Youth UpRising
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| Youth UpRising | |
|---|---|
| Name | Youth UpRising |
| Formation | 1999 |
| Type | Nonprofit organization |
| Headquarters | Oakland, California |
| Region served | East Bay |
| Leader title | Executive Director |
| Leader name | Ruth Heredia |
Youth UpRising
Youth UpRising is a community-based nonprofit youth development organization founded in 1999 in Oakland, California, focusing on leadership development, arts, civic engagement, and employment for adolescents and young adults. The organization operates in the East Bay and has been associated with programs modeled on practices from groups such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, PeaceCorps, AmeriCorps, and networks influenced by advocates like Malcolm X, Angela Davis, and Cesar Chavez. Staff and alumni have connections to institutions including University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, Columbia University, and local agencies such as the Oakland Unified School District and Alameda County offices.
History
Founded in 1999 by community activists influenced by the legacy of Black Panther Party, Cesar Chavez, and organizers connected to the East Bay Asian Youth Center, Youth UpRising grew from grassroots efforts to provide alternatives to incarceration and school exclusion. Early funders and partners included the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Annie E. Casey Foundation, and local philanthropies like the Tides Foundation and William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. The organization expanded programming in the 2000s alongside civic initiatives such as Measure X (Oakland), collaborations with City of Oakland departments, and responses to crises following events like the Ghost Ship fire and policy shifts after the No Child Left Behind Act. Over time it engaged with national movements including Black Lives Matter, Fight for $15, and the Dreamers advocacy campaigns.
Mission and Programs
Youth UpRising’s mission emphasizes youth leadership, creative expression, and workforce readiness, aligning with models used by After-School All-Stars, 826 Valencia, and YouthBuild USA. Programs include arts education inspired by practices at the Depot and community music initiatives similar to School of Rock; civic engagement models resonant with Rock the Vote and Mijente; and job training comparable to Year Up and Job Corps. Signature offerings have included paid internships, digital media labs, hip-hop and mural arts connected to artists in the vein of Banksy and KRS-One, and restorative justice circles influenced by frameworks from Miriam K. Roughneen and practitioners who trained with organizations like Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth and Center for Court Innovation.
Organizational Structure and Leadership
The organization is governed by a volunteer board of directors with representation from community leaders, educators, and nonprofit executives drawn from institutions such as Mills College, Laney College, Oakland Technical High School, and local unions including Service Employees International Union. Executive leadership includes an Executive Director supported by program directors, development staff, and youth advisory councils modeled on governance practices seen at Youth Speaks and National Youth Rights Association. Leadership development has featured partnerships with fellowship programs like Echoing Green, The Aspen Institute, and training cohorts linked to Ford Foundation initiatives.
Funding and Financials
Funding streams have included private philanthropy from foundations like the Kaiser Permanente Community Fund, government grants from entities such as the California Arts Council and U.S. Department of Labor, corporate sponsorships from firms similar to Google.org and Wells Fargo, and individual donations coordinated through campaigns akin to Crowdrise and GoFundMe. The organization’s financial reporting follows nonprofit accounting standards used by organizations registered with the Internal Revenue Service and audited by regional firms that serve nonprofits across the San Francisco Bay Area.
Impact and Evaluation
Youth UpRising has reported outcomes in youth employment rates, high school graduation, and civic participation, evaluated using methods similar to those employed by MDRC, RAND Corporation, and the Urban Institute. Impact narratives highlight alumni trajectories into higher education at UC Berkeley, San Francisco State University, and trade schools like Peralta Community College District programs, as well as into careers with nonprofits such as La Raza, ACLU Northern California, and local arts groups. External assessments have drawn on metrics used by the Social Impact Exchange and performance frameworks from Collective Impact initiatives.
Partnerships and Community Engagement
The organization collaborates with local schools including Castlemont High School and McClymonds High School, cultural institutions like the Oakland Museum of California and Alameda County Arts Commission, and public agencies such as the Oakland Police Department in community forums. Civic partnerships extend to coalitions with Roots of Change, East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy, and national networks like Grantmakers for Youth Organizing. Community engagement strategies include public art projects, street festivals coordinated with groups like Art + Practice, and voter registration drives akin to efforts by League of Women Voters and Mi Familia Vota.
Controversies and Criticism
Critiques of Youth UpRising have mirrored debates faced by community nonprofits, including questions about funding transparency raised in local reporting outlets and concerns about program scalability noted by policy analysts at institutions such as The Brookings Institution and The Heritage Foundation. Some community members have criticized partnerships with corporate sponsors similar to Chevron and Bank of America as conflicting with grassroots values, paralleling controversies seen at other nonprofits like Museum of Modern Art and Lincoln Center when corporate ties drew public scrutiny. Internal debates over program priorities have resembled governance challenges documented in case studies from Stanford Social Innovation Review and nonprofit sector analyses at Nonprofit Quarterly.