Freda is an Oakland teacher, mother, union member, and community volunteer who has spent years showing up for Oakland students, families, and fellow educators.

In June 2025, Freda and her children were in an auto accident which was not their fault. Her baby was in a carrier on her chest, and her oldest was next to her. The accident left Freda with serious injuries to her spine and head that have prevented her from returning to the classroom.

She has already undergone emergency knee surgery for a torn meniscus, two spinal procedures, and 8 months of physical therapy.

She has her third procedure on her lumbar spine in two weeks, then a fourth one on her cervical spine. She continues to experience significant pain and nerve-related complications and requires ongoing medical treatment and care.

Freda’s spine doctor has told her that she will have to undergo these two extremely painful procedures every 6-18 months for the rest of her life.

The physical, emotional, and financial consequences have been overwhelming. She has used up all her savings and maxed out her credit cards, and is in danger of losing her housing. She urgently needs our help.

Below is Freda explaining the impact of the accident on her social-emotional well-being.

“The accident changed even the simplest parts of everyday life. Before the accident, I relied on public transportation to get to school and around Oakland. It was part of my daily life, and it gave me some of my favorite moments as a teacher. I would often see my students on the same bus. They would smile when they saw me, say hello, or wave goodbye as they got off. Those little interactions reminded me that I was part of the community where my students lived.

Since the accident, I have not been able to use public transportation the way I once did. Being near it can make me extremely dizzy and feel as though I might faint or become sick. It has made something that was once an ordinary and affordable part of my life feel frightening and, at times, impossible.

I have lost my ability to work, I am unable to care for my children, and my mobility has been severely impacted. Simple things such as bending to pick my baby up, or rocking her to sleep meant a week of pain, muscle spasms, headaches and constant intrusive thoughts.

I often feel isolated, only able to walk a couple of blocks over and over again, all the while people around me hopped on public transit, tapped their cards, and went on their merry ways. I felt alone and hopeless. My world shrunk, the bills piled up. There are groceries, child care, transportation, medical appointments, household expenses, and the everyday necessities that don't stop simply because a parent has been injured and unable to work.

My savings have been exhausted, and I have had to rely on credit to cover necessities and expenses that arose while I was unable to work.”

Our goal is to raise funds to help Freda and her children maintain housing, meet essential family expenses, and continue the medical and therapeutic care they need while she works toward recovery.

A donation of any size can help give Freda and her children something they desperately need right now: stability and time to heal. If you aren't able to donate, please share this fundraiser. Send it to fellow educators, former students, families, neighbors, friends and union members.

Please help us keep this beloved teacher, mother, and valued member of the Oakland community in the place she has spent so many years serving.

Thank you for standing with Freda and her children.