The transformational work of Faith in Action East Bay is made possible through a unique organizing model from its statewide affiliate, PICO California. The model is based on one-to-one conversations, research meetings, then action and evaluation. The approach has resulted in profound systemic change for housing equity, immigration justice, illegal dumping, voter engagement, public safety, and judicial reform.
The organizing model is also responsible for the founding of the country’s first intercultural public Waldorf school: the Community School for Creative Education in the San Antonio Neighborhood of Oakland.
“Receive the children in reverence, educate them in love, let them go forth in freedom.”
Motto of the Community School for Creative Education
The school was envisioned by Dr. Ida Oberman who was inspired to become a Waldorf teacher from her own education. Born in Holland, her family moved to Tubingen, Germany, when she was 9 years old—a transition complicated by her Jewish heritage. Her grandmother was murdered in the Holocaust and her family had been a part of the resistance. Neighbors advised that the local Waldorf School would be more tolerant.
“Waldorf is education through the arts,” explained Dr. Ida. “It is justice- and community-focused, interclass and co-ed. Everybody learns how to both knit and do woodwork. It was started a 100 years ago by Rudolph Steiner. You have the same teacher through 8th grade and become a mini-society. I learned how to think.”
Dr. Ida continued her education at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, trained as a Waldorf teacher in Stuttgart, Germany, and began teaching at a Waldorf school in New York. Understanding her vision for an intercultural public Waldorf school, a colleague advised her to pursue her doctorate, which she later completed at Stanford University. In addition, she speaks five languages.
“Through my work in New York, I learned that a community is closest to the pain, so they are closest to the solutions. I join the process as a learner. From there I began to seek out how my dream might find a home and how it might be adjusted,” said Dr. Ida.
“I learned that a community is closest to the pain, so they are closest to the solutions. I join the process as a learner.”
She began to meet Oakland community leaders and educators. On January 8, 2008, she met with Emma Paulino, an organizer with Oakland Community Organizations (OCO) now Faith in Action East Bay. Emma advised that if the community wanted Waldorf education, it would be their decision. Dr. Ida was invited to a public safety action called Save Lives Now. She witnessed busses of families arriving at St. Patrick’s Church to take action for a safer home.
“I realized that this was a slice of heaven and that I wanted to do everything I could to be a part of this process. That began the very long journey of growing the school.”
Under Emma’s guidance, Dr. Ida followed the organizing model of one-to-one conversations and research, listening and building trust. A small group of initially interested families swelled to reflect the rich diversity of the San Antonio Neighborhood. As more parents learned about Waldorf education they became convinced that Oakland was ready for it.
A 501c3 was formed for the school in spring of 2009. Next the community needed to write a charter and get it approved by the Oakland School District. The priority was on building a charter that the families would own. Nine languages were present at the first public hearing.
At the time, the District felt the education model was untested and might be a political risk. They declined the charter twice. The families decided to revise and submit the charter to the Alameda County Board of Education where the District decision was overrode and the charter approved. The school opened in 2011.
“The organizing model is foundational to the heart blood of the initiative,” explained Dr. Ida. “None of this could have happened without the OCO/PICO work and being a part of something bigger. We sometimes don’t recognize the gold we have in our own hand.”
“We sometimes don’t recognize the gold we have in our own hand.”
In May, Dr. Ida presented the organizing model at a conference in Germany on Trauma and International Emergency and Trauma Pedagogy. The idea is that the organizing model could help war-afflicted communities rebuild. This fall, Emma and Dr. Ida will present to an international Waldorf conference.
When Dr. Ida became a U.S. citizen in 2016, she was surrounded by her students from the Community School for Creative Education. She is also a part of the faith community at Plymouth Jazz and Justice Church UCC. “My faith is the compass and the cause and the heart. Heart and faith and love can’t be separated. I am grateful to every single leader who has taught me so much.”
She retired from head of the Community School for Creative Education in 2023 yet she remains involved in the Illegal Dumping Local Organizing Committee that is working to address the trash and sex trafficking around the school.
“Our children have to climb over trash to get into school. The youth are so vulnerable–they need to be surrounded by beauty and not trash.”
Wanting to deepen her support of Faith in Action East Bay’s work, Dr. Ida became a Board member in 2015 and was a Board officer for nine years.
When asked why she donates time and resources, Dr. Ida replied, “I give because I believe in the deep power of each leader and in the deep power of the model to bring us together as leaders for lasting change.
“Our biggest challenge right now is finances. We can get through this but it requires focus. Our strength is that FIAEB has been true to the messy, slow work of letting leaders lead and letting the organizers grow the capacity of leaders to lead. We just need to stay true to the amazing organizing here.”