We at Ruby Bridges Elementary School are a very diverse group of people, there are over 27 different languages spoken at our school!  Located on the west end of Alameda, we are a Title 1 School, which means that the majority of our students are living at the poverty level.

Our school is named after a brave young girl who was one of the first to integrate public schools in the south at the beginning of the civil rights movement. Ms. Bridges loves us and calls us her “little bag of M&M’s” because we are all different beautiful colors, working together every day to make the world a better place.

The 5th graders at Ruby Bridges will be attending Science Camp at Mission Springs Outdoor Education in the Santa Cruz Mountains. We will spend 3 days there learning and experiencing nature and science with each other. Many of us have never been away from our families and many have never spent time in the wilderness.

This is a life changing opportunity for us all! This experience will also help us understand our part in the community and our part in the world. By spending time in the wilderness, we will be learning to work together as a community. We will be learning to trust each other, help and encourage each other in the face of challenges, and celebrate each other’s successes while practicing lifelong skills to help us overcome fears and find strength in ourselves.

It will cost each student $210.00 to attend science camp. There will be 70 of us going this year, and it is our hope that every student can have this amazing experience free of charge. To raise money for this wonderful cause, please join us for an uplifting, spirit filled event this Saturday, January 28th at 7:00 p.m. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year!

WHO: Acts include Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, Oakland Interfaith Youth Gospel Choir, First Baptist Church Soul Sistahs Praise Team, Daughters of Grace and Ruby Bridges Elementary School 5th grade students

WHERE: First Baptist Church of Alameda - 1515 Santa Clara Ave. Alameda

WHEN: Saturday, January 28th at 7:00 p.m.

HOW: $15 General Admission - Tickets are available at the door.
Additional donations are accepted at the event, or can be mailed to Ruby Bridges Science Camp Fund at 351 Jack London Ave. Alameda, CA. 94501.

Please contact Heather Figueroa at hfigueroa@alameda.k12.ca.us or 510-748-4006 ex 5304 if you have further questions or comments.

Download the word file above, or click on the image below for a printable version:

Eat at Panda Express at City Center on December 3rd with the attached flyer, and OIGC gets 20% of your purchase amount! Grab a bite to eat before the Holiday Concert :) I know that's where I'm eating for lunch before sound check!

~Isa

The choir had been working really hard, with the recording sessions in February, and a slew of performances in March, so in April we took a little breather from performances, and focused on rehearsing and rejuvenation.

Now it's May, and we're ready to get back in the game! It all starts on Sunday, May 15th, 4pm, with a free performance in Oakland with Cantare Con Vivo Chorale. "I, Too, Sing America," is a celebration of African American history and music, and it will be held at Beebe Memorial Catholic Church - 3900 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, 94609. If you can't make it then, there are two more performances on the 21st AND the 22nd! Click on the banner below to purchase your tickets for the other two nights. The cost of the tickets will be going towards two wonderful choirs dedicated to serving the community.

 

During the break, one of our members helped OIGC open an EBAY Store! You can help OIGC by going to http://bit.ly/oigcebay, and checking out some of the things on our store site. Plus if you'd like to donate something to the EBAY store, contact us and we'll work out the logistics together.

well, the photo book of our trip last September to NYC has finally been released! I had been waiting for more pictures, but there comes a point when it's time to move on. :) Click below for a preview and to purchase your very own copy ($6 of each book goes directly to OIGC).