Marlenne tells us the story of her experience as a first-generation student and urges us to reform Prop 13 to support marginalized students with specialized needs.

Natalie talks about bootstrapping in public education. Time and time again, teachers work on and off the clock, and are not compensated for their efforts. Teachers deserve to be compensated now.

Alex recounts times of hardship and how free lunch programs could have alleviated stress for her and her family.

Lynda shares about her time serving Berkeley High’s Multilingual Program and the support the program could have used.

Marlenne talks about the importance of funding public school teachers and how the interpersonal relationships between teachers and students will affect student futures and paths.

Alex talks about her elementary school experience with a teacher who changed her life.

Lynda talks about her experience in public schools where she encountered privatization of resources that should have been available to all students.

Morsal talks about her experience at Berkeley, opportunities, potential changes, and what to do to make Berkeley a more inclusive environment.

There is a huge gap in funding between public and private schools in California due to the way Proposition 13 changed the way our schools are funded. If we want to accurately compare public and private schools, we can’t cherry pick data. Public school students deserve just as many resources and support as anyone else.

Former Evolve Intern Neftaly describes her experience returning to her home of the Central Valley as a substitute teacher after college. She details how, on top of prior disinvestment, the Trump Era budget cuts are harming the Valley more than most.

Morsal talks about her experience of delayed graduation at UC Berkeley due to overcrowded classrooms and the underfunded UC system in California.

Morsal talks about her experience as an after-school program worker, where she came face to face with the reality of underfunding in the California public school system.

As Jules finishes her last semester at UC Berkeley, she's reflected on the queer spaces on campus where although they have found community here, she still believes the UC can do more to make BIPOC feel more accepted; especially in a time where queer identities are being under attacked.

X talks about their experience attending Oakland School of the Arts, a charter school which struggled to be fully-funded and often depends on the generosity of high-profile donors. When the money dries up, where does it leave the students?

Morsal talks about her experience as an After School Program worker, where she came face to face with the reality of underfunding in the California public school system.

Jules talks about how affirmative action paved the way for her mother to attend UC Berkeley, and ultimately empowered her to do the same. We need race-conscious admissions in the UC to ensure our universities are equitable!

Ximena explores her initial apprehensions about finding a supportive Latinx community at UC Berkeley. Despite the university’s reputation for diversity, Latinx students still struggle to connect with others from similar backgrounds. Fortunately, Ximena has found a close-knit group of Latinx friends, yet now face a new challenge: the institution itself.

Anna discusses the crucial role of San Francisco’s City College Board in safeguarding City College’s programs, especially the essential Free City program, which offers free tuition to SF residents. She highlights recent board electees, particularly Alan Wong, a progressive advocate committed to protecting students from the impact of budget cuts. As a Free City graduate, Anna shares her firsthand experience of how this program helped her succeed and ultimately transfer to UC Berkeley. She emphasizes the need for leaders who prioritize students over political ambition, calling for continued investment in accessible education.

Ximena shares her mother’s teaching journey through her eyes; specifically the last five years of her career. Her mother was an educator of over 20 years, but had to step down to put her mental health first. She talks about the struggles of being a teacher, how it can take a toll on a human being, and how outsiders see teachers.

Academic communities should uplift diverse identities, but CA education systems face a lack of representation in their faculty.  It’s disheartening to see these institutions failing to uphold their own principles of racial diversity and equality.