Berkeley

Berkeley Youth Alternatives Helps Young People Find Careers

Published

12 years ago

July 31, 2013

When her counselor first told her about Berkeley Youth Alternatives, a non-profit organization that supports underserved youth, Tamisha Bradley wasn’t interested.

Having lived in three different foster homes, Bradley, a student at Berkeley High School at the time, was still unsure of what she wanted to do after she graduated. Youth are referred to BYA by their teachers, probation officers, and others friends who go to its programs or summer camps. The 43-year- old program has seen thousands of young adults pass through its doors on the corner of Allston Way and Bonar Street.

< p>“I was having a tough time in school, and my guidance counselor got me involved in BYA which allowed me to get my first job teaching kids at Longfellow Middle School about eating healthy and digestion,” said Bradley.

“I was nervous because I had never worked with kids before, but my supervisor showed me how to create PowerPoint presentations and teach so I was able to learn from that experience.”

The services are provided through interns, both paid and volunteer, from UC Berkeley who will act as tutors, recreation leaders, role models and mentors. BYA offers tutoring, recreational activities, and computer training for over 80 participants during the academic school year and recreational and computer services during the eight weeks in the summer.

Now 19, Bradley will be attending California State University East Bay in the fall and says that the case managers and counselors at BYA helped find her a job that compliment her interest in public health.

“One of our challenges here is finding housing for homelessness,” said Nkiru Ajaelo, a case manager in BYA’s Youth and Family Opportunity HUB. “Our work varies from day to day, but many times, we’ve dealt with issues like domestic violence, getting these kids back into school and on a career path. We’re constant learners here; both the counselors and the students.”

Aside from helping young adults from ages 14-21 with finding employment, BYA provides workshops on writing resumes, workplace communication, job training, and counseling.

To be eligible for most summer jobs, youth need to be enrolled in a year-round workforce program. Students must meet a 2.0 GPA requirement as well as sign a contract to increase their grades.

“BYA’s job is to provide youth with a voice and avenue to educate the community,” said Katherine Brown, Program Manager for Public Health in the City of Berkeley. “The programs offered are essential to making changes in the neighborhood.

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Bay Area

Progressive Missionary Baptist Church of Berkeley Celebrates 90th Anniversary

Dr. Earl C. Stuckey, Sr., who has served as Progressive Missionary’s pastor since September 1977, said the church also delights in the fact that it has hosted only five pastors in its 90-year history, including Pastors James E. Moore, H. A. Green, F. Douglas Farrell, and Edward Stovall, who served for 37 years.

Published

1 week ago

May 16, 2025

Oakland Post

Progressive Missionary Baptist Poster. Dr. Earl C. Stuckey, Sr., Pastor of Progressive Missionary Baptist Church in Berkeley with his wife, Kay Frances Stuckey.

By Oakland Post Staff

The Progressive Missionary Baptist Church of Berkeley is celebrating its 90th church anniversary on Sunday, May 18 at 10 a.m. at 3301 King Street in Berkeley.

The celebration will feature Pastor Darnell Manuel of the Union Baptist Church in Vallejo as guest speaker, along with many other special presentations.

Those who wish to share in Progressive’s history can purchase a 100-page full-colored souvenir book for $25.

The church boasts a number of notable people who either regularly attended or became members of the church since its inception, including former Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, Oakland mayoral candidate Loren Taylor, and one of the organizers of the Gospel Music Workshop of America, Helen J. H. Stephens.

Pastor Stuckey often remarks how longevity flourishes at the church — it boasts 13 centenarians (people who have reached 100 years or more). Currently, it has one centenarian who is still surviving, Mrs. Dorothy Chambers, and 14 members who have reached 90 years or more.

Recently, on Feb.17, the pastor and his wife Kay Frances, celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary.

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Activism

Faces Around the Bay: Author Karen Lewis Took the ‘Detour to Straight Street’

“My life has been a roller-coaster with an unlimited ride wristband! I was raised in Berkeley during the time of Ron Dellums, the Black Panthers, and People’s Park. I was a Hippie kid, my Auntie cut off all our hair so we could wear the natural styles like her and Angela Davis.

Published

4 weeks ago

April 28, 2025

Oakland Post

Karen Lewis. Courtesy photo.

By Barbara Fluhrer

I met Karen Lewis on a park bench in Berkeley. She wrote her story on the spot.

I got married young, then ended up getting divorced, raising two boys into men. After my divorce, I had a stroke that left me blind and paralyzed. I was homeless, lost in a fog with blurred vision.

Jesus healed me! I now have two beautiful grandkids. At 61, this age and this stage, I am finally free indeed. Our Lord Jesus Christ saved my soul. I now know how to be still. I lay at his feet. I surrender and just rest. My life and every step on my path have already been ordered. So, I have learned in this life…it’s nice to be nice. No stressing, just blessings. Pray for the best and deal with the rest.

Nobody is perfect, so forgive quickly and love easily!”

Lewis’ book “Detour to Straight Street” is available on Amazon.

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Golden State Warriors Program Is Inspiring Next Generation of Female Engineers

Breaking down barriers and biases that deter young girls from pursuing STEAM subjects is essential for creating a level playing field and ensuring equal opportunities for all. By challenging stereotypes and promoting a culture of inclusivity and diversity in STEAM fields, experts believe young girls can be empowered to pursue their interests and aspirations without limitations confidently. Encouraging mentorship, providing access to resources, and celebrating girls’ achievements in STEAM are all crucial steps in creating a supportive environment that fosters success.

Published

2 months ago

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Oakland Post

Front Row: UC Berkeley Steel Bridge Team Back Row: Girls, Inc. Participants. Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

By Y’Anad Burrell

The Golden State Warriors and e-commerce giant Rakuten are joining forces to inspire the next generation of female engineers through Building STEAM Futures, part of The City Calls campaign.

Organizers say the initiative is founded on the idea that science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) are crucial fields for innovation and progress, and empowering young girls to pursue careers in these areas is more important than ever. Studies consistently show that girls are underrepresented in STEAM fields, resulting in a gender disparity that limits potential and hinders diversity.

On Saturday, March 8, International Women’s Day, the Warriors and Rakuten hosted 20 middle school girls from Girls Inc. of Alameda County at Chase Center’s Above the Rim for a hands-on bridge-building experience. The young girls from Girls, Inc. of Alameda County had an opportunity to design, build and test their own bridge prototypes and learn the fundamentals of bridge construction from the Engineering Alliance and the UC Berkeley Steel Bridge Team.

This STEAM experience for the girls followed the first session in January, where they took a behind-the-scenes tour of the Golden Gate Bridge, learning about its design and construction from industry experts. The City Calls campaign, tipped off with the unveiling the Warriors’ new bridge-themed City Edition jerseys and court design earlier this year.