On Friday, January 29th from 2:00pm to 5:00pm, Youth UpRising held a community resource fair in partnership with over twenty-five community organizations and government agencies.
Our theme, Educate, Empower and Elevate, reflects our goal to raise awareness of opportunities and resources for individuals and families in order to support their transformation through education, employment and capacity building. There are an abundance of committed individuals working toward social justice, providing social services and helping to foster healthy communities; we are committed to providing the space for our collective efforts to have the greatest reach possible. Community transformation results from personal transformation and committed bodies working together.
Along with multi-colored signs and yellow and purple balloons, our team set up booths in YU's "living room," dance studio and screening room. One of our members, Jonathan, volunteered to wave down cars and encourage people on the sidewalk to come in. We organized stations according to type of service or area of focus and then stepped back to let each organization’s representatives engage the community.
Over seventy-five community members including young people and children came out to connect with the different resources and sources of support that are available to them. Upon entering and signing up, each person was given a raffle ticket. Three lucky winners received either a Clipper card with $30 credit, a $15 Starbucks gift card or a $25 card for gas.
Community Bank of the Bay featured an app called “Thrive 'N' Shine” –a free financial education game that families could try out and then download on the spot if they liked it. A father and son were sitting together and playing, which prompted the son to ask, "What is a bill?" His question sparked a whole conversation about money and responsibility. We are excited that the event helped create moments like these and happy to hear community members found representatives and staff to be friendly and hospitable. On their way out, one family commented, “That was terrific, really helpful, you should keep doing more.” We plan on it!
Thank you to all of our partners who helped make this event possible: Alameda County Club Moms, Alameda County Food Bank Alameda County Healthy Start Initiative (ACHSI), Alameda County Public Health Emergency, AmeriCorps, Bananas Inc., Bank of the Bay, Bay Area Legal Aid, Best Babies Zone, Black Infant Health, Daughters without Dads, East Bay Community Law Center, Causa Justa/Just Cause, La Familia Counseling, Mind Blown Labs, Oakland Public Library, Office of Dental Health, Oracle, Parent Voices Oakland, Prop 47, Room to Bloom, Family Resource Center, Roots, Safeway, Spectrum Community Services, Tru Connect, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland Medical Clinic, YMCA Headstart and YU Balance.
We hope our efforts facilitated greater connection between resource providers, educators, community organizers and community members. YouthUprising is dedicated to community transformation powered through youth leadership.