Board Chair Bridget Harper Speaks on SRO's Accomplishments and Future Plans

Here are excerpts of remarks by Bridget Harper, Chairperson of Students Run Oakland Board of Directors, given at SRO’s March 7 post-marathon banquet.

When Spencer first requested that I speak at this year’s banquet, I had just seen the movie The Great Debaters. There was a wonderful exchange, a ritual between a father and his son. The father asked the son, “What do we do?” And the son replied, “We do what we have to do, so that we can do what we want to do.”

This father and son exchange stayed with me, because as I heard it, I immediately thought of the students participating in SRO. It also occurred to me that this truth “We do what we have to do, so that we can do what we want to do” is also very apropos for SRO.

I have been involved with SRO for the last six years, first as a supporter and then as a board member. This season was an incredible opportunity for me as I had time to fly up (from Los Angeles where I live) and get to know students, volunteers, collaborating partners, and donors. It has been such an awesome experience, that I would like to share a few observations because I think that they underscore what makes SRO such an amazing organization. Then I would like to provide some high-level thoughts, the board’s vision for the future of SRO.

Observation number one: The students

I was able to make several of the weekend training runs and participate in the culminating event: the marathon. I experienced the thrill of watching several of the students endure and then victoriously achieve the completion of the 26.2 mile event.

But, more than completing the marathon, I witnessed firsthand many of the students’ transformation from not really understanding the magnitude of the goal that they had set, to understanding the magnitude and then not really knowing if they could do it. To fully grasping the magnitude and knowing that they could do it. And then transferring this “I know that I can do it” attitude and belief to other aspects of their lives.

All of the students who made it to Los Angeles clearly understood that if they did what they needed to do, they could do what they wanted to do!

Observation number two: The volunteers, donors, and community collaborators

The volunteers are an amazingly passionate, talented, and spirited group of individuals! These are individuals who in spite of their busy personal and professional lives commit entirely and enthusiastically to the success of SRO.

Over the season, I also had the opportunity to meet some of SRO’s partners and supporters. With SRO’s partners, it was very clear that these are truly partnerships and our partners believe in SRO’s mission.

I also met the fundraising team and read many of the grants that were submitted this year.
This is a team who has so very eloquently captured and put to words the magic of SRO. They are energized by going after every dollar that they think SRO can get. And, they are individuals who graciously and generously open up their personal networks to SRO.

And then there is the team that makes it all happen everyday, the trio: Christine Chapon, Heidi Anders, and Spencer Hooper. This team is tireless and works unselfishly to deliver on SRO’s mission. As a board member, SRO’s leadership demonstrates the traits/values that you want to see. There is a passion about executing on the organization’s mission and the mission is used as a guide, a compass to lead from and as a basis for making decisions.

The volunteers, supporters, and SRO’s leadership have done what was needed so that the organization is positioned to do more of what it wants to do.

Where SRO is heading:

I liken SRO to being in its second phase in its life cycle, its evolution. The first phase, SRO’s inception, happened when a group of community-minded individuals planted the seeds for this wonderful organization to grow. The second phase, under Spencer's leadership, has been about transforming the organization to a business with a solid track record for executing. And as SRO is completing its eighth season, it is at this point in its evolution to really take it to the next level, to catapult itself to becoming one of the premier not-for-profit organizations in the East Bay.

Obtaining funding is the lifeblood for any not-for-profit organization, and this is a very serious and competitive undertaking. Funders have an increasingly complex set of things that they are looking for and greater sophistication in how they allocate monies.

It doesn’t matter if the funder is a multi-billion dollar corporation, a public institution or an individual donor -- there are some basics things that cut across each of these groups: They want to see that the organization is delivering on its mission; they want to see a consistent track record; they want to know that the monies they give will be used prudently; and they want to know that the organization will be around. So, yes, SRO had to transform itself into a business that consistently executes.

What are some of SRO’s proof points -- evidence of the program’s success and proof that we are executing on our mission?

- Over 90% of SRO’s students graduate from high school compared to Oakland Unified School District’s rate of 60.8%.

- Approximately 80% of SRO’s graduating seniors go directly to a college or four-year university.

- The cumulative Los Angeles marathon completion average is 98% -- and, the last two years 100% of the students completed the marathon.

Potential funders also want to know about the vitality and viability of the organization. Here are some examples of how SRO has evolved and transformed itself over the last couple of years:

- We’ve gone from an organization where most of the “how to” resided in people’s heads to one that is building a formal infrastructure.

- Early on, there were just a handful of sponsors and supporters. Today, SRO continues to expand and strengthen our community partners and have marquee/household brand-name organizations that now support us.

- The organization moved from not having a board to where individuals approach SRO about being on the board.

SRO has clearly done what it had to do to be at a point to do more of what it wants to do.

As SRO is at this pivotal point, it is truly an exciting place -- the organization has solidly and consistently executed year over year and is ready and primed to take it to the next level.

Here are some of the things that SRO wants to do -- our next round of goals:

- Enhance the student experience and improve retention by hiring a Student Liaison
- Expand tutoring for the students
- Increase scholarships for the students who are college-bound
- Expand the number of schools that SRO is offered to
- And build an all-year round program

This year, we launched two strategic imperatives: Board Development and a Strategic Planning Initiative. Both are intended to inform, shape and build the tools for SRO to execute on these goals.

There is the big goal ahead of us -- for SRO to become one of the premier not-for-profits in the East Bay -- and there will be the “road map” and additional leadership support to get us there.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank you for being such a source of inspiration; congratulate you on another incredible season; and applaud you for your work that will move SRO to the next level!

- Bridget Harper, Board of Directors Chairperson