Fashionista Fun: Dec. 8 fashion/art show promotes expressing own style in Oakland
Article by Meg Bertoni.
Last updated at Tue, 7 Dec at 2:23pm.

Haven't got a thing to wear this holiday season? Street Style and Dream Seams Fashion Academy has just the thing.

This Wednesday, Dec. 8, a teen-created fashion art showcase will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Main Library's TeenZone, 125 14th St. in Oakland.

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March 12: Buckle up or else
Blog entry by Emilie Raguso.
Last updated at Tue, 16 Mar at 8:43am.

Oakland police will be out March 12 scouring the area for unbelted drivers and passengers, especially teenagers, to remind city residents to "Click it or Ticket."

Teen belt usage lags behind adults, and youth are involved in a disproportionate number of crashes, according to police.

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Oakland girl missing, help find Afua
Article by Reginald James.
Last updated at Sun, 7 Feb at 8:07am.

Update: February 7, 2010:  Afua is home and safe.

Fifteen year old Oakland girl Afua Ayana Vinson has been missing for over 24 hours. She was last on getting on the AC Transit Line 15 bus at 58th and Martin Luther King heading towards downtown Oakland Wed. Feb 3 at 9:30 p.m., according to her family.

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Young Women Need to Protect Themselves (Richmond Rape Youth Views)
Article by Youth Outlook.
Last updated at Sun, 1 Nov at 10:22pm.

Valerie Klinker, 19, a participant in the YO! Youth Outlook media project, shares her views on the recent gang rape of a 15-year-old in Richmond, CA:

 

I was so hurt and heartbroken to hear a beautiful 15-year-old teenage year old girl, who could have been your sister, cousin, daughter, or even a best friend, was raped. Not only was she raped, but she was gang raped, beat up, and robbed at her Homecoming dance.

This brought tears to my eyes. Just thinking of her age and what they could have done to her makes my blood boil. At 15, she is just a baby. It disgusts me that people took pictures of this girl getting raped...

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What a Girl Does Before a Homecoming Dance

Article by Nijla Mumin.
Last updated at Sat, 31 Oct at 1:44pm.

By Nijla Mumin

pick out a dress maybe she likes sparkles purple satin and straps

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The Friend Who Couldn't Talk (Richmond Rape Youth Views)
Article by Youth Outlook.
Last updated at Fri, 30 Oct at 8:38pm.

Angelina Thao, 17, a participant in the YO! Youth Outlook media project, shares her views on the recent gang rape of a 15-year-old in Richmond, CA:


If I witnessed a rape, I wouldn't let it happen. It's so sad to know these scary things are happening. I have always hated rape. When I was little, I saw a movie with rape as part of the storyline. Ever since that movie, I became scared of rape, but it never really clicked in that there is such a thing as rape!

I used to know a family friend who couldn't talk. I felt sorry for her cause when would talk to me, I couldn't really understand what she was saying. My mom told me the story behind her disability...

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What Makes A Real Man? (Richmond Rape Youth Views)
Article by Youth Outlook.
Last updated at Fri, 30 Oct at 8:37pm.

Oscar Servillion, 17, a participant in the YO! Youth Outlook media project, shares his views on the recent gang rape of a 15-year-old in Richmond, CA:

 

What were these "men" who raped the 15-year-old girl from Richmond doing? They were being "men", the way they are taught by the artists they listen to, trying to copy their role models, rappers.

In our society's ideology, we are told that to be a "man" we have to be, strong, fearless, in control, and my favorite (sarcasm), "men do not cry". Meaning that if you do not follow these rules, you're not a "Man", you're a woman, or anything else -- gay, for one.

This is how females are seen as less of a person than males, and why people of different sexual orientation are mistreated and judged. Society is scared of losing control over people. If they lose control, they're screwed because next thing you know, people start thinking for themselves and questioning everything...

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Rape Is About Gangs (Richmond Rape Youth Views)
Article by Youth Outlook.
Last updated at Fri, 30 Oct at 8:37pm.

Marina Saenz, 18, a participant in the YO! Youth Outlook media project, shares her views on the recent gang rape of a 15-year-old in Richmond, CA:

 

If I had witnessed the rape in Richmond, I wouldn't have said anything to the police or to the school because people get killed when you snitch on a gang.

The rape was messed up, but on some level, the young girl initiated it...

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