Our work is best shared through the stories and images of our students, and testimonials from others touched by the work we do. We invite you to click on a story below… and be inspired.


Success Stories to Read

On her original intake forms where students are asked to identify needed resources Natalia simply wrote “support”.

In the year and a half before coming to Oakland, Lauren had been enrolled at three high schools and the Internet Academy.

Living with his grandmother and raising a daughter have not made life easy.

It is not easy being a teen mom and finishing high school but Ana makes it look that way.

Katie wishes she would have known about all the opportunities CIS offered when she was in middle school.

Nathan is much more confident and excited about reading in the classroom.

They have already hit their target Goal and the year isn’t
over yet.

“I believe this program has been a positive influence on Hope because she now reads (using the pictures) to her one year old cousin.”

He’s working hard to learn English and helps his fellow ELL students with their class work.

We recognize Jaden for her dedication to turning her life around this school year.  Jaden is currently acknowledged as a Junior, but looking at her transcript is a bleak picture. […]