United Roots

Youth Programs-United Roots provided youth ages 13-24 with free educational programming & co-working office space at our 4,095 square foot facility located at 2781 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94612.Youth members of United Roots have been highly impacted by street, domestic, sexual, emotional and/ or economic violence. Since our opening in 2009, we have engaged over 5,000 youth, and have had an average youth membership of 200 youth per year. Over ninety percent are youth of color and extremely low-income.DetermiNation: In partnership with Urban Peace Movement, the program supports young Black men to advance their personal and professional goals. Weekly sessions at United Roots offer participants cultural healing practices, media production training, paid employment opportunities, and community organizing. For more information go to: determinationBMG.org.Youth Impact Hub: The mission of Youth Impact Hub Oakland, a program at United Roots, is to support the leadership of low-income youth of color in creating an equitable, life-affirming economy by providing socially innovative training, collaborative co-working space and access to networks and resources. The Youth HUB Fellowship is a comprehensive, yearlong social entrepreneurship-training program for emerging young leaders ages 16-24 that are creating positive change in low-income communities. Youth HUB Fellows gain:Business skills: develop a business model, strategy and 10-minute pitch presentationPersonal skills: increase 21st Century skills (collaboration & teamwork, critical thinking, problem solving, public speaking, leadership, etc.)Seed funding & resources: receive access to business advisors, pro bono support and financial opportunities to support launch of an enterpriseMentorship: work with professional mentors from Impact HUB Oakland and the local business communityCivic engagement experience: implement a product or service that benefits the communityThe Youth Hub Fellowship provided weekly business classes for 5 months with mentorship from adult business leaders. United Roots organized a Pitch Event for Youth Hub Fellows to present their ideas to the business community, with Fellows receiving seed funding. Youth in the Fellowship launched 10 youth-led social enterprise projects, and had access to office space, conference rooms, computer access, a printer, WIFI, a phone, media equipment and more. For more information go to: www.youthimpacthub.org.