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Oakland Starting Smart and Strong is made up of community groups, early childhood educators, school district, city and county leaders, all connected by a shared commitment to create a strong foundation for Oakland’s youngest children. The Lead Planning Team (LPT) represents the wide range of organizations and community leaders working to create high-quality health and early learning opportunities for every Oakland child. They set the direction for our work and facilitate strategic connections and partnerships.
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LPT Meeting, December 2025
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LPT Members
(last updated February 2026)
(last updated February 2026)
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Aleja Rambonga
Early Childhood Department, Oakland Unified School District Alicia Osborne EDvance College Alisa Burton Human Services Department, City of Oakland Angela Louie Howard Lotus Bloom Family Resource Center Anitra Smith Oakland Thrives Anna Gruver Alameda County Public Health Department Anna Luna Third Plateau Anna Yohannes EDvance College Annie Banks Parent Voices Oakland Ayano Ogawa First 5 Alameda County Clarissa Doutherd Parent Voices Oakland Dana Cilono The Kenneth Rainin Foundation Dawn Edwards Lotus Bloom Diveena Cooppan City of Oakland, Head Start Dulce Torres-Petty Tandem, Partners in Early Learning |
Isabelle Mussard
Parent Voices Oakland Jackie Jimenez-Subrata Oakland Starting Smart & Strong Jamaica Sowell Roots Community Health Center Jennifer Bloom Oakland Literacy Coalition Jennifer Cabán City of Oakland Jessica Cannon Early Childhood Department, Oakland Unified School District Joci Kelleher Brilliant Baby Julie Hadnot ALL IN Alameda County Katie Harkin David and Lucille Packard Foundation Kristin Spanos First 5 Alameda County Kym Johnson BANANAS LaNiece Jones Office of Mayor Barbara Lee Lawrence Gotanco Early Childhood Department, Oakland Unified School District Lea Lakes City of Oakland Lucero Irizarry Alameda County Office of Education |
Maria Sujo
Alameda County Office of Education Meghan Hunt Engage R+D Michelle Philips City of Oakland Ofelia Asencios Mendoza Early Education Department, Oakland Unified School District Page Tomblin Oakland Starting Smart & Strong Priya Jagannathan Oakland Starting Smart & Strong Robin Love Oakland Fund for Children and Youth Robyn Levinson Oakland Fund for Children and Youth Sanam Jorjani Oakland Literacy Coalition Sandra Ernest Oakland Promise Sara Farmer Early Childhood Department, Oakland Unified School District Savitha Moorthy Tandem, Partners in Early Learning Sofia Navarro City of Oakland Vanessa Cedeno First 5 Alameda County Veronica Anderson PenUltimate Group |
Committees and Workgroups
Oakland Starting Smart and Strong Committees and Workgroups represent a diverse range of organizations and individuals from Oakland’s early childhood community. With over 100 members, these leaders review and discuss critical issues related to the well-being of young children, their families, caregivers and educators. Interested in joining one of the OSSS committees? Email us at [email protected].
Our current committees and workgroups include:
Our current committees and workgroups include:
- Boys of Color Workgroup
- Data Committee
- Early Learning Symposium
- Executive Committee
- Oakland Family Child Care Policy Program
- Policy & Advocacy Committee
- Resilient Oakland Communities and Kids
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