EDEN YOUTH & FAMILY CENTER

YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES:NOW IN ITS 23RD YEAR, THE CLUBHOUSE AT EYFC CONSISTENTLY PROVIDES A VARIETY OF MENTORED PROGRAMMING FOR HAYWARD AND ALAMEDA COUNTY YOUTH, IMBEDDING MENTORSHIP AS A CRITICAL ELEMENT OF ITS MISSION "TO SERVE AS A HUB FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO EXPLORE THEIR CREATIVITY AND EXPAND THEIR SKILL-SET THROUGH TECHNOLOGY WITH THE HELP OF THEIR PEERS AND MENTORS." TODAY, THE CLUBHOUSE NETWORK (TCN) UTILIZES "A MODEL FOR YOUTH PROGRAMMING THAT INTEGRATES SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, INTELLECTUAL, ETHICAL, AND CREATIVE STRANDS OF ACTIVITY, MAXIMIZING ENGAGEMENT, AGENCY, AND AUTHENTICITY FOR PARTICIPATING YOUTH." WITH SEL-INFUSED GAMES AND ACTIVITIES, EDEN CLUBHOUSE LEVERAGES NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND CREATES AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE, MOST OFTEN THOSE WHO HAVE ENCOUNTERED CHALLENGES IN THEIR LIVES, CAN TRY THEIR HAND AT BEING THEIR BEST SELVES. CLUBHOUSE YOUTH LEARN MINDFULNESS AND BREATHING TECHNIQUES (SELF-MANAGEMENT), HOW TO RECOGNIZE AND RESPOND TO BULLYING, AS WELL AS BEST PRACTICES FOR ENGAGING WITH PEERS (RELATIONSHIP SKILLS), ON SOCIAL MEDIA (SELF-AWARENESS) AND RESPONSIBLE DECISION-MAKING. THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO PROVIDE A CREATIVE AND SAFE OUT-OF-SCHOOL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHERE OVER 200 STUDENTS AND AT-RISK YOUTH EXPLORE THEIR OWN IDEAS, DEVELOP NEW SKILLS, AND BUILD CONFIDENCE IN THEMSELVES THROUGH THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY. EYFC'S SPECIFIC GOALS ARE CULTURALLY RELEVANT, LOCALLY-BASED, AND REFLECT THOSE OF THE INTERNATIONAL CLUBHOUSE NETWORK, INCLUDING: -ENSURING CLUBHOUSE YOUTH ARE COMFORTABLE WITH TECHNOLOGY AND PROFICIENT IN EXPRESSING THEMSELVES THROUGH DIGITAL TOOLS -CREATING POSITIVE ATTITUDES TOWARD LEARNING AND INCREASED INTEREST IN SCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES -ACHIEVING GENUINE AMBITION FOR TECHNOLOGY-RELATED CAREERS YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMSTHIS YEAR EDEN YOUTH EXPANDED ITS SOCIAL EMOTIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR STUDENTS ATTENDING HAYWARD UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. EDEN YOUTH IMPLEMENTED A FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE (FNL) CHAPTER TO AMPLIFY YOUTH VOICES AND ACTIONS AT THE SCHOOL SITE AS PART OF THE YOUTH ENRICHMENT PROGRAM (YEP) AT VARIOUS HUSD SCHOOL SITES. FNL PROVIDES YOUTH WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP SKILLS, PLAN PROJECTS, AND COORDINATE EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THEIR PEERS AND ADULT ADVISORS. SIMILARLY, EDEN YOUTH ALSO OFFERS YOUTH ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS AND TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROFESSIONAL LEARNING WHICH COMPLEMENT WHAT IS LEARNED IN THE TRADITIONAL SCHOOL SETTING. THE EDEN YOUTH EDEN COMPUTER CLUB HOUSE OFFERS A UNIQUE PROGRAM DESIGN THAT TEACHES A WHOLE NEW SKILL SET ENTIRELY. STUDENTS CAN EXPLORE AND CREATE THEIR OWN IDEAS WITH THE TECHNOLOGY AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES WE OFFER. STUDENTS WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN STEAM LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT INTEGRATE LEADERSHIP, SEL, ACADEMIC, AND BEHAVIORAL SUPPORTS.YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES 75 AT-RISK/AT-PROMISE YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH SOFT SKILLS, JOB READINESS AND RETENTION, WORK EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION SUPPORT INCLUDING JOB AND COLLEGE, DIGITAL LITERACY TRAINING, CAREER PREPARATION, AND LIFE-SKILLS SERVICES. YOUTH RECEIVE COMPREHENSIVE, SEAMLESS, WRAP-AROUND SERVICES DESIGNED TO 1) DEVELOP JOB READINESS, JOB SEARCH AND EMPLOYMENT RETENTION SKILLS; 2) OBTAIN CAREER INFORMATION ON SPECIALIZED FIELDS THAT MATCH THEIR INTERESTS AND APTITUDES; 3) EARN MONEY FOR WORK EXPERIENCE, EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS; 4) EXPERIENCE FINANCIALS INDEPENDENCE, AND LEARN AND PRACTICE MONEY MANAGEMENT; 5) ACHIEVE A SENSE OF SELF-WORTH AND SELF-ESTEEM.