“All I’ve ever done has focused on children, youth and families and the belief that all children can thrive,” says Jake Leos-Urbel.
The son of a teacher and a social worker, Leos-Urbel has approached equitable outcomes for children from a variety of angles, including by serving in the Peace Corps in Namibia and teaching and researching child and youth policy in university-based settings. Now, as the senior director of learning and evaluation for Oakland Thrives — a collective-impact strategy designed to improve the health and well-being of Oakland’s children, families and communities — he supports partners in collecting and using data to inform and strengthen their work.
“As a backbone organization [for collective work], we have a lot of influence, but not a lot of authority,” says Leos-Urbel. “We work to meet the goals the community already has.”
One of the project’s biggest initiatives is Rise East, a cradle-to-career effort supporting young people throughout every stage of life, from early childhood through adulthood, in a 40-by-40-block area of East Oakland, spurred by a $50 million national philanthropic investment and $50 million in local funds. The effort is steered by four Black-led community organizations in East Oakland, and Leos-Urbel guides learning and evaluation.
The Fellowship is helping him lead with intention and awareness. “I’m focused on collaborative leadership that values the experiences of a lot of people,” he says. “I want to show up authentically. I’m already getting helpful feedback in the Fellowship about how to do just that.”