Voices of Making Waves
This new monthly series was created to tell the stories of our current students at the Making Waves Academy (MWA) and the Making Waves Foundation’s college success program (CAP), following their journeys from 5th grade through college and early career. We will illuminate MWA’s holistic approach to K–12 education and CAP’s college-success model by featuring the voices of MWA teachers and staff, CAP coaches, and our students, families, and alumni.
With this series, we hope to shine a spotlight on our work and the lives of the historically underrepresented and underserved youth we serve.

“You Have a Light About You”: Meet Wave-Maker Jamaya Walker
March 18, 2021
When asked to trace the source of her strength and success, Jamaya Walker (12th Wave) immediately thinks of her mother: “My mom is like superwoman. I can’t afford…

Planting a Seed for What Is Possible: Home Libraries Build Literacy and Opportunity
February 18, 2021
A stack of books may not seem extraordinary, but it can be life changing. Recent research has indicated that there are tangible benefits for kids who grow up with…

“No One Is Doing This Alone”: Students Find What It Takes to Thrive at Cal
January 15, 2021
The University of California at Berkeley—known by students and locals simply as “Cal”—looms large as a symbol of educational excellence, recently ranked the top public university and the fourth-best overall in the U.S. News & World…

What Does a Pandemic Look Like for a School Social Worker?
December 10, 2020
A holistic approach to student support at Making Waves Academy “It’s challenging, since I’m used to being on campus with my door open for…