Brilliant Baby August Newsletter
Dear BB Community,
We are ecstatic to announce that we have moved into our new office space at 484 - 9th Street! Here is a short message from our CEO Sandra Ernst, "This month, we opened our brand new office location in Old Oakland (on 9th Street) and are thrilled to grow into our new space that will support our staff and serve as a place for our entire OP community to come together to join us on our mission to advance equity and economic mobility through a cradle to college and career achievement. None of these achievements would have been possible without the generosity and dedication of our community partners, supporters, leaders, educators, and the City of Oakland - and we are deeply thankful for their continued support. I am grateful for all who have enabled our team to bring our Promise to Oakland families to life. Whether individuals, corporations, or foundational support, it empowers us to fund the scholarships and critical web of services that help our Scholars navigate their college and career journeys. Thank you for continuing to invest in Oakland's families and students pursuing their college and career dreams!"
Now that we have this great new space, we would love to connect with you in person! If you are interested in setting up a meeting at our office with one of our associates, please text "BBHelp" at (510) 726-7809 and let us know what kind of help you would like at an in-person meeting. Of course we will continue to support families through text messaging, emails and phone calls as well!
Ciearre & Jenny Are Ready for TK!
This August, we are excited to celebrate the Brilliant Babies starting school. Thank you to everyone who submitted a photo! Featured above are Ciearre Banks and Jenny Chen. They are both 4 years old and beginning TK! Almost 500 Brilliant Babies will be starting TK or Kindergarten this year. The Brilliant Baby team wishes everyone a great start to this new school year. We recognize this as a significant milestone for the new students and their parents/caregivers.
Remember that if your child attends kindergarten at a public school in Oakland, they will now have access to a scholarship, in addition to their Brilliant Baby CSA! Every Oakland public school kindergartener (not TK) has $100 waiting for them in an Oakland Promise Scholarship account. Continue reading if you want to learn more about the Oakland Promise Kindergarten to College (K2C) program.
Program Highlights
As of August 1st, 1,636 babies in Oakland (including yours) have opened a Brilliant Baby College Savings Account! We are super excited to have reached this milestone. We are happy you are all part of our growing Brilliant Baby family!
Sign Up for the Oakland Promise K2C Program
Previously we mentioned that almost 500 Brilliant Babies are ready to start TK or Kindergarten. If your child turns 5 between September 2 and April 2, they can begin Transitional Kindergarten. Transitional Kindergarten helps students transition from preschool to kindergarten. It helps children build social and emotional skills that will be useful once they start elementary school. If you are unfamiliar with TK, listed above are some facts that can help you decide if TK is a good fit for your child.
The Brilliant Baby team encourages you to contact your school district to learn more about their TK programs. If you are interested in learning more about Transitional Kindergarten but you would like assistance, please feel free to contact us by texting "BBHelp" to our Customer Service Department at (510) 726-7809 or emailing us at brilliantbaby@oaklandpromise.org.
Community Connections happen every month on Zoom. You will have the opportunity to learn more about early childhood development while also continuing to get financial tips from BB Coaches and community-based organizations. On August 3, our partners at Tandem will lead a workshop called "Early Language & the Growing Brain" for our English and Cantonese-speaking communities. On August 10, Tandem will teach the same workshop in Spanish.
On August 17, Unity Council will host a presentation for our Spanish-speaking families, and they will host the same meeting for English-speaking families on August 24. To learn about their services, visit their website: https://unitycouncil.org/. Our Cantonese-speaking families can join Brilliant Baby Financial Coach rita on August 14. If you have questions about Community Connections, please text "BBHelp" to our Customer Service Department at (510) 726-7809 or email us at brilliantbaby@oaklandpromise.org.
Tips for Managing Bills
As a new parent or caregiver with a child entering school, you have much on your plate. It is normal to feel overwhelmed when tackling a new milestone in life. Such as having a baby or your child starting school for the first time. Unfortunately, life does not pause, and staying on top of your bills is essential as you face new life challenges. Listed above are some tips to help you manage your accounts.
These tips are universal and can help anyone struggling to manage their bills. If you anticipate a change in your income or experience a disaster, remember to reach out to avoid being charged late fees if you cannot make on-time payments. If you need support, the Brilliant Baby team is here. Please text "BBHelp" to our Customer Service Department at (510) 726-7809 or email us at brilliantbaby@oaklandpromise.org.
Facts About Transitional Kindergarten
Previously we mentioned that almost 500 Brilliant Babies are ready to start TK or Kindergarten. If your child turns 5 between September 2 and April 2, they can begin Transitional Kindergarten. Transitional Kindergarten helps students transition from preschool to kindergarten. It helps children build social and emotional skills that will be useful once they start elementary school. If you are unfamiliar with TK, listed above are some facts that can help you decide if TK is a good fit for your child.
The Brilliant Baby team encourages you to contact your school district to learn more about their TK programs. If you are interested in learning more about Transitional Kindergarten but you would like assistance, please feel free to contact us by texting "BBHelp" to our Customer Service Department at (510) 726-7809 or emailing us at brilliantbaby@oaklandpromise.org.
Family Fun Day Announcement
It's time to celebrate! The Brilliant Baby team is thrilled to announce our annual Family Funday is back. We will celebrate our families in person this year at Oakland Fairyland on Saturday, September 23. This is a free event, and we encourage you to bring the whole family! We will provide lunch and snacks while you and your family enjoy the amusement park. The day will be filled with music, community resources, and fun. We will send out a link to RSVP closer to the event day. Please do not hesitate to text our Customer Service department with any questions!
CalKIDS
California just started an exciting new program called CalKIDS that is a little like Brilliant Baby! They are opening College Savings Accounts (like my529) for every baby born July 1, 2022 or later as well as all for low income public school students in grades 1-12! California is using a company called Scholarshare rather than my529, but it works in just the same way.
According to their website, “CalKIDS is a program that helps children in California get access to higher education, especially those from traditionally underserved communities. Enrollment in CalKIDS is automatic. Eligible beneficiaries are identified by the California Department of Public Health and the California Department of Education. No action or financial commitment is required of families to participate.”
CalKIDS receives information on newborns approximately 90 days after they are born.
Eligible newborns receive a $25 seed deposit in a CalKIDS account. You will receive another $25 deposit in your CalKIDS account when you register on the CalKIDSonline portal.
To check your baby’s eligibility click the link below.
Do you know how to check the balance
of your Brilliant Baby CSA
at my529.org?
Before you go, let's check-in! We hope you check your child's CSA account periodically. Remember, when your baby graduates from high school, they can use this money for college or trade school! If you move, you can change your address online to keep receiving the statements at your home.
Additionally, getting in the habit of checking your account helps remind you that this account exists. We want to ensure every family knows how to access their account. Attached to the button below is a document to help you log into your account. If you have additional questions about your account, text "BB Help" at 510-726-7809, and one of our team members will respond.
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