Cal NAACP Is Clearing Criminal Records for Free

A Voice for Victims: Cal NAACP Is Helping to Clear Criminal Records for Free

By Bo Tefu

It costs thousands of dollars in California to clear a criminal record of a felony or misdemeanor, but now people can get their record expunged for free with the help of the California State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

The NAACP’s expungement workshops aim to help Black people remove nonviolent charges, “which have affected their ability to obtain employment,” said Rick Callender, president of the NAACP California-Hawaii State Conference.

“Our expungement program is the best kind of advocacy program that we can put out into the community. We know that African Americans and other people of color are charged the most and end up serving the most time,” said Callender.

The criminal justice system has disproportionately affected Black people in the United States as a result of the War on Drugs, a federal government-led effort that claimed to end the trade and distribution of drugs in the 1970s. However, the national campaign created a vicious cycle of mass incarceration in Black communities that affected generations of Americans, particularly low-income families.

The NAACP says the majority of participants taking advantage of the expungement program were convicted on “wobbler charges –indictments determined by a prosecutor’s recommendation for whether an individual should face felony or misdemeanor penalties based on their criminal history.

“These wobbler charges and the criminal justice system have impeded upon African Americans and their ability to get jobs and housing,” said Callender.

“It’s important for the organization to facilitate this program in order to tackle institutional racism in the criminal justice system,” he said.

“These kinds of programs even the playing field for African Americans,” he said.

The NAACP expungement program was implemented to reconcile the crippling impact of mass incarceration on the Black community in California. The program which started in September 2019 has helped thousands of formerly incarcerated people get their records clean. Program coordinators work with local governments to waive fees for the expungement process.

Clearing of criminal records can take anywhere from 30 days to six months depending on the number of charges that need to be removed. The NAACP California State Conference partnered with seven local counties including Alameda County and the Clean Slate Program to start the expungement process at zero cost for people enrolled in the program.

“If you've received a misdemeanor, felony, or some kind of wobbler charge, it keeps you from being able to be able to move forward,” said Callender.

“This is truly the great equalizer of advocacy for economic justice,” he said.

Program coordinators in the NAACP work with public defenders and attorneys to host monthly workshops for low-income people who were convicted of a misdemeanor or felony for nonviolent 11

East Bay Family Defenders

Family Preservation https://eastbayfamilydefenders.org/ (510) 671-0063 101 Callan Avenue Suite 210 San Leandro, CA 94577

Hively Child Care

https://behively.org/ (510) 483-6715 2208 San Leandro Boulevard San Leandro, CA 94577

Davis Street Family Resource Center Therapy, parenting classes, meical and dental serivces http://davisstreet.org/ (510) 347-4620 3081 Teagarden Street San Leandro, CA 94577

Options Recovery Outpatient Services

Outpatient substance abuse treatment program http://optionsrecoveryservices.org/ (510) 925-4005 1300 East 14th St. San Leandro, CA 94577

Everyone Home

Housing assistance https://everyonehome.org/ (510) 473 8643 1271 Washington Ave., 619 San Leandro, CA 94577

Associated Counseling

Counseling services https://vaughnbaker.com/ (510) 357-0550 525 Estudillo Ave F San Leandro, CA 94577

Davis Street Primary Care Clinic Health services http://davisstreet.org/ (510) 347-4620 3081 Teagarden Street San Leandro, CA 94577

Stepping Stones Growth Center

Youth disability support serivces https://childcarecenter.us/provider_ detail/stepping_stones_growth_center_san_leandro_ca (510) 568-3331 311 MacArthur Blvd San Leandro, CA 94577

Boys & Girls Club of San Leandro

Children's educational, vocational and recreational programs https://bgcsl.org/ (510) 483-5581 401 Marina Blvd. San Leandro, CA 94577

Building Hope/Construyendo Esperanza

(Behavioral Health Care Services) Mental health services for children http://www.acbhcs.org/intern-behavioral-health-care-services-building-hope-construyendo-esperanza-early-childhood-program/ (510) 481-4203 500 Davis St., Ste 120 San Leandro CA 94577

Regional Center of the East Bay

Early intervention services https://www.rceb.org/ (510) 618-6100 500 Davis Street, Suite 100 San Leandro, CA 94577

Multi-Lingual Counseling Inc.

