About the Office of Educational Advocacy (OEA)

Our Vision:

We envision a Wilmington where every child is supported by a connected community working together on their behalf.

The Office of Educational Advocacy exists to strengthen the systems surrounding Wilmington students. OEA serves as the City’s connector and collaborative amplifier—bringing clarity to challenges, visibility to solutions, and greater coordination to efforts already underway.

Our Purpose:

Wilmington’s education landscape has been shaped by generations of committed families, educators, community organizations, advocates, civic leaders, and institutions working to improve opportunities for children.

At the same time, Wilmington families often navigate multiple school systems, organizations, agencies, and resources that are not always connected to one another.

The Office of Educational Advocacy was established to help bridge these gaps.

As a city-led office, OEA works across systems and sectors to elevate the voices of Wilmington students and families, strengthen collaboration, improve access to information and resources, and advocate for solutions that support student success.

What We Do:

Connect • Collaborate • Advocate • Inform

These four actions guide how OEA approaches its work.

CONNECT

We bring people and resources together.

OEA helps strengthen connections among students, families, educators, schools, community organizations, government, and other partners working on behalf of Wilmington children.

COLLABORATE

We work alongside the people already doing the work.

Wilmington is home to organizations, educators, advocates, and community leaders doing important work for children and families. OEA seeks to strengthen those efforts by identifying opportunities for partnership, alignment, and collective action—not duplicating what already exists.

ADVOCATE

We help ensure Wilmington voices are represented.

OEA elevates the experiences, concerns, ideas, and priorities of Wilmington students and families in conversations that affect their education, while helping bring greater visibility to systemic challenges and opportunities for change.

INFORM

We make information easier to understand and access.

OEA works to connect Wilmington residents with education resources, opportunities, data, policy developments, and other information that can help families make informed decisions and participate in shaping education in their city.