Since it’s opening in 2005, Youth UpRising (YU) has gone from a barebones operation to a bustling, 25,000-square-foot, high-tech youth leadership development center. YU serves Alameda County residents between the ages of 13 and 24 – primarily youth of color from low-income neighborhoods in East Oakland where the center is located. Through innovative, culturally relevant programming in the areas of Media and Performing Arts, Education and Career Development, Social Enterprise, Peace Making, and Health and Wellness, YU attracts an astounding and ever-expanding membership of over 4000 youth. YU envisions community transformation driven by investments in youth and young adults that result in the personal, social and economic transformation of all residents. Our mission is to transform East Oakland into a healthy and economically robust community by developing the leadership of youth and young adults and improving the systems that impact them. Our 4 core program areas: Health & Wellness Career & Education Arts & Expression Civic Engagement …But delivering services is not our only goal. Our vision is to develop a generation of critically active youth leaders—ultimately putting them at the center of community transformation in East Oakland.