Over the past decade, CalSAC’s Leadership Development Institute (LDI) has given more than 120 equity-driven professionals and emerging leaders in the out-of-school time field (OST) the opportunity to access personal development and skill building opportunities that change the course of their careers. CalSAC can’t undo systemic oppression alone, but by providing meaningful and transformative opportunities, our leadership development work helps advance equity in the education system and beyond.
Today those leaders and thousands more that have been through other CalSAC trainings, are helping guide California youth and their families through the chaos of COVID-19. That’s why we are asking you to support CalSAC’s vital work with these leaders.
Meet Omar
Omar Malik is passionate about the youth he serves at San Francisco Boys and Girls Clubs. When the pandemic made it impossible to open Camp Mendocino, where he worked with over 1,200 youth each year as Assistant Camp Director, he took on a new challenge as Education Liaison at the Mission Clubhouse. It felt important to Omar that he find virtual platforms so that kids know that the adults they’ve come to count on are still around and there for them in their lives.
It was a big shift for Omar to go from running a camp to providing educational support in San Francisco’s Mission district. For one thing, he had never been fully responsible for supervising staff. Omar was glad that his very first training as part of CalSAC’s LDI Emerging Leaders of Color cohort was on supervision. Omar learned how to communicate his expectations to his staff and says “between my training and having a forum to learn from others all over the state, CalSAC gave me the tools in my toolbox to help staff calibrate their efforts.”
Omar pictured on the far left. This was a drive-by celebration for seniors who weren't able to have a traditional graduation.