Youth UpRising

What is Youth UpRising?
Youth UpRising is an integrated multi-agency, multi-service youth leadership development and community organizing center. This youth center opened in May of 2005 in East Oakland, adjacent to Castlemont High school at 8711 MacArthur Blvd. The vision for YU grew out of needs articulated by East Oakland youth in 1997, after racial tension at Castlemont erupted into violence. Young people pointed to inadequate educational resources, insufficient employment, personal and community safety issues, a lack of safe and positive peer and adult relationships, and a lack of "things to do" as root causes of the problems facing local youth. In response, Alameda County authorized conversion of a vacant county facility, valued at $1.8 million, into a youth development center.

Youth Uprising provides a safe and welcoming space where youth and young adults can build positive peer and adult relationships; expand resiliency and personal strengths; develop skills leading to educational and professional success; engage with their community and become agents of positive community change. Youth Uprising offers programming in the areas of Leadership Development & Community Organizing, Media & Performing Arts, Education & Career Development, Social Enterprise, and Health & Wellness. All programs are grounded in a youth development framework that promotes personal transformation, consciousness raising, and community leadership/hard skills building. The center serves youth and young adults aged 13-24, including in and out of school youth. While our core constituency is youth of color living in Oakland, YU serve's the full spectrum of Alameda County youth, including cultural, racial, sexual, ability, economic and gender diversity.