What Now America

The What Now America program is tailored to the youth of West Oakland as a community resource. Through our involvement in the community, we hope to cultivate a trusted position that can provide a safe and supportive environment in which youth are able to feel secure. Our mission is to offer weekend and after-school programs that promote personal development, physical and behavior wellness, and academic success, while supporting youth empowerment, community involvement, and cultural pride. The organization will provide inner city youth services in the areas of “basic societal needs” on an ongoing basis, including resume building, assistance in obtaining driver’s licenses, job placement assistance, college and financial aid enrollment assistance, technical skills education, mentoring, tutoring, social skills development, job shadowing opportunities, and community involvement activities.

Beyond services focused on development of specific skills, the organization will also engage youth through recreational and community building activities that will provide an opportunity for personal and community-oriented growth and development. For instance, such activities may include working with youth in graffiti removal and planting trees. In providing services to the community we will involve local agencies (such as the Oakland Fire Department) to educate the program’s participants about the availability of public resources, public health and safety issues, and the importance of actively being involved within the community.