Our Programs
The Oakland Catholic Worker’s offers programs that support and empower our unhoused families and the immigrant community to develop their strengths, skills and talents to realize their full and unique potential and to thrive. We do this in collaboration with our many interfaith and non-profit organizational partners who share our commitment to co- creating with the immigrant community strong bridges to self-sufficiency, equity, and justice.
Our community-based programs are:
FUERZA
FUERZA was initiated by OCW in 2021 in response to the urgent need for immigrant education and outreach during the COVID pandemic. FUERZA initially began with a small group of immigrants who were deeply concerned by their community’s lack of accurate education about COVID and vaccines, especially within the indigenous community. Since that time FUERZA has grown to be an immigrant-to-immigrant health promoters outreach, community education and leadership development program which empowers immigrants to be agents of positive change
ADELANTE!
While doing outreach in East Oakland schools, health clinics and neighborhood gathering sites, FUERZA’S health promoters experienced the great need within the immigrant community for basic literacy skills. This need is attributed to a lack of access to schools, “machismo” attitudes towards women, and/or repressive government policies in immigrants’ home countries, especially against the indigenous, which prohibited them from attending schools.
In response, the leaders of FUERZA initiated ADELANTE! to provide their community with the basic reading and writing skills they need to succeed in their lives in a new country and culture. ADELANTE!, like FUERZA, is an immigrant-led program in which immigrants, together with community volunteers, serve as tutors, coaches and teachers with the literacy students. To model for students what is possible with an education, ADELANTE’s students also learn from a variety of professionals about what life options can be open to them with an education.
During ADELANTE’S twice weekly classes, free childcare is provided by FUERZA’s team, which includes reading, expressive art, learning games, and interactive play time.