Cultural and language specific mental health services http://multilingualcounseling.com/ (510) 352-1760 303 W. Joaquin Ave. Ste. 100 San Leandro, CA94577

Gender Spectrum

Trainings on gender and children https://www.genderspectrum.org/ (510) 788-4412 1271 Washington Avenue 834 San Leandro, CA 94577

Alameda County Public Health FHS Fatherhood InitiativeResponsible

Fatherhood, skill building, parenting classes https://acphd.org/fatherhood-initiative/ (510) 667-4343 1100 San Leandro Boulevard, Suite 120

Family Resource Navigators

Peer parent assistance and support for children with special needs https://familyresourcenavigators.org/ (510) 547-7322 291 Estudillo Avenue San Leandro, CA 94577

Family Service Counseling Center and Community Resource Center

Mental health clinic serves children, teens, adults https://alamedakids.org/resource-directory/view-program.php?id=339 (510) 483-6715 2208 San Leandro Blvd. San Leandro , CA 94577

Interfaith Homelessness Network -

April Showers

Free showers, lunch, toiletries and laundry vouchers for the community https://www.ihnaprilshowers.org/ info@ihnaprilshowers.org 951 MacArthur Blvd. San Leandro, CA 94577

SOS/Meals on Wheels

Home-delivered hot meals for homebound seniors. https://www.sosmow.org/ (510) 582-1263 2235 Polvorosa Avenue 260 San Leandro, CA 94577

Deaf Counseling, Advocacy, and Referral Agency

Hearing-impaired counseling, housing services https://dcara.org/ (877) 322-7288 1550 San Leandro Blvd San Leandro, CA 94578

(510) 483-0720 14895 E. 14th Street, Suite 200 San Leandro, CA 94578

Cherry Hill Detox Program

Inpatient drug and alcohol abuse detox. https://www.horizonservices.org/ cherry-hill-detoxification (866) 866-7496 13

NAACP Continued from page 11

crimes. According to the organization’s leaders, criminal lawyers can charge up to $5,000 for legal fees in addition to the cost of processing the paperwork.

According to the NAACP California State Conference 2020 resolutions, law enforcement convicts Black people based on ‘wobbler charges’ for nonviolent crimes.

“A person who has been arrested and was not convicted now has the burden to petition the court for the expungement. Cost associate to remove the arrest record and expunge it is expensive and excessive for people of color,” the resolution states.

The expungement program coordinators follow up with attendees to track the legal progress of their cases. The law experts working with the organizations evaluate each case and work with each attendee on an individual basis.

“People are just so grateful to get answers in real-time, not waiting on a call center line pressing one or two and hoping that you can get someone,” said Betty Williams the executive director of the NAACP California State Conference.

During one of the workshop sessions, “a young lady cried, thanked us, and gave us praises for the program. Almost all of us started crying, she was sharing how she's been trying to get this done for the last six years and had no idea that the NAACP was doing something like this,” said Williams.

“We’re giving a voice to those individuals that have been so easily victimized by the criminal justice system,” she said.

Social justice advocates at the NAACP emphasized that Black and Brown people need more initiatives that help heal the harm inflicted by the War on Drugs in their respective communities.

“We have the population that was affected most with the war on drugs,” said Williams.

“Now we have the opportunity to help those individuals clean up their backgrounds and go look for a job without fear,” she said.

The NAACP California State Conference is committed to expanding the expungement program through outreach in its 56 branches across the state. Leaders from other NAACP branches have expressed interest in modeling similar programs to help Black and Brown communities in their respective states.

