News and Events
Civicorps Is on the Front Page of the Oakland Tribune! - April 4, 2013
Civicorps is proud to share our front page article from the April 4, 2013 Oakland Tribune and Contra Costa Times that takes in an in-depth look at how Civicorps is working to break the cycle of violence in Oakland.
Please click on the links below to read these two inspirational articles.
Homicides a common occurrence in the life of Marquis Jones
An intimate look at how the loss of almost 40 friends and family to gun violence has impacted a Civicorps student and how our school is helping to transform his life.
Civicorps in Oakland offers high school dropouts a second chance
This in-depth look at Civicorps' effective education and job training program highlights our use of trauma theory to understand how our students' past trauma influences their behavior. Our staff then provides the support services youth need to address the root issues.
Civicorps' Job Training Center - Is in the News! - March, 11, 2013
Listen to Civicorps staff and students talk about our new Job Training Center on KGO's Good News in Oakland!
Civicorps Has a New Song!
Listen to our latest Civicorps song, We Gotta Make It, featuring Corpsmembers Montel McKinney, Stanley Williams, and Melvin Brown.
Click to Play We Gotta Make It
Civicorps Schools Winter December 2012 Graduation
Civicorps was proud to present 17 Corpsmembers with their high school diploma's on Friday, December 14th at Defremery Park in west Oakland. Over 100 family and friends gathered to celebrate this major milestone in our students lives. Minister Michael Smith, former Civicorps Program Director, led the ceremony with a touching invocation about achievement and Head of School, Tessa Nicholas, gave a personalized speech which pointed out the positive character traits of each of the graduates. The traditional slideshow of the graduates was well received as baby pictures flashed up on the screen and families were able to reflect on how far their young adult has come. Graduates were the main speakers and the mood continued to be reflective and emotional as they thanked family, friends and Civicorps staff for their support and guidance.
We applaud all of their efforts and look forward to their continued success.
Congratulations to: Jessica Arias, Alasha Campbell, Ferrari Dickens, Laquoia Edmond, Maurice Frazier, T'Mari Gray, Kristen Hawkins, Wayne Johnson, Derrick Jones, Jevonte Jones, Dion Kinnick, Lawrence Mitchell, Jasmine Page, Quanisha Secrease, Lobenee Shaw, ,Leiata Taupau, Keymah Watkins
Press Release - July 19, 2012
Oakland’s Only High School Diploma Program for Dropouts Receives WASC Accreditation
View the Accreditation Press Release
WASC Accreditation
The Accrediting Commission for Schools of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges has granted Civicorps Corpsmember Academy initial accreditation during their WASC Summer Commission meeting. The term of initial accreditation will run through June 30, 2015.
To be WASC accredited is to be a recognized member of a group of schools dedicated to self-improvement, high standards, and student involvement. The WASC accreditation process is rigorous and requires Civicorps Academy to demonstrate that we are focused on a mission and set goals for our students; that our program is student-oriented and we continuously examine student performance; that Civicorps accepts objective evaluations from a team of outside peer professionals; that we maintain a qualified faculty within an effectively organized school; that we assess the quality of our educational program on a regular basis; and that we plan for the future.
Civicorps Academy will continue on this path of school improvement as we enter into the WASC family. It is a wonderful validation of our academic program that will open doors for our students through their eligibility for Cal Grant, our staff through student loan forgiveness, and our school through programs that foster improvement.
City of Oakland Funds Civicorps Job Training Program
Civicorps received the great news that starting on July 1, Civicorps would receive $150,000 from Oakland’s Measure Y anti-violence prevention programs.
Through Measure Y Civicorps will strengthen our job training services for young adults ages 18-24 who are on parole or probation. The award will help fund aspects of our high school diploma program as well as our Environmental Stewardship Job Training Program. This program provides 32 hours a week of paid job training for corpsmembers who work in 5-10 person crews on environmental projects throughout the East Bay. Previous studies of Civicorps program show a reduction in the recidivism rate to 4.6% for those who had been previously incarcerated.
Alan Lessik, Civicorps’ Executive Director said, “This was our first time applying for Measure Y funding and we are thrilled to have the city’s support. Through education and job training Civicorps is providing alternatives to Oakland’s youth which we believe will lead to a reduction of violence in our communities. We are pleased to be working with the City of Oakland on this important issue.”
Postsecondary Success Education Initiative (PSEI)
Civicorps is a proud member of the Corps Network – Postsecondary Success Education Initiative with Open Society Foundations. On February 1, 2012 we were awarded $100,000 per year for two years to build our high school graduate support system and commit resources toward our graduates enrolling in and persisting in postsecondary education programs of their choosing. Civicorps has hired a full-time College Counselor and currently has 17 participants in the PSEI program who are attending classes at the Peralta Colleges and are on a path to achieve their Associates Award and/or specific job trade Certifications.
This grant initiative was introduced, and is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, in response to the reality that a high school education is not enough to compete in today’s global economy. It has been found that by age 30 most Americans have not earned a college degree or certificate. Accordingly, a network of Corps and other youth service organizations has been identified to develop strategies that improve postsecondary success by increasing the number of young adults who complete their postsecondary education, setting them up for success in the workplace and in life.
Civicorps Elementary School Closing Information
View the Closure Announcement
