Literacy Takes Center Stage at Lit Fest
All 50 Oakland Elementary Schools Gather to Celebrate Learning and Champion Young Readers
On a sunny Oakland afternoon, two young poets stepped to the mic with a book in hand. Their voices rang strong and clear; Ma’Kai and Maceo each read aloud a piece of original poetry they had written in front of an audience that included Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, OUSD Interim Superintendent Dr. Denise Saddler, and community members.
The new moon is pink and blue.
It is made out of cotton candy.
If you eat the cotton candy moon,
The stars will come together to to make a new moon.
- Excerpt from “Life is Good Without a Moon” by Ma’Kai, OUSD fourth grader
Ma’Kai and Maceo are part of a new generation of Oakland writers and poets whose talents shined at Lit Fest, held on April 23, 2025 at La Escuelita Elementary in Oakland. Organized by the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), the third annual event was a district-wide celebration of reading. Students, teachers, and families from all 50 Oakland elementary schools gathered in community to celebrate one common theme: the power of reading and student voice.
A Celebration of Student Learning
Now in its third year, Lit Fest has grown from its first year with 400 attendees and 24 schools represented, to 1,200 attendees and participation from every single OUSD elementary school. Each of the 50 schools had a dedicated display where students proudly showcased the writing projects they had worked on over the school year. Dozens of students stepped up to open mic spaces throughout the evening to read their original writing aloud.
OUSD staff, including principals, teachers, tutors, and librarians, answered questions, shared strategies, and gave caregivers tools they could use to continue to foster a love of reading. With support from Eat. Learn. Play., Chapter 510 and OUSD jointly launched a brand-new anthology, “When the Stars Bloom in Oakland.” The book featured poetry by 200 fourth graders from eight OUSD classrooms and all attendees received a free copy. The Eat. Learn. Play. Bus contributed to the festive atmosphere, with every student receiving a new journal to keep the love of the written word going when at home.
Oakland is a Reading Town
At Lit Fest, OUSD and the Oakland Literacy Coalition also officially launched Oakland Is a Reading Town, a citywide reading campaign supported by a broad network of community partners, including Mayor Barbara Lee, the Oakland Public Library, and Eat. Learn. Play. This campaign is built on the principle that every child in Oakland deserves the power of reading and highlights the role that schools, families, libraries, and community organizations all play in building a citywide culture of reading.
Oakland is a Reading Town aims to increase access to books, inspire daily reading habits, and support community members in championing young readers. OUSD also announced a student reading sprint challenge in the spring, building momentum for deeper engagement in the school year ahead. OUSD Superintendent Dr. Denise Saddler shared, "This moment is about more than just a campaign. It is about declaring, as a city, that reading belongs to everyone in Oakland."
Transforming the Public School Experience for Oakland Students
Eat. Learn. Play. is proud to support efforts like Lit Fest and Oakland is a Reading Town that embody our whole-child whole-school approach and advance our efforts to close the literacy gap for every Oakland student. We’re making a historic commitment across Oakland schools to ensure all students learn how to read at or above grade level on an appropriate timeline through providing: high-impact tutoring at every Oakland elementary school, support for teachers and educators, and access to free, high-quality books for all kids. By infusing the joy of learning and community into every student’s educational journey, we are setting them on the path to reach their full potential as lifelong learners.
Learn more about our work, and see the first-hand impact that our support is having on students, teachers, and families through our documentary, “From Struggle to Strength: Advancing Literacy Efforts in Oakland.”