Partner Resources

The Cameron Institute aims to build sustained partnerships with schools and community-based organizations in the East Bay that lead to reciprocal, and meaningful connections and contributions around critical issues that focus on access to opportunity within the East Bay.  Types of collaboration and service opportunities fall within three strands. We seek to build sustained partnerships with organizations that:

a) are deeply rooted in community with a demonstrated commitment to equity and social justice and a record of positive impact

b) have a desire to invest in a social-impact collaboration that leverages the unique strengths of Cal Athletics to meet a short or long-term need. 

c) are interested in co-constructing a collaboration to meet a community-defined priority, and align with student-athlete interests and strengths. 

We aim to build priority partnerships with Title I elementary and middle schools and youth-serving organizations in Berkeley, Oakland, and Richmond that lead to meaningful and mutually beneficial collaborations with Cal student-athletes. Our school and youth-based partnerships primarily focus on promoting early college awareness, access, and self-confidence through sport and play (learn more here). 

Let’s Build Together - become a "Cal Collaborator":  We take time to make a match between student-athlete/team interests (and schedule) and organizational/school priorities (and schedule). We encourage interested schools to become “Cal Collaborators.” Once a Cal Collaborator, we will reach out to have an exploratory conversation, and then be in communication when we have a student-athlete or team match. Please complete this form and we will be in touch when we have a team or student-athlete with aligned interests that can add value!

Two Entry-Points for Collaboration: We have found that the two best entry-points for building a collaboration are a) aligning with existing school initiatives, or, b) hosting students and schools on campus for an early college experience. 

Examples of School-Based Collaboration: 

• Cal student-athletes serve on a college and career panel 

• Cal student-athletes serve as a “reading role model” (read aloud or one-on-one) 

• Cal student-athletes support positive play at recess, or a structured activity at recess or PE 

• Cal student-athletes support an existing school event or volunteer opportunity

• Other - depending on your school, students, and opportunities!

Experiencing Cal: Early college experiences are important for college-going confidence and identity. We love partnering with schools and organizations to provide these campus experiences - with a Cal Athletics flavor! Depending on goals and needs, possibilities include:  

• Self-guided tour resources

• Guided tours with student-athletes that incorporate athletics

• Q&A / Panel  

• Student & Community-centered: We start by listening and learning. Those closest to the issue are the best experts of their environment and solutions are within communities. Through service, we aim for reciprocity: positive outcomes for students and community

• We recognize sport as a platform for community building & a bridge for authentic university-community collaboration: We mobilize the unique leadership capacity of Cal Student Athletes, use this platform for good, and recognize sport as a bridge and common language. We seek out projects where this has particular meaning, value, and relevance 

• Center equity & social justice: we actively learn about, reflect on, and work to disrupt intentional place and policy-based inequities. We engage with partners and put energy toward projects that focus on access to opportunity, change the odds, remove barriers & build pathways to opportunity

• The process is as important as the outcome: We learn, plan, do, and reflect. We ask “why” and learn about the root cause of an issue. We plan with community partners to understand how we can contribute. We show up with intentionality and reliability. We reflect, improve, and ask “what’s next”. 

• Power is present & comes from within: Power is a present or potential resource in every person and community. We work to recognize the power within communities  and act upon the power or potential power that we already have as a source of positive impact.

• We build on existing assets: Before coming in with new ideas, we take time to understand what is working, where there are “bright spots”, and how we can work to support and build on what exists. 

• We recognize change takes time, and we work to develop deep, sustainable and mutually beneficial partnerships: We show-up as intentional partners rather than visitors, working to build mutually beneficial, sustained and sustainable partnerships where we can provide value-add and work toward positive community progress over time