La’Cole Martin is a West Oakland native and proud graduate of McClymonds High School. In 2004, La’Cole received her B.A. in African American Studies from the University of California Berkeley, and in the 2011, La’Cole completed her Master’s Degree in Ethnic Studies with an emphasis in Africana Studies at San Francisco State University. La’Cole has 14 years of experience as an educator in the city of Oakland, starting her career in 2006 as a sixth grade English teacher for the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD). Since leaving OUSD as a classroom teacher in 2008, La’Cole has worked in various capacities for non-profits throughout the city of Oakland including Mills College Upward Bound, Youth Together, Alternatives in Action, EBAYC (East Bay Asian Youth Center) and Lincoln (formerly Lincoln Child Center). La’Cole also served as an instructor of African American Studies at Laney College from 2011 to 2018.

In 2012, La’Cole became the Site Coordinator for Oakland Freedom School (OFS) summer literacy program under Lincoln and Leadership Excellence. After serving as the Site Coordinator of OFS for two summers, La’Cole received the opportunity to coordinate the West Oakland Initiative (WOI) for Lincoln. Building on the Freedom School model, as Program Director of WOI, La’Cole has led in the pilot and implementation of support and services for families at four West Oakland public schools, with the goal of closing the academic achievement gap that exists for Black and Brown children and youth throughout the nation. As the current Director of Flourishing Communities, La’Cole brings passion, lived experiences, and dedication to the mission of healing youth and communities of color through healing centered engagement practices rooted in the restoration of hope and possibilities