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San José Youth Empowerment Alliance

 

WHAT IS SJ YEA?

The Youth Empowerment Alliance (YEA) is the City of San José’s youth violence reduction strategy. Over the past 30 years, the alliance has strategically worked to address the needs of youth and young adults in an effort to reduce youth violence. It is comprised of a broad coalition of residents, school officials, community, faith-based organizations, local law enforcement, and city, county and state government leaders. It brings these diverse stakeholders together in a Collective Impact approach that leverages each group’s expertise as part of a coordinated, interagency effort to curb youth violence in San José.

 Vision

 Safe and healthy youth connected to their families, schools, communities, and their futures

 Mission

Ensure safe and healthy opportunities for youth to realize their hopes and dreams, and become successful and productive in their homes, schools, and neighborhoods

WHAT ARE THE Guiding Principles?

Guiding Principles
  • We value our youth
  • We cannot arrest our way out of this problem
  • We will address this community challenge with a community response
  • We will hold our youth accountable for their actions and assist them to get back on the right path
  • We will not give up on any youth and are committed to facilitating personal transformation

WHAT IS THE STRUCTURE?

Policy Team Technical Team
Sets strategic direction, provides resources, establishes goals, monitors progress. Co-chaired by the mayor and police chief, it consists of government department heads and senior officials, school district leaders, community-based organizations and faith-based and neighborhood leaders. The Policy Team has an Interagency Subcommittee, a Community Engagement Subcommittee, and a Technical Team Subcommittee. Represents community, comprising over 150 members from over 70 agencies, implementing the continuum of prevention, intervention, diversion, reentry, healing.

What programs and services are available?

The San José Youth Empowerment Alliance invests in both community-based programming and City-based intervention and neighborhood services for youth ages 6-24. This diverse service delivery approach meets the needs of youth, young adults, families, and residents wherever they are or whatever their needs may be.

Community-Based Programming

San José Bringing Everyone's Strengths Together (BEST) Grant BEST funds qualified nonprofit service providers across five eligible service areas supporting community-based programs that serve youth and young adults ages 6-24 and strive to build on youth strengths and reduce their risk for involvement in gangs and violence.
Safe Summer Initiative Grant (SSIG) Funds micro-grants during the summer months to support prosocial, recreational, and education programs for youth to create opportunities for youth to have new experiences and develop new skills.

City Youth Intervention and Neighborhood Services

Project Hope Builds partnerships with viable neighborhood associations or community action groups focused on improving the overall quality of life for the neighborhood and reestablishing safe and clean communities through the effective use of city services
Hospital Linked Intervention Trauma to Triumph Connects victims of assