Mission Statement
The mission of the East Oakland Youth Development Center is based on solid research which demonstrates that interventions that engage youth from high risk environments in forming relationships with adults, mastering a skill and contributing to their own well-being and that of their community have been found to be highly effective in preventing at-risk behaviors such as dropping out of school, substance abuse, juvenile delinquency and teenage pregnancy. We strive to incorporate as well, the supports and opportunities of relationship building, youth and community involvement and skill building. The EOYDC strives to lessen the risk factors faced by our youth and enhance the protective factors.  The EOYDC fulfills this mission by offering educational, cultural, artistic expression and recreation programs that meet the holistic needs of the individual.

The three core programs that characterize the EOYDC’s purpose are Project J.O.Y., Art, and Physical Development. These departments are structured in such a way that encourages youth to become self-sufficient and responsible members of their community. Of primary concern at the EOYDC is teaching youth to embrace their unique cultures and to live and work responsibly and cooperatively with other communities.
 
The EOYDC recognizes that many of the youth and their families who participate in its programs often face barriers to participating fully in their community. The EOYDC further recognizes that individuals must be given an opportunity to learn marketable skills, attain a basic education and participate in motivating and inspiring activities. The EOYDC believes that self-empowerment comes through work experience and educational opportunities.
 

*GOALS*

  • Motivate and prepare youth and young adults for gainful employment in the job market.

  • Provide tutorial, remedial and support services to youth and their families to improve their education and skill performance.

  • Provide a variety of cultural, arts, recreational and nutrition all health activities to improve basic living skills and quality of life.

  • Maintain the center as a community resource facility in which EOYDC interacts to provide technical assistance and support.

  • Improve agency personnel practices and policies to be consistent with similar professional organizations.

  • Strengthen the financial stability of EOYDC.

  • Protect existing assets.

  • Provide adequate facilities and equipment for programmatic needs.

 

*VISION*

The East Oakland Youth Development Center’s vision has always been to become a national model for community-based youth development organizations.  This vision has been achieved by adhering to the following strategic goals:

  • Having a motivated and skilled staff

  • Creating relevant, quality programs

  • Producing a superior product (trained, qualified and viable youths to enrich the community.)

  • Becoming visible with good public relations and community image

  • Becoming recognized as a strong authority on youth issues

  • Becoming a community advocate for youth and their families

  • Being a beacon of hope for other beginning youth organizations and an inspiration for the community

  • Graduating hundreds of viable youth on a yearly basis
The EOYDC is committed to forging new relationships with community, business and government to enhance the opportunities available for the youth of Oakland today in order to train them to become Oakland’s leaders tomorrow.

 

*CULTURE and MANIFESTO*

Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning "to cultivate,") generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activity significance.

Manifesto-a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer.
 
WE declare that, to the best of our ability, we will extol and model for our youth and others the virtues of moral excellence in a way that is professional, success oriented and goal oriented. We fully expect our youth to learn and uphold the value of decency, good character, kindness, self-respect and temperance while showing much love for self and the community. We further declare that as we promote and foster these tenets, we hold ourselves accountable and responsible for the young leaders that are under our influence until they are ready to stand firmly and sufficiently to cultivate and nurture, as they have been nurtured, to live and lead with dignity, compassion and integrity.