East Oakland Youth Find Opportunity to Prevent Violence and Support Community

Youth UpRising grew out of the needs articulated by Oakland youth in 1997 after racial tension at Castlemont High School erupted into violence. This first group of young people identified poor educational resources, too few employment opportunities, the absence of positive things to do, and lack of community and personal safety as the root causes of the problems facing youth.

The Youth Uprising Center has engaged each of these young people in personal transformation and youth leadership. The objective is to offer young people ages 13 through 24 positive programs and services while they grow up in some of Oakland's toughest neighborhoods. By providing attractive opportunities, the center seeks to deter crime and violence and to create community change.

The center uses art and culture to teach stress reduction and violence prevention to young people. Music-video shoots and poetry events at the center are part of the outreach. Youth Uprising is here not just to entertain the young people and keep them healthy. It's about changing the entire community.