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.
COMBATING INEQUITIES IN EDUCATION
Pasos for Oak Cliff tackles the inequities in K-12 education through various fronts.
SHOE DRIVES
At Pasos, new sneakers are an opportunity to increase confidence, academic achievement, and the physical activity of a child.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Pasos steps up to ensure that low-income students can afford and complete higher education.
SUMMER PROGRAM
Pasos is closing the gaps of rising 9th graders in literacy and math by combining academics with sneaker design in our Pasos All Stars Enrichment Program.
MEET OUR FOUNDERS
The sneaker heads behind Pasos for Oak Cliff.
Pasos for Oak Cliff was founded by Jesse Acosta, a high school teacher, and Alejandra Zendejas, a math tutor. They both consider themselves sneakerheads.
Growing up, Jesse's parents could only afford to buy him one pair of shoes per year. Alejandra's parents would sometimes buy her one pair of shoes for her and her sister to share. "Growing up I never had the newest or best shoes, so now that I can afford what I like, I buy myself all the shoes I can." (Jesse) "Yea, I definitely agree with that as well. It's like we're
obtaining what we could not as kids. (Alejandra)
Given their obsession with shoes, as educators and sneakerheads, they would look down at their student's feet to see what they are rockin' for the day. But in doing this, they noticed a trend - students with worn out shoes were more likely to be ridicule, bulled, and isolated. "I saw myself in some of my students. I remembered getting made fun of for wearing beaten
up sneakers sometimes." (Jesse)
When the pandemic hit in 2020, many of their students' families were impacted financially. Hoping to bring a little bit of joy and financially relief, Jesse and Alejandra turned their LOVE for sneakers into a proactive start up - Pasos for Oak Cliff
The goal of Pasos for Oak Cliff would be to give students in need new shoes. Although since Pasos' inception, the goals of Pasos has shifted to other educational needs.