Black Youth Leadership Project

OUR MISSION HAS EVOLVED HOLISTICALLY TO INCLUDE ESTABLISHING, DEVELOPING, AND IMPLEMENTING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR BLACK YOUTH IN AREAS OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH EMPOWERMENT, ACADEMIC SUCCESS, EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, MEDIA DEVELOPMENT, CULTURAL AWARENESS, AND IDENTITY. WHILE OUR PRIMARY FOCUS REMAINS CENTERED IN CIVIC PARTICIPATION, OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS SERVICES IN AREAS WHERE GAPS IN THE CONTINUUM OF CARE EXIST. WE UNAPOLOGETICALLY SERVE BLACK YOUTH AND FAMILIES WHO HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN MARGINALIZED. ALTHOUGH OUR TARGET DEMOGRAPHIC IDENTIFIES AS BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN, WE SUPPORT ALL FAMILIES WHO ARE DEALING WITH ISSUES OF BELONGINGNESS, MENTAL HEALTH/WELLBEING AND EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGES AS THEY NAVIGATE THE K-12 SYSTEM.

ADVOCACY -BYLP'S ADVOCACY ARM HELPS FAMILIES ADDRESS A MYRIAD OF ISSUES SUCH AS RACISM, TEACHER TARGETING, IMPLICIT BIAS, AND ENFORCEMENT OF POLICIES THAT RESULT IN UNFAIR AND INEQUITABLE SUSPENSIONS, EXPULSIONS, AND ARRESTS OF BLACK STUDENTS ACROSS SCHOOL CAMPUSES. WE SPECIALIZE IN MEDIATION, CRISIS RESPONSE, AND TRAUMA SUPPORT AND SUPPORT FAMILIES REGIONALLY AND NATIONALLY. OUR PRIMARY PRIORITY IS CENTERED AROUND ADDRESSING CORE ISSUES AND RESTORING STUDENTS IMPACTED BY SYSTEMIC BIAS, UNFAIRNESS, AND ILL EQUIPPED EDUCATORS AND SYSTEMS. WE VALUE RELATIONSHIPS FORGED ACROSS DISTRICTS AS WE ADVOCATE FOR A MORE FAIR AND JUST ENVIRONMENT FOR BLACK STUDENTS.

SUPPORT NETWORKS -IN RESPONSE TO THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC WHICH COMPOUNDED THE COMPLEX GENERATIONAL AND SYSTEMIC CHALLENGES, WE HAVE DESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED SEVEN SPECIALIZED SUPPORT NETWORKS TO COMBAT THE ISOLATION, FEAR, AND ANXIETY THAT HAS SO EFFECTIVELY GRIPPED SO MANY YOUTH AND STAKEHOLDERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. OUR SUPPORT NETWORKS OFFER AN INTERACTIVE, FLEXIBLE, AND HYBRID FORMAT WITH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL MEETINGS, WORKSHOPS, TRAINING, AND EXPOSURE OPPORTUNITIES. BBSN BLACK BOYS SUPPORT NETWORK BGSN BLACK GIRLS SUPPORT NETWORK BAASN BYLP ALLIES TO ABOLITIONISTS (YOUTH, ADULTS, & EDUCATORS) YASN YOUNG ADULTS SUPPORT NETWORKBPSN BLACK PARENTS SUPPORT NETWORKBESN BLACK EDUCATORS SUPPORT NETWORKGPSN GRANDPARENTS SUPPORT NETWORK

G.O.A.T. GOALS ORGANIZATION APPLICATIONS & TRANSCRIPTS - OUR COLLEGE READINESS PROGRAM EQUIPS STUDENTS WITH THE SKILLS NEEDED TO EFFECTIVELY PREPARE FOR THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS AS WELL AS BALANCE THE COLLEGIATE EXPERIENCE. THE STUDENTS ARE TRAINED EXTENSIVELY ON TRANSCRIPTS, FINANCIAL AID, RESUME BUILDING, STRESS MANAGEMENT, SELF-ADVOCACY, AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT. G.O.A.T. PREP - GOAT PREP IS A REFERRAL-BASED INTERVENTION SUPPORT FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING ACADEMICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND/OR SOCIALLY. STUDENTS MAY BE REFERRED BY ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, AND/OR PARENTS. STUDENTS WILL BECOME A PART OF A SPECIALIZED BYLP CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WHERE BYLP STAFF WORK WITH STUDENTS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF THE STUDENT AS WELL AS THEIR PARENTS/GUARDIANS AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS.

ART RELEASE THIS 2-D AND 3-D ART CLASS IS HELD ON SATURDAYS AND IS OPEN TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES. PARTICIPANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO TRY NEW ART TECHNIQUES AS A MEANS OF EMOTIONAL RELEASE, AND INCREASING SELF-CONFIDENCE IN A SAFE SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. A VARIETY OF MEDIA IS INCORPORATED INTO EACH SESSION, INCLUDING ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES OF ART. PARTICIPANTS LEARN TO DRAW AND PAINT, NEEDLECRAFT, AND LEARN A VARIETY OF MIXED MEDIA APPLICATIONS.CAMP HACK THE WOODS A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT WHERE WE HOSTED 200 BLACK YOUTH FOR THE WEEKEND EXPOSING THEM TO SOCIAL JUSTICE, STEM, AND NATURE AT GRIZZLY CREEK RANCH IN PORTOLA, CALIFORNIA.BOOK CLUBSBAASN/ BPSN (ADVOCACY) THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK CLUB IS TO BUILD COMMUNITY AND EDUCATE, INFORM AND HIGHLIGHT THE SEVERITY OF THE DISPROPORTIONATE DISCIPLINE ON BLACK STUDENTS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.G.O.A.T./ YASN THIS BOOK CLUB ENDEAVORS TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, INCREASE KNOWLEDGE, AND HONE INTERPERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS.