On Purpose Together

"I believe that often we fail because we aren't ambitious enough." Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf is passionate about taking on the complex problems of her city and disrupting the systems that perpetuate inequity. In 2016, she launched Oakland Promise in conjunction with the Oakland Unified School District and multiple public and private collaborators. This initiative is a 'cradle to career' approach that seeks to triple the number of college graduates from Oakland public schools within the next decade. The project's ambitious, comprehensive approach provides a continuum of support that begins with the Brilliant Babies program, offering $500 college savings accounts and financial coaching to underserved families, and continues through college graduation with individual mentorship and peer support groups for university students. Today Mayor Schaaf shares her personal journey and how Oakland Promise was conceived through a willingness to embrace a bold vision. She discusses how her background in multiple sectors ha