Project Youth Connect hosts event, offers free resources for East Bay youth

Published on Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Last updated on 10:40AM, Sunday, June 27, 2010
Youth UpRising mural

Youth UpRising mural

Young victims of physical and sexual abuse, aged out of the foster care system and trying to escape gang life or even prostitution, and homeless young people of Oakland, face difficult challenges in obtaining much needed social services. 

All too often these young people do not fit into the framework of services for adults. In general, they do not interact with the standard housing assistance programs or government agencies primarily because the rules and eligibility requirements are not applicable to minors. 

In an effort to meet this need, the city of Oakland Department of Human Services, the Alameda County Department of Public Health, the Oakland Food Policy Council along with social service agencies within the city and county will come to together at Project Youth Connect on Friday, June 25, on the Youth UpRising campus, 8711 MacArthur Blvd. in East Oakland. 

Youth and young families between the ages of 16 and 24 will have access to free resources including housing, employment, legal assistance and benefits. Organizations like Catholic Charities, Covenant House and the East Oakland Community Project will address housing issues. East Oakland Youth Development Center along with the Youth Employment Partnership will conduct employment workshops. Representatives from  more than 37 agencies will be on hand to give a hand up to any young person that asks.

One of the largest counties in California, Alameda County is striving to reduce its homeless population by 37 percent. The data on the number of homeless youth represented in this percentage is vague at best due to youth accessibility to services. The Oakland Department of Human Services annually addresses the unique issues of homeless adults and seniors and in 2010, its focus is on youth and young families and meeting their unique needs. 

The event also will feature free BBQ, free groceries, free legal assistance, a Kid’s Zone, cooking demonstrations and nutrition information, live music and more. This is the place to get connected!

If You Go

Project Youth Connect
What: Youth and young families ages 16 to 24 are encouraged to attend this free resources event.
When: 1 to 5 p.m., Friday, June 25
Where: Youth UpRising, 8711 MacArthur Blvd. in Oakland

About Debi Mason
Debi Mason is the Promotions and Marketing Manager for Oakland Local. She is also a member of the Bay Area Black Journalist Association, the National Association of Black Storytellers, the National Storytelling Network, the National Association of Community Theatres and is the founder and artistic director of Spoken Word Ministries. Her published works include a book of poems and essays, Speaking Boldly, As I Ought To Speak, Vol. 1, two published plays, Granny’s Porch and Keys to The Kingdom and a personal testimony, Arizona Clay which won The 2011 Best Autobiographical Self-help Book Award from the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association.
Reginald James commented at Sat, 26 Jun at 2:56pm

This was a well attended event. There were a lot of resources for youth.