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Pasos for Oak Cliff, a non-profit, is set up by Jesse Acosta, a high school teacher, and Alejandra Zendejas, a math tutor. We both consider ourselves sneakerheads.
As sneakerhead educators and members of the community, we are fully aware that parents and guardians struggle to supply some basic necessities for their children - this is especially true when it comes to shoes.
As a result, we decided to turn our LOVE for sneakers into a proactive start up - Pasos for Oak Cliff. The goal of Pasos for Oak Cliff is to give students new shoes. The lack of good quality shoes leads to discomfort, ridicule, bullying, and isolation. We can prevent that from happening, but we cannot do it alone, we need YOUR SUPPORT.
The Pasos All Stars STEAM Program
The Pasos All Stars STEAM program is an intervention program for rising 9th graders in the summer and 9th - 12th grade students in the fall and spring semester. We help students close gaps in literacy and math. Our curriculum combines core education with the arts in sneaker design and filmmaking to not only close educational gaps, but to also equip them with workforce readiness skills.
COVERING THE BASICS
No matter the season—summer, fall, or spring—our mission is to ensure every student stays on track with reading, writing, and math. Falling behind in these key areas can significantly increase a student's risk of dropping out. That's why we provide targeted, individualized support to help students not only meet grade-level expectations but exceed them, preparing them for long-term success.
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During the fall and spring, we expand our focus to assist students in any other subjects where they face challenges, ensuring they have the resources and guidance to thrive academically year-round.
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SNEAKER DESIGN
To engage and inspire our rising 9th graders, we introduce them to an exciting STEAM career path: sneaker design. Through this creative avenue, students reinforce critical literacy and math skills while mastering Adobe Photoshop, problem-solving, sketching, visual storytelling, and the art of shoe design.
In this program, students are challenged to think beyond aesthetics, exploring how footwear can be innovated to solve social or physical challenges. They are encouraged to weave their personal stories into their designs, using sneakers as a canvas to express ideas and creativity.
By blending digital arts, innovation, and design with real-world applications, we empower our students with the essential skills and mindset they need to shape a brighter future.
FILMMAKING
Returning students, usually 10th graders, embark on a new STEAM career path: filmmaking. In this program, they are challenged to create narrative or documentary-style films that shed light on important issues or individuals within their own community. Along the way, they also dive into the science behind cameras, gaining a deeper understanding of the technology they use.
Students master Adobe Premiere, learning how to direct, tell compelling stories, view the world from different perspectives, and operate a camera with confidence. Through filmmaking, we equip our students with the critical thinking, leadership, and technical skills they need to make an impact and inspire change.
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