Our mission is to enhance the employment and educational opportunities of Oakland youth and young adults impacted by poverty, the foster care and criminal justice systems, school underachievement, and lack of work experience by providing job training, job placement, hands-on education, and comprehensive support services.

We strive to create meaningful work opportunities by partnering with local businesses and operating our own social enterprises, including Fresh Start cafe at the Juvenile Justice Center in San Leandro and daily food production in our commercial kitchen for homeless residents in the City of Oakland’s transitional community cabins. Our youth and young adults play a key role in the operations of these enterprises, putting their skills to work in the food service industry, increasing communication, teamwork, and conflict resolution capabilities—all while growing their knowledge of how a successful business operates.