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2035 Fairmont Drive San Leandro, CA 94578

San Leandro Senior Community

Center Programs for seniors https://www.sanleandro.org/ depts/rec/seniors/ (510)577-3462 13909 East 14th Street San Leandro, CA 94578

Tiburcio Vasquez Health

CenterMulticultural and multilingual health center https://www.tvhc.org/ (510) 398-7500 16110 E 14th St San Leandro, CA 94578

Girls Incorporated of Alameda County - Pathways Counseling

Center mental health services for children, adolescents, adults https://girlsinc-alameda.org/ (510) 357-5515 433 Estudillo Ave., Suite 105. San Leandro, CA 94578

REACH Ashland Youth Center

Youth development and support services https://reachashland.org/ 510-481-4500 16335 E. 14th Street San Leandro, CA 94578

East Bay Agency for Children Family

Resource center https://www.ebac.org/services/ family-san-leandro.asp (510) 844-6752 2251 Bancroft Ave San Leandro , CA 94579

Cherry Hill Detox Program

inpatient drug and alcohol abuse detox. https://www.horizonservices.org/ cherry-hill-detoxification (866) 866-7496 2035 Fairmont Drive San Leandro, CA 94578

San Leandro Senior Community

Center Programs for seniors https://www.sanleandro.org/depts/ rec/seniors/ (510)577-3462 13909 East 14th Street San Leandro, CA 94578

Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center

Multicultural and multilingual health center https://www.tvhc.org/ (510) 398-7500 16110 E 14th St San Leandro, CA 94578

Girls Incorporated of Alameda County - Pathways Counseling

Center mental health services for children, adolescents, adults https://girlsinc-alameda.org/ (510) 357-5515 433 Estudillo Ave., Suite 105. San Leandro, CA 94578

REACH Ashland Youth Center

Youth development and support services https://reachashland.org/ 510-481-4500 16335 E. 14th Street San Leandro, CA 94578

East Bay Agency for Children Family

Resource center https://www.ebac.org/services/family-san-leandro.asp (510) 844-6752 2251 Bancroft Ave San Leandro , CA 94579

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Tri-City Health Center

Healthcare community clinic https://tri-cityhealth.org/ (510) 770-8040 40910 Fremont Blvd., Fremont, CA 94538 Freemont, CA 94538

Fremont Family Resource Center

Family Economic Success https://www.fremont.gov/228/Family-Resource-Center (510) 284-4000 3300 Capitol Ave. Freemont, CA 94538

State Department of Rehabilitation

Disability and Vocational Services https://www.dor.ca.gov/Home/FindAnOffice (510) 794-2458 39155 Liberty St., Ste. F630 Freemont, CA 94538

CityServe’s Compassion Network

Faith-based Volunteer network https://www.compassionnetwork.org/ (510) 796-7378 39155 Liberty St. H840 Freemont, CA 94538

Community Child Care Council

Affordable Child Care https://www.4c-alameda.org/ (510) 713-2557 39155 Liberty St., Ste. D410 Freemont, CA 94538

Community Resources for Independent Living

Disability Community Support https://www.crilhayward.org/ (510) 794-5735 39155 Liberty St., Ste A100 Freemont, CA 94538

Deaf Counseling, Advocacy, and Referral Agency

Deaf Community employment, advocacy, and social services https://dcara.org/ (510) 790-1433 (video) 39155 Liberty St., Ste. D420 Freemont, CA 94538 (800) 841-9236 (510) 343-6670

Family Education & Resource Center

Family Support https://ferc.org/ (510) 790-1010 39115 Liberty St., D400 and F600 Freemont, CA 94537

510-746-1722 Fremont Fair Housing and Landlord / Tenant Services Housing Discrimination and Counseling https://fremont.gov/BusinessDirectoryII.aspx?BID=61 (510) 574-2270 39155 Liberty St., Ste. D440 Freemont, CA 94538

Hively Child Care

https://behively.org/ (925)417-873339115 Liberty St., D450 Freemont, CA 94537

La Familia Counseling Services

Employment Services for refugees https://www.lafamiliacounseling.org/ education_employment_service#vocational 510-329-3739 39115 Liberty St., F600 Freemont, CA 94537

Lincoln Families Kinship Support Program

Family Support Services http://lincolnfamilies.org/programs-services/family/kinship (510)583-8026 39155 Liberty St, Suite D450 Freemont, CA 94538

Abode Services

Homeless Community Suppoort https://www.abodeservices.org/ (510) 657-7409 40849 Fremont Blvd. Freemont, CA 94538

Tri-City Health Center

Healthcare for the homeless https://tri-cityhealth.org/ 510.770.8040 "40910 Fremont Blvd. Fremont, CA 94538

Tri-City Children and Youth Service

Children and Youth Services https://www.fremont.gov/BusinessDirectoryii.aspx?ysnShowAll=0&lngNewPage=0&txtLetter=&txtZipCode=&txtCity=&txtState=&txtBusinessName=Tri-City+&lngBusinessCategoryID=0&txtCustomField1=&txtCustomField2=&txtCustomField3=&txtCustomField4=&txtAreaCode= (510) 795-2434 39155 Liberty St., Ste. G710 Freemont, CA 94538

Tri-City Community Support

Center Adult mental Health Services https://www.fremont.gov/BusinessDirectoryii.aspx?ysnShowAll=0&lngNewPage=0&txtLetter=&txtZipCode=&txtCity=&txtState=&txtBusinessName=Tri-City+&lngBusinessCategoryID=0&txtCustomField1=&txtCustomField2=&txtCustomField3=&txtCustomField4=&txtAreaCode Same as above Same as above

Tri-City Free Breakfast Program

Food Program https://www.fremont.gov/BusinessDirectoryii.aspx?ysnShowAll=0&lngNewPage=0&txtLetter=&txtZipCode=&txtCity=&txtState=&txtBusinessName=Tri-City+&lngBusinessCategoryID=0&txtCustomField1=&txtCustomField2=&txtCustomField3=&txtCustomField4=&txtAreaCode= N/A 4181 Irvington Ave. Fremont, CA 94537

Tri-City Teen Clinic

Teen primary care https://tri-cityhealth.org/ (510) 770-8131 1999 Mowry Ave, Fremont Fremont, CA 94538

Tri-City Volunteers

Emergency Social Services http://www.tri-cityvolunteers.org/ (510) 793-4583 37350 Joseph St. Fremont, CA 94536

Women, Infants, & Children's Nutrition Program

Nutrition and Education Services https://acphd.org/wic/( 510) 795-2457 3 9155 Liberty St., Ste. D430 Fremont, CA 94538

Immigration Institute of the Bay Area

Immigrant community support https://iibayarea.org/about/ (510) 894-3639 39055 Hastings Street, Suite 202 Fremont, CA 94538

Safe Alternatives to Violent Environments

Domestic violence support, advocacy https://save-dv.org/ (510) 574-2250 1900 Mowry Ave., Suite 201 Fremont, CA 94538

Sunrise Village Shelter

Emergency housing services https://alameda.networkofcare.org/ mh/services/agency.aspx?pid=SunriseVillageShelter_344_2_0 (510) 252-0910 588 Brown Rd Fremont, CA 94539

Abode Services

Homesless housing services https://www.abodeservices.org/ (510) 657-7409 40849 Fremont Boulevard Fremont, CA 94538

Alzheimer's Services of the East Bay

Adult day health care services http://aseb.org/ (510) 888-1411 43326 Mission Circle Fremont, CA 94539

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NAACP Empowerment Programs,Inc

Expungement Clinics Rashid Sidqe Rashid.Sidqe@ca-naacp.org 916-306-0778 Serves: San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, San Joaquin

Community Works West

Restorative Justice jtoro@communityworkswest.org 510-486-2340 Alameda 110 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94607 http://communityworkswest.org/ 510-486-2340 110 Broadway Oakland, CA 94607

Rising Sun Center for Opportunity

Employment and environmental sustainability https://risingsunopp.org/ (510) 655-1502 1116 36th Street Oakland, CA 94608

SAFE PASSAGES

Family Support https://safepassages.org/about/ (510) 238-4914 250 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Suite 6306 Oakland, CA 94612

La Clinica de La Raza, Inc.

Health Clinic https://laclinica.org/ (510)535-2979 PO Box 22210 Oakland, CA 94623

URBAN STRATEGIES COUNCIL

Social Justice https://urbanstrategies.org/ 5108932404 1720 BROADWAY 2ND FLOOR OAKLAND, CA 94612

California Prostitutes Education Project (CAL-PEP)

Primary Health https://www.calpep.org/ (510) 874-7850 2811 Adeline Street Oakland, CA 94608

Impact JusticeJustice Reform

https://impactjustice.org/ (415) 944-7988 2633 Telegraph Avenue Suite 104 Oakland, CA 94612

Behavioral Health Care Services

Vocational Program http://www.acbhcs.org/vocationalprogram/ (510) 777-4240 7200 Bancroft Ave, Suite 125B Oakland, CA 94605

Hively Child Care

https://behively.org/ (510) 483-6715 111 Myrtle Street, Suite 102 Oakland, CA 94607

Options Recovery Outpatient Services

outpatient substance abuse treatment program http://optionsrecoveryservices.org/ (510) 666-9501 1630 10th Street. Oakland, CA 94607

Alameda County Homeless Action Center

Legal services to homeless, lowincome and mentally ill people http://homelessactioncenter.org/ (510) 695-2260 2601 San Pablo Avenue Oakland, CA 94612

Turning Point - Fred Finch Youth Center

residential and outpatient services to young adults https://www.fredfinch.org/ (510) 482-2244, ext. 5200 3800 Coolidge Avenue Oakland, CA 94602-3311

Covenant House California (CHC)

Youth homeless shelter https://covenanthousecalifornia.org/ 510) 379-1010 200 Harrison Street Oakland, California 94607

Oakland’s reputation in American political history is synonymous with raised-fist, steelspined Black Power activism. At the geographic heart of Oakland, on International

Boulevard, is an organization called the Youth Employment Partnership (YEP). Its mission lines up with that strain of power-to-the-people advocacy the largest city on the East side of the San Francisco Bay is known for. The leaders at YEP say their organization aims to embody the spirit of the city whose youth they serve.

YEP’s headquarters is a warehouse purchased in 2001 with cash that was an allotment from a lawsuit settlement. The suit accused California of spending more on incarcerating youth than the prevention of delinquency.

Today, YEP serves the community as an incubator for job training and education for youth who have are overcoming obstacles in their lives.

“Everything here is built by our young people,” said Michele Clark, Executive Director of YEP.

Clark says she rejects, “that whole concept of having kids and young adults of color being treated like they are not assets to our community.”

“We really feature them as asset builders,” she continued. “Those kinds of things build confidence”

Under YEP’s guidance, the youth working in the warehouse designed and renovated a section of the space every two years for 10 years. Now, their headquarters hosts classes equipping the young people with skills like forklift operation and the culinary arts. It also has a school where high schoolers can earn their diploma and a section in the back with a small community of tiny houses.

“It’s always just a quest of what training can we offer our community that knock out lifelong barriers. High school and other emotional trauma issues, probation, parole, all of those things we get young people to build on and not be depressed by,” said Clark.

YEP was founded in 1973 by a group of teachers from St. Elizabeth High School, along with Dennis Chaconas, who later became Superintendent of Oakland Unified School District. Their goal was to address learning-loss and provide children with engaging and character-building activities over the summer.

The early success the founders had with programs that helped youth succeed at school and jobs led to the organization’s expansion. In 1989, they unaffiliated with St. Elizabeth to continue growing and to extend their work beyond providing summer jobs and offering summer education. In 1991, they officially became The Youth Employment Partnership, Inc.

YEP serves 500 youth and young adults each year. To date, the organization says their alum have earned over $900,000 in wages and incentives; 34,000 trainees have received workforce training and development services; and 80% of trainees benefit from employment or advance education placement.

While the pandemic put a temporary hold on their progress, the organization found ways to adapt, innovate and continue inspiring the young creative minds they serve. Sixty days after the initial shutdown, YEP was able to bring 60% of participants back on site with proper distancing and ventilation in the warehouse. Students prepared meals for the homeless, continued classes and constructed 10 tiny houses in the back of the facility to help house youth who needed a place to stay. As warehouse training became a highly demanded skill during the pandemic, YEP was able to provide more youth with certifications that led to jobs.

“Seeing the tiny homes we’ve built all together and ready for somebody to live in them was my most memorable moment at

YEP,” said Christian Gonzales, 17. “It made me feel excited because we put a lot of work and learning into it. The final product felt great to see. I’ve also been hired by the contractor that YEP has hired. It

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From left to right: Leo Theus, Senior Case Manager; Talia Summers, Program Coordinator & Employment Specialist; Dean Wyrzykowski, Administrative Assistant – Development; Ronnie Rose, Director of Development & Evaluation; Marshaun Farris, Warehouse Instructor & Life Coach Greg Baquiax, Young Adult Tutor. (Photo by Auintard Henderson)

Through YEP, 34,000 trainees have received workforce training and development services. (Photo by Auintard Henderson)

Eighty percent of YEP trainees benefit from employment or advanced education placement. (Photo by Auintard Henderson) 18

has helped me develop new skills and prepare me for jobs in the future.”

Along with the work training aspect of YEP, education stands as a core pillar to their philosophy of youth development. Tiara Shaw, 18, was recommended to the program by a friend and was inspired by the possibilities that YEP had to offer her.

“With everything that’s been going on with the pandemic and balancing school I started falling off in my senior year,” said Shaw. “I ended up not graduating with everyone else. I wanted to get my GED at least. But then I found out about YEP and that I could get my diploma. It became way more than I thought than just a diploma.”

Joshua Norman, 19, lived down the street from YEP headquarters and was always aware of the work they did. Norman decided to take advantage of YEP’s services when his sister encouraged him to take a leap of faith and try to overcome the challenges in his life with their help.

“The staff are really personable, and I get a lot of help from them. They always have good feedback and actually care about your progress. It’s the people here who make it fun. When I was going through stuff at home and I needed somebody to talk to, I could talk to the staff and have someone understand -- besides just being at work,” he said. “If you come here, just know that there are people here to help you and don’t take the chance for granted. Use the opportunity wisely and stay focused on your craft.”

Shaw agrees that youth engaging with YEP and the services they provide have an array of options and resources at their disposal. However, she also believes that the responsibility still lies with them to take advantage of everything.

“YEP is a stepping stone to get where you want to go in life. It’s not there to take you all the way, but it’s there to take you to somewhere, and you make the decisions to go further and do what you want to do,” she says. “There’s not a lot of places that will do this for the youth.”

To learn more about YEP and how to get involved, visit www.yep.org

RECOVERY

IN ALAMEDA COUNTY:

By Rev. Gerald L. Agee

Our Church Is Offering Free Tests

States and cities have lifted mask mandates and other COVID-related restrictions. But even as we readjust to life as it was before the pandemic, we know that COVID is not fully gone for good.

Variants still pose a threat. And case numbers are still on a gradual decline here in California and around the country. Therefore, we can’t throw all caution to the wind when it comes to keeping our loved ones safe and healthy. The death rate resulting from COVID-19 is still higher for Black Californians than the statewide average, according to numbers from the California Department of Public Health.

At the height of the coronavirus crisis, Black pastors across California recognized the urgency of the COVID-19 threat. As we move from pandemic to endemic, we still do. We continue to accept the responsibility of this fight, and we understand as faithleaders in our communities that we must combine faith with action. Prayers for healing and health must be backed up by a plan for protection and prevention that keep our communities safe and the virus at bay.

;That is why dozens of faith leaders across our state have worked together to keep the doors of our churches open for convenient COVID-19 testing. Some sites offer vaccinations. This effort to keep our congregations and our neighborhoods safe has been made possible with the support of our testing partner Color and the California Department of Public Health.

The pastors in our network, their congregations, staff, and volunteers at our churches and in our community have done an excellent job. Their effort has contributed in no small way to the high COVID-19 vaccination rate and low positivity rate we now have in California. We are truly proud and grateful.

As we walk into this new phase of our COVID-19 response, we must prioritize safety, especially for those among us who are aging or otherwise fragile. As our slogan tells us, “Don’t guess, get the test” before fully chucking your mask, or going back to work or traveling to see loved ones.

Look up one of our centers in your community to get vaccinated and tested. It is the surest way that we can stem the spread of this virus.

We must decide to renew our hope and lead with faith even stronger than we have been doing. With that resolve, committing ourselves to keeping each other and our communities safe will be easy.

Remember, we can end this endemic once and for all -- together.

About the Author The Rev. Gerald L. Agee is the founder and pastor of Christian Friendship Church in Oakland and the statewide manager for the Black church testing program.

https://www.aacec-cal.org/

A “Fresh” Approach: F.L.Y. Reimagines Opportunity for Young People

By Edward Henderson

The ACLU defines the school to prison pipeline as a “national trend wherein children are funneled out of public schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems.”

Many of the children that fall into this pipeline have learning disabilities, are victims of neglect, abuse, and would benefit from additional services.

However, too many of them have also been subjected to systematic zero-tolerance policies that criminalize minor infractions and serve as catapults, feeding more children into the pipeline to prison.

Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY), is an Oakland-based organization dedicated to dismantling the school to prison pipeline by equipping youth with knowledge of the law and empowering youth with a community of supporters that amplify their voices.

FLY’s mission is poetic in the sense that the voices of youth who fell victim to the prison pipeline served as the foundation for the organization’s creation.

Back in 1995, Christa Gannon, FLY’s founder and Stanford University Law School graduate, would often converse with teens facing significant prison time about services that could steer other children away from incarceration. In many of their responses, the children mentioned education of the law -- to know the consequences of poor choices – as well as having role models and opportunities to be of service to their communities. Those ideas are the pillars that FLY was built on. “Education is power,” said Trevor Arceneaux, Associate Director of FLY’s Alameda County operations. “There are a lot of opportunities to practice that power. It helps to develop a young person’s critical consciousness of the world and how they see it. A lot of times our young people are actively in this pipeline, and they can name it and see it. We can give them options on how to solve these real-world issues.”

In 2000, FLY transitioned to a non-profit, building on the concepts of law education and empowerment. Today, FLY is now one of the Bay Area’s most respected agencies working with youth who are currently or formerly involved in the juvenile justice system.

With 70 staff and more than 200 volunteers, FLY serves more than 2,000 youth throughout the Bay Area each year, ranging from ages 11 to 24.

“Some of the greatest success stories we’ve had is with youth who have been resistant to the process and wanting support,” said Arceneaux. “FLY does a really great job at building authentic and trusting relationships with youth. Seeing the change and the walls being torn down and they’re able to engage with us in a different way and let us into their lives where we can understand and learn their needs. Then, we’re able to tap into their genius and get them to operate in the community with a different way.” These authentic connections are fostered in the many programs FLY offers to equip youth with the knowledge and confidence they need to navigate life and avoid pitfalls.

In Alameda County FLY offers 4 core programs that provide pivotal services and education. The Court Appointed Friend and Advocate (CAFA) Mentor Program pairs youth with mentors to meet weekly and support them in developing new behaviors, ambitions and attitudes. Each mentor/ mentee pairing has a FLY case manager for support who also attends monthly group activities organized by FLY. All mentors are also granted legal standing to act as advocates for their mentees in the courtroom and at schools.

The FLY Law Program is an interactive 8-to-12-week course covering topics such as police encounters, accomplice liability, three strikes, theft, vandalism, drugs, gangs, and police arrests. The curriculum also touches on critical life skills like anger management, problem solving, conflict resolution, and resisting negative peer pressure. Midway through the semester, youth take a field trip to a local university law school where they tour the campus and act out a mock trial in the moot courtroom.

The Leadership Training Program helps youth build the skills and attitudes they need to live a crime-free, self-sufficient life. The program traditionally kicks off with a three-day wilderness retreat that enables youth to break away from negative influences and stresses and begin bonding with FLY staff and peers, developing trust and teamwork skills. (Because of the pandemic, virtual or socially distanced activities have replaced the retreats.) Following the retreat, youth meet monthly to support each other in group settings and to design projects in which they advocate for positive change and give back to their communities. Each young person receives intensive coaching from a FLY case manager to identify and address their greatest barriers.

The STAY FLY Program is a reentry program that develops social emotional learning skills and knowledge of the law in youth ages 18-25. A three-tier system is implemented to support youth as they transition back into the community. Lawrelated education, pro-social events and civic engagement activities, along with case management and coaching are offered to participants.

“Youth really love being around FLY staff,” said Arceneaux. “That’s more important to me than anything. They are going to remember the connections they have. When I see youth cracking jokes or hitting up staff to tell them about an accomplishment, that lets me know we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing. We’re really pushing youth to use their voice. In the next three to five years, you’re going to hear about former or current FLY youth advocating or pushing for systematic change. Tapping into their sense of agency and impacting the entire world.”

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Victory Outreach Men's Recovery

Home Christian home substance abuse program for men https://voheart.org/ 510-783-1022 621 Schafer Hayward, CA 94544

Cronin Housecohabiting residential Substance abuse program for adult men https://www.horizonservices.org/cronin-house 510-784-5874 2595 Depot Road Hayward, CA 94545

Family Emergency Shelter Coalition (FESCO)

Family Shelter: food, shelter, clothing, counseling https://www.fescofamilyshelter.org/ (510)581-3223 22671 Third Street Hayward, CA 94541

Second Chance Recovery Center

Outpatient substance abuse program http://secondchanceinc.com/ 510-886-8696 107 Jackson Street Hayward, CA 94544

Community of GraceRecovery

Program, food pantry https://www.icgrace.org/ 510-783-8062 380 Elmhurst Street Hayward, CA 94544

Hayward Wellness

Primary care http://achealthcare.org/provider/ acmc-winton-wellness-center/ 510-266-1700 664 Southland Mall Dr. Hayward, CA 94545

East Bay Community Recovery Project - Lifelong EBCRP Hayward

Outpatient treatment for drug addiction, CID treatment http://www.ebcrp.org (510) 728-8600 22971 Sutro St. Hayward, CA 94541

Winton Wellness Center

Healthcare https://www.freeclinics.com/det/ ca_Winton_Wellness_Center 510-266-1700 24100 Amador St. Hayward, CA 94544

Eden Area Multi-Service Center

General assistance https://www.financialhelpresources. com/details/eden_area_multiservice_ center.html 510-670-6000 24100 Amador St Hayward, CA 94544

Terra Firma Diversion

substance abuse treatment http://www.terrafirmadiversion.com/ 510-675-9362 30086 Mission Blvd Hayward, CA 94544

Family Paths

Individual and family services, counseling https://familypaths.org/ (510) 893-9230 22320 Foothill Blvd. Suite 400 Hayward, CA 94541

La Familia Counseling

Mental health, community support services https://www.lafamiliacounseling.org/ 1-510-300-3500 24301 Southland Drive, Suite 300 Hayward, CA 94545

La Familia Neighborhood Resource

Center Community support services https://www.lafamiliacounseling.org/ 1-510-589-4009 22366 Fuller Avenue Hayward, CA 94541

La Familia Youth and Family OpportunitiesYouth

Support services https://www.lafamiliacounseling. org/community_outreach_services#youthandfamily 1-510-589-4009 22366 Fuller Avenue Hayward, CA 94541

Glad Tidings Church 27745 Tyrell Avenue Hayward, CA 94541

Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center

Multicultural, multilingual health center https://www.tvhc.org/ (510) 471-5907 22331 Mission Blvd Hayward, CA 94541

Project Eden Youth Outpatient

Community youth support https://www.horizonservices.org/project-eden (510) 247-8200 1866 B Street, Suite 101 Hayward, CA 94541 94541

Project Eden Youth Prevention

Community youth substance abuse https://www.horizonservices.org/project-eden (510) 247-8200 22320 Foothill Suite 245 Hayward, CA 94542 94541

Community Resources for Independent Living

Disability community resources https://www.crilhayward.org/ (510) 881-5743 439 A Street Hayward, CA 94541

Ruby's Place

Domestic violence crisis services, shelter, and counseling https://www.rubysplace.org/