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Growing up I knew my uncle Lenny had autism. His life was not very happy spending most of his life in his room. This had big impact on me.

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Betsy Schulz, who has taught generations of high school students at Oakland Emiliano Zapata Street Academy, has retired after 42 years

Schulz began her teaching career at the small alternative school, inspired by school's commitment to the values of the Civil Rights Movement. And she never left.

"It was during the 70's an era of activism and change, and I wanted to do something where I felt like I could make a real difference," said Schulz. "I felt like urban education was an area I could do that."

In an interview with the Post, Schulz did not talk about her retirement plans but about the school that has been her life's work.

What continues to make the Street Academy unique is its philosophy of social justice and overall attitude towards students, she said. If students did not succeed or fit in at previous schools it, was not their fault.

But if they are ready to learn and believe in themselves and their future, the staff at the school does everything it can to encourage that belief and help the young people make that future a reality.

Schulz says that what has kept her invigorated in her role at the school is the freedom teachers have had to design curriculum to fit students' changing needs.

As problems within society have worsened, teachers and staff have seen the problems of the students worsen as well.

"We have added both restorative justice and life skills to our curriculum to help deal with the issues which students are faced with," she said.

The combination of a social justice curriculum - including African American and La Raza Studies - as well as a focus on restorative justice/transformative life skills and commitment to student's college success make Street Academy a very special school, she said.

"We are always questioning and fine tuning, finding better ways to serve our students, said Schulz.

The restorative justice/transformative life skills program with Nairobi yoga teaches students about focused breathing and strengthening their breathing, said Schulz

"It allows students to acknowledge the stress and tensions brought on throughout the day - and then to be able to put aside whatever is bothering you to be able to focus on the day," she said.

All Street Academy staff are trained in restorative justice, and the school deals with conflict and discipline in a much different way than most schools.

The student has a chance to make amends with the person who was harmed and then is welcomed back into the community.

"It works often and is a different way of thinking," she said. "It takes a while for both staff and students to incorporate it into their thinking. Students start off seeing it as a sign of weakness."

It's not the normal way to deal on the streets."

Partners in the restorative justice work, who also support the overall mission and philosophy of the school, have been the Native American Health Center (NAHC), Rose Foundation and Bay Peace.

One of Schultz's contributions has been a unit in her physiology course. "The students look at not only the biology of diabetes but the social forces that contribute to its prevalence in communities of color," she said.

Schulz says a critical part of the school's approach is the Counselor/Teacher/Mentor (CTM). Each member of the staff serves as an academic teacher and is also a counselor and mentor for about 20 CTM students.

Staff members work with students daily and meet with parents quarterly about students' progress. Staff members check in with parents if the student is missing class or not doing homework and will also call to talk about how great the student is doing.

"When I think back over the years, my CTM students are my fondest memories," she said. "Parents have said this school is the first one my child has done well at."

Schulz said she has been luck to find herself in the enviable position where she has been able to do work in which she believes.

"Street academy made it possible to merge the personal with the political," she said. "Most people live separate lives between what they do for work and what their passions are."

Courtesy of the Oakland Post, July 15, 2015 ( postnewsgroup.com)

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Oakland Street Academy Teacher Betsy Schulz Retires After 40 Years - Ken A. Epstein

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By Jaron Epstein Betsy Schulz, who has taught generations of high school students at Oakland Emiliano Zapata Street Academy, has retired after 42 years Schulz began her teaching career at the small alternative school, inspired by school's commitment to the values of the Civil Rights Movement. And she never left.

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Oakland is internationally recognized for supporting humanitarian causes and opposing police brutality. The city continues to be on the forefront through hip hop artists who are influenced by the area's rich political history and the often conflicted relationship between young people and Oakland Police Department.

Going back to the period when African Americans began the great migration from the South, Oakland was known as a city that went out of its way to recruit white police officers from southern state, which seemed to ensure that OPD would have a hostile attitude toward the communities they policed.

Young Gully is one rapper who speaks to these issues. After the killing of Oscar Grant by BART police, he began working on an album called The Oscar Grant Project.

This album was collaboration between Young Gully and journalist/photographer Pendarvis Harshaw, who mc's the album, providing commentary and insight into the conversations taking place on the album for the listeners

This album manages to cut through the obstacles that can make people hesitate to open up to what may be considered a political message. It really poses the question of what makes one political?

Is it your opposition to attacks on your community and loved ones?

One of the songs on the album titled Stereotype deals a heavy question about the created images in American society of Blacks people.

"They tell us that we the ones not using our conscience," he sings. "They views are preposterous. I guess every Black man fits the shoes of a convict. We all ignorant with nothing to say. I guess I'm just another outspoken brotha up in the way."

Dr. Amos Wilson wrote and lectured about the created personalities within this society meant to mentally control and condition Black people to being submissive and accepting of being trapped within a caste system in this country.

One aspect of this is that more Black men are in prison or under police supervision today than were enslaved in 1850, according to Michelle Alexander. In her book, "The New Jim Crow," she details the point made by Dr. Wilson about how Black people are living in a created caste system in this country.

Young Gully, playing the devil's advocate, pushes the listener to question the presumptions often made about Black people spread through television and the media.

"Black people won't make it they can't survive," he says. "They treat us like animals. If another one of us drop, what would it matter for? They playing tricks on our mind like it's a magic show. And the media love to carry the hype. I'm a dumb brotha - I guess I fit the stereotype."

The young generations coming up are fed up with the status quo and are refusing to be complicit in the oppression of Blacks through economic exploitation and the use of police intimidation and violence.

Hip-hop today has been corporatized, and the goal of much of it is to spread ideas of hate and violence to youth today. Deviating from this particular agenda is viewed as a threat.

This may be a reason why a number of people involved in music believe that the police, based in New York City, allegedly have a hip hop police task force that monitors hip hop artists for their political work and ideas.

Courtesy of the Post News Group, May 17, 2015 ( postnewsgroup.com)

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Commentary: Oakland Hip Hop Artist Young Gully Speaks to Youth Experiences - Ken A. Epstein

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By Jaron K. Epstein Oakland is internationally recognized for supporting humanitarian causes and opposing police brutality. The city continues to be on the forefront through hip hop artists who are influenced by the area's rich political history and the often conflicted relationship between young people and Oakland Police Department.

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Tupac spoke for those who's voices are unheard within society and he gave a lot of credit to Oakland which he called home. He was unafraid to speak what he knew was the truth which stuck with me and pushed me to speak what I know is the truth. This remains with me today in recognizing my responsibility to be an advocate for my students and their rights.

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East Oakland Pride

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I spent some time working at an alternative/continuation high school. Student's had obviously been failed by their previous schools and were looking for a new opportunity. They were met with the same approach which did not work before. I saw a lot of potential and intellect amongst the student's who felt unmotivated and did not want to be there. This was frustrating for me as their joy for learning was just being taken for granted.

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I can relate a lot to student's frustrations with writing as I had some of the same myself. While the use of desktops and laptops can be a great resource for students of the kids I work with many of them are not able to type. So while this could be of great value to them they are not equipped to take advantage of this tool which would be very advantageous to them.

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Richard Linyard, known as a leader amongst his peers and conscious rapper under the name "Afrikan Richie," died on July 19. He was 23 years old.

Growing up in Oakland, he was a devoted son and brother, making sure his mother and brother were always taken care of. Wherever you saw Richard, his younger brother was never too far behind him.

He is remembered as a young man that always took the high road to avoid altercations.

Richard was always into music. He started writing raps about 15 years ago reflecting his personal experiences.

One of his songs, "For the People," reflected on the challenges faced by Black people, the assassination of Black leaders and other tactics that were used to dismantle the Black movement.

The musical message he shared with young people was, everybody hustles in his or her own way but don't just hustle for material things.

Richard had a strong sense of self and pride in being a Black man. He was full of love and compassion for all people and touched many lives.

He will be remembered for standing up and speaking out for young people and spreading a message of unity amongst all oppressed people.

A GoFundMe page created by a cousin of Richard's at www.gofundme.com/zsv984, remembers him as "a bright young man who was always there to help someone in need."

Donations will assist with burial funds.

Courtesy of the Oakland Post, August 9, 2015 ( postnewsgroup.com)

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Richard Linyard, 23, Is Remembered for Message of Unity - Ken A. Epstein

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By Jaron Epstein Richard Linyard, known as a leader amongst his peers and conscious rapper under the name "Afrikan Richie," died on July 19. He was 23 years old. Growing up in Oakland, he was a devoted son and brother, making sure his mother and brother were always taken care of.

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Seagram

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Jaron's oral history interview with Grandma Kelly

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Digital Underground 2pac

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Seagram

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EOP

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Digital Underground

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Seagram

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Montclair

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Find ways to use the available technology at my school to support my students both in and out of the classroom

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I grew up in the midst of this and I was greatly impacted by the debate. This further exposed me to the struggles people face in being recognized and respected within society.

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Montclair Elementary

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My elementary school

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Kaiser Elementary

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Ms. Kennedy

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Paul Robeson

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Granny

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My granny and grandpa came to visit when I was born. My grandpa passed a few days after and then my granny ended up moving here.