Youth Together

Address

1611 Telegraph Avenue, Suite 203

Oakland, Ca 94612

Telephone: 510-645-9207 Fax: 510-663-2578

Website: www.youthtogether.net

Email: kaceves@youthtogether.net

Contacts

CEO: Kimberly Aceves

Other contacts: Raquel Jimenez, Director of Programs- rjimenez@youthtogether.net, 645-9213 Prishni Murillo, Lead Organizer/8th Grade Lead pmurillo@youthtogether.net

Year Incorporated: 1996

Category:

Service Provider

Mission Statement:

Grounded in our commitment to unity, peace, and justice, Youth Together addresses the root causes of educational inequities by developing multiracial youth organizers and engaging school community allies to promote postive school change

History/Goals/Objectives:

Mission: Grounded in our commitment to peace, unity and justice, the mission of Youth Together is to address the root causes of educational inequities by developing multiracial youth organizers and engaging school community allies to promote positive school change. History: In 1996, YT emerged as an organization following a weeklong emergency closure of Castlemont High School due to violent race riots. Outraged and frustrated by conditions in their school leading up to these riots, students and community members came together to strategize how young people could lead the effort to identify solutions to the roots causes of both the physical violence (e.g. fights between students, increased gang presence) and institutional violence (e.g. locked bathrooms during the day, punitive tardy policies) present on their school campus. Students also recognized that in order to organize for real social change there would need to be deliberate efforts to ensure students had the developmental opportunities to become leaders within a multiracial context and the means to transform the conditions that they felt were creating obstacles to their success, health and well-being. YT's work had to move beyond traditional youth development models and move towards supporting young people as decision-makers, peer educators, community researchers, evaluators, advocates and organizers for change. Overall Strategies: Since YT's inception, the strategies have been driven by a strong youth and adult led partnership and collective vision for social change and transformation that is grounded in a commitment to multiracial unity and understanding. YT's approach to the work relies on four distinct points of impact to support the needs and leadership development of young people. These four points of impact include (1) Individual Student Development and Opportunities for Success; (2) Multiracial Group Development and Leadership Development; (3) Peer Education and Engagement; (4) Meaningful Change within the School and within the Community. Through YT's programs students develop a clear and articulated understanding of their place as change agents in the world. YT organizers make the connection between school, regional, statewide and national issues impacting education and commit to the life-long struggle necessary to be active citizens creating a more democratic and equitable society.

Target Populations:

Middle

High

Male

Female

LGBTQ

Multiracial

Staff Capacity: 3/4 time equivalent

One professional staff, one staff point and one full time AmeriCorps position

Language Capacity (other than English): Spanish

Organizational Operating Budget: $500,000 - $1 Million

Geographic Areas Served (current):

District 5 (East Oakland - Fruitvale)

District 6 (East Oakland - Millsmont, Hillcrest, Leona Quarry)

District 7 (East Oakland - Coliseum)

Geographic Areas for Expanded Service:

District 3 (West Oakland/Downtown - West Oakland, Jack London)

District 4 (East Oakland - Dimond, Laurel, Montclair, Joaquin Miller)