, and now I just want to give what I have received to everyone else.”

Guests’ next stop was Brenkwitz High School, an alternative high school providing smaller class sizes, flexible scheduling, and a strong counseling program for 16 to18-year-olds. Perhaps the most convincing of HPN’s impact was hearing from Brenkwitz’s students themselves. In a panel, current students detailed stories of going from dismay and defeat, to curiosity and thriving in their education journeys. They discussed ways the school helped to build their lens on what was possible, and how opportunities and supportive mentors such as their school Principal, Dr. Beavers, and Student Success Coach, Michael Harris, showed them what they were capable of. One of the student panelists described how connection and intentional investments changed his viewpoint on his future: “I grew up with nothing, and now I just want to give what I have received to everyone else.”

The tour continued to an unassuming classroom at the back of the campus. Opening the door revealed a portal of possibilities, where tools and materials, including a series of 3D printers, a T-shirt press, and video equipment lined the room in stations. Projects, both finished and unfinished, sat displayed in a scattered but artful sequence. We learned of the esteemed Mr. Liu and his “Makers” space– what he describes on the door as an “incubator for innovation and entrepreneurship.” Here, students were able to explore the intersections of academics, creativity, and entrepreneurship, something many of the students described as what catalyzed their interests in their education.

The tour concluded with a panel of local Promotores and Family Navigators from Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center and Community Child Care Council (4Cs) of Alameda County. Moderated by Rosemary Vazquez, Family Engagement and Equity Specialist at Cherryland Elementary School, these women shared moving stories of how each bridged gaps between neighborhood families and the education system. They provided insights into a critical network of support through in-language check-ins and culturally informed access to services and resources that kept families healthy, going to school, and engaged in their children’s education. This look into the often invisible components of such a holistic operation was to understand that HPN was highly intentional of the unique needs of its beloved families and students.

“Transformative education, the center of HPN’s vision, was more than possible.”

The tour ended with a beautiful summation of HPN’s collaborative values– a panel of city education leaders, including Cal State East Bay President Cathy Sandeen; City of Hayward Mayor, Mark Salinas; 4Cs Executive Director, Renee Herzfeld; Hayward Unified Superintendent Dr. Jason Reimann; and Chabot College Vice President of Student Services, Matthew Kritscher. Each highlighted their collaborative roles and how their institutions planned to continue to support HPN’s vision around education. A most valuable message amongst the group was that “collaboration is alignment and not competition,” and this is vital to the success of advancing HPN’s vision.

Worthwhile Investment

A mesmerizing sunset over the back of California State East Bay’s campus saw departing guests off after an afternoon of reception festivities and networking. A parting message for all, including those visiting from one of CPNN’s other five Promise Neighborhoods:

However, a more implicit message gleaned from the day: “How do we continue to support and sustain this success?” For other leaders, advocates, policymakers, and philanthropists, the experience as a first-hand witness to HPN’s grassroots movement was a call to action. All have a role in ensuring the CA Promise Neighborhood Network thrives for generations to come. Whether it is funding more Success Coaches, continuing education for teachers, or materials for school classrooms, securing long-term resources is paramount to the Promise Neighborhood movement, and something Network partners have more than proven is a worthwhile investment

Editor’s Note: In October, 2024, after the writing of this blog piece, Cal State East Bay, who is the lead collaborative partner for HPN, announced a new agreement with Hayward Unified and San Leandro Unified School Districts to automatically enroll qualified graduating students. You can read more about this here.