Play.

Ensuring all Oakland elementary school and middle school students have access to excellent places and equitable opportunities to play.

Only

of Oakland students get the recommended 60 minutes of daily excercise

14%

Physical activity, including participation in youth sports, is a critical part of childhood development and offers numerous physical, mental, social-emotional, and academic benefits to young people. In Oakland, only 14% of youth are getting an hour of physical activity per day, and there’s a stark gender gap as Oakland girls (9%) are much less likely to be sufficiently active than boys (19%).
Eat. Learn. Play. is providing opportunities and creating safe spaces for all Oakland children to be physically active and participate in youth sports. Eat. Learn. Play. is committed to making high-quality summer camps and after-school programs accessible for all children in our community and is working to help rebuild middle school sports in Oakland that have been decimated by budget cuts.

Eat. Learn. Play. in the Community

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Eat. Learn. Play. hosts 11th Annual Christmas with the Currys Holiday Event

Kaiser Permanente Expands Partnership with Eat. Learn. Play. to Provide Healthy Meals and Safe Places for Oakland Students to Play

Oakland Marathon and Stephen and Ayesha Curry’s Eat. Learn. Play. Launch Strategic Partnership to Further Support Local Youth

Improving Educational Outcomes Through Play and Partnerships

Beginning with Sports, Ending in Infinite Possibilities

Finishing with a Smile! Eat. Learn. Play. Kids Fun Run at the Oakland Running Festival

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Remodeling Schoolyards and Gyms

To date, Eat. Learn. Play. has transformed 17 schoolyards across OUSD schools, providing kids with access to safe places to play and be active. We are renovating over 25 elementary schoolyards by 2026—adding new playgrounds, multi-sport courts, nature exploration areas, outdoor classrooms, murals, and trees. We have also renovated six middle and high school gyms in partnership with Under Armour.

Growing Middle School Sports

Eat. Learn. Play. is making investments to grow elementary and middle school sports in Oakland. It is working with the Oakland Athletic League, OUSD’s Expanded Learning Program, and other youth sports organizations to ensure Oakland students experience the joy and benefits of participating in free, high-quality sports programming aimed at increasing access, participation, and quality coaching.

Community Partners

Oakland Athletic League, OUSD’s Expanded Learning Program, KABOOM!, Aspen Institute, Under Armour and its Curry Brand, Oakland Genesis Soccer Club,  Oakland Lacrosse, Positive Coaching Alliance, Sport Court, and more.

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