The Currys, NBA player Stephen Curry and wife, entrepreneur, Ayesha are making headlines once again and this time they’re on a mission to feed, teach and empower youths in Oakland’s under-resourced communities.
“It’s not the teacher’s fault. It’s not the parents’ fault. It’s a community issue,” said Ayesha Curry
The pair lead their colourful pink, yellow, and blue Eat. Learn. Play. Bus, out for the first time Wednesday September 8 at an elementary school in Oakland, California on a mission to feed, teach, empower Black children and youths of color in Oakland’s underserved communities.
“This idea came basically from me wanting to find a way to eradicate food deserts within the Oakland area,” Ayesha Curry said. “At first, the idea was around, ‘How can we find locations where people can come and pick up fresh produce and other things for their families?’ Logistically, especially with Covid, that idea started to seem far-fetched.”
The multifunctional vehicle amazingly functions as a food truck to provide food, while the other side functions as a library. Worthy of note, Oakland has a poor literacy rate.
The converted school bus will bring resources to Oakland, California, residents who need it. It also boasts of three flat-screen televisions, a booming sound system, and a bus rooftop area that can accommodate up to 35 children.
According to Stephen Curry, the bus will travel sometimes randomly to schools, community centers and churches.
“We want mystique about it,” he said. “So it may show up anywhere, take on a life of its own and has the capabilities to host an event anywhere.”
Bestselling author Ayesha Curry, said the idea for a mobile library came after they learned of discouraging reading levels among Black and Latino students in the Oakland Unified School District, “that was it,” she said.
“That, to me, is unacceptable,” she continued. “It’s not the teacher’s fault. It’s not the parents’ fault. It’s a community issue. Let’s get together, give this model a try and see if we can create some excitement around reading. If we can all join together and try to fix the issue together and turn these numbers around, then I think we’re doing something right.”
The couple has applaudably worked together on countless charitable endeavors since Steph went pro in 2009.
President and CEO of the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce, Cathy Adams, said it was no surprise the Currys were doing more to help their community thrive.
“And it’s heartening to see an NBA star and his successful wife in her own right use their platform for good,” Adams expressed. “Over the years they have shown a commitment to Oakland in general, but especially to neighborhoods where kids need to be impacted more, neighborhoods that have been compromised by systemic racism.”
“We’re going to be listening to the community to figure out where the best and greatest impact will be with the bus,” Steph said. “But we cannot be more excited about it and how it will be received — and what impact it will have.”
The foundation plans to have screenings, clinics, and other health-related activities. While the couple has business partners, the Currys financed the bulk of the multimillion-dollar venture.
“Oakland has been our adopted home,” he said. “There’s so much talent and promise in Oakland, but not as much opportunity. And that’s something that we have to strive to address, with this bus as just the latest rendition of doing that.”
Well done!
