I came to this country as part of a seasonal migrant working family. I was an English language learner and went undiagnosed with dyslexia for most of my life. As you can imagine, I struggled with traditional schooling. I needed a wider range of academic and enrichment opportunities. I was ready to drop out in eighth grade—and I would have, if not for Mrs. Ritari, my incredible art teacher. She fought for me to stay in school by finding creative ways to engage me both in and out of school.
Mrs. Ritari partnered with a Latine-serving community organization to connect with my family. They made the case for me to participate in summer learning instead of laboring in the fields, as I had since I was 12 years old. The enrichment opportunities they gave me made me feel talented and capable, allowing me to discover my strengths. Painting soon turned into spoken word, which turned into competitive speech and debate, then honors courses, and eventually, a full-ride scholarship to college.
My story reflects what the science of learning tells us: To reach our state’s education goals, we need high-quality school- and community-based programs that offer a wide range of academic and enrichment opportunities so that every child can feel like they belong, grow their confidence and joy as learners, and find their unique path to success—just as I found my path through art.
At Foundations for a Better Oregon (FBO), we advocate for summer and after-school learning because the ever-expanding research shows high-quality programs deliver exponential benefits for children. Our partners in community know its power firsthand. Our partners in philanthropy have funded it for decades. And our partners in advocacy—including the Oregon Partners for Education Justice—will continue to fight for even stronger investment, smarter implementation, and deeper impact.
Together, we can achieve the outcomes we want for kids. To maximize the return on Oregon’s education investments, let’s keep building the science of learning and the wisdom of our educators and community leaders.
