About Us

The YMCA has deep roots in Oakland. The Urban Services division brings together the oldest YMCA in Oakland (Eastlake – founded in 1882), with its newest (the Teen Center, opened in 2003), as well as the 60-year-old M. Robinson Baker YMCA. Urban Services creates an environment that encourages youth and families to enjoy healthy lifestyle activities together. Urban Services’ mission is to empower urban youth to be honest, responsible, caring and respectful of themselves, their families and their communities.

Eastlake YMCA’s 15,000-square foot facility includes a full gymnasium, classrooms and outdoor play area. It is one of the largest providers of programs in the economically disadvantaged East Oakland neighborhood.

When the M. Robinson Baker YMCA opened in 1947, it was called the Northwest Oakland YMCA. When its building was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake; the community rallied to its aid. MRB reopened in 1996. MRB provides place-based health and wellness services that nurture healthy lifestyles with an indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, outdoor gardening area, classrooms and computer lab.

The building that houses the YMCA Teen Center was a gift from William E. Goodwin. Developing it into a state-of-the-art facility was made possible by a $500,000 donation from Citibank. The YMCA Teen Center officially opened its doors on May 8, 2003.

The Urban Services YMCA standards are the foundation for all of our programs: 

• Unity, because united we stand, divided we fall, and we can accomplish far more working together than individually
• Integrity, because integrity exemplifies our core values of honesty, respect, responsibility and caring
• Perseverance, because perseverance exemplifies patience and the commitment it takes to go from boys to men, girls to women, adult to elder and good to great…

Goals and Plans
The Urban Services YMCA’s vision is to be a catalyst for community development. We will initiate, facilitate and promote harmonious relations between the diverse members of our local branches. We will enhance the quality of life in the community with appropriate health, educational, leadership and parent engagement programs. Some of our goals are to:

• Enrich and increase childhood development and family learning programs
• Develop total health programs for youth and adults
• Expand civic involvement opportunities for teens
• Promote cultural harmony among diverse cultural groups through arts and community events
• Engage youth in employment opportunities through the provision of workforce development and job training programs

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Who We Serve

In 2007, we served:  

• Children ages 1-5                 4% 
• Youth ages 6-11                  32% 
• Youth ages 12-17                52% 
• Young Adults ages 18-29      11% 
• Adults ages 30-54                 2% 

Community Partners

We are proud to have as community partners:

• Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services
• Alameda County Probation Department
• Alameda County Social Services Agency
• Art Esteem
• Attitudinal Healing Connection, Inc.
• Bay Area Black United Fund
• California School of the Arts
• Cal State East Bay
• CanFIT
• Children’s Hospital of Oakland
• Cycles of Change
• Destiny Arts
• DUSTY (Digital Underground Storytelling for Youth)
• EOYDC (East Oakland Youth Development Center )
• Five A Day
• Girls Inc.
• Girl Scouts
• Global Education Partnership
• Healthy Oakland & Pastor Langford
• Kaiser Permanente
• Leadership Excellence
• Mo’ Betta Farmers Markets
• Native American Health Center / Tribal Athletic League
• Oakland Parks and Recreation Department
• Oakland Unified School District
• Opera Piccola
• OTX (Oakland Technology Exchange) West
• 100 Black Men
• 100 Families Art Project
• People’s Grocery
• Peralta Community Colleges
• Project SOAR
• Scotland Youth and Family Center
• UC Berkeley
• YEP (Youth Employment Partnership)
• Youth Speaks

 

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LEADERSHIP

Larry Austin, Sr. Program Director

Senior Staff
Jennifer Hick, Grants & Contracts Manager
Adrian Henderson, Community Programs Director
Kyaindra Curtis, Business Manager

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