Homies Empowerment

Homies Empowerment is an independent, grassroots community-based organization out of East Oakland. We started as a volunteer-run, Jefferson Award winning, after-school program taking on an approach and a way of seeing gang-impacted youth through an asset-based lens. To provide spaces where youth can heal, thrive and self-actualize, we mirror the positive assets that attract young people to gangs: a sense of belonging, protection, rites of passage, and meeting basic needs. Our after-school program evolved to full-fledged Ethnic Studies and Leadership courses offered throughout Oakland schools. For our first four years of operation, we created a safe space during our weekly Homies Dinners where youth from across gang lines sat together to break bread and came together to participate in youth-led civic engagement programs. As a response to their desire for more spaces like Homies, our team began developing HECHOS, Homies Empowerment Community High for Our Success, a community school ...