Mentorship Programs in Oakland

As an Oakland native, Councilmember Loren Taylor is the product of several local mentorship programs, which he credits to providing him the life skills, knowledge, and self-confidence to become a leader in his civic, professional, and family life. Understanding the power these programs have to change the lives of Oakland youth, he is honored to bring forth the National Mentorship Month resolution for the Oakland City Council to adopt. Below is a list of mentorship programs that are positively impacting the life outcomes of Oakland youth. If you are aware of others who are not on this list, please email Councilmember Taylor's Office at district6@oaklandca.gov and we will add them. Please also share this website with others, who may be interested in learning more about how they can participate in one of these incredible programs as either a mentor or a mentee.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area
The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.

Boys and Girls Club of Oakland
To accomplish its purpose, Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland (BGCO) provides programs and services tailored to the special needs of today's youth and supplementary to the endeavors of families, schools, and other community-based organizations.

East Oakland Youth Development Center
EOYDC develops the social and leadership capacities of youth and young adults (ages 6 - 24) so that they are prepared for employment, higher education, and leadership opportunities.

Girls Inc. of Alameda County
The vision is for Girls Inc. to ensure that all girls in Alameda County feel valued, safe, and prepared to achieve their dreams of college, career, and leadership. They connect girls from underserved neighborhoods with access to resources and opportunities.

Hidden Genius Project
The Hidden Genius Project trains and mentors Black male youth in technology creation, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills to transform their lives and communities.

Homies Empowerment
Homies Empowerment is an independent, grassroots community-based organization that provides spaces where youth can heal, thrive, and self-actualize, while also addressing the root causes of gang involvement.

Oakland Promise
Oakland Promise empowers Oakland's young people with opportunities to make a difference in their lives. Their College Completion Program provides social and emotional support through mentoring and retreats.

OK Program / 100 Black Men of the Bay Area
The OK Program focuses on African-American males, aiming to help them develop leadership, critical thinking skills, promote academic excellence, and reduce the high rates of incarceration and homicide.

Positive Steps
Positive Steps, developed by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, is a mentoring program designed to support and nurture leadership in young girls, ages 12 to 17.

The Mentoring Center
The Mentoring Center exists to move all youth toward healthy, successful lives, by providing support, love, and opportunities for self-mastery.

Youth UpRising
YU's mission is to transform East Oakland into a healthy, economically robust community by developing youth leadership and improving the systems that impact them.

We Lead Ours
We Lead Ours provides children with enrichment programs that nurture life skills focusing on career exploration, civic leadership, college preparation, and health and wellness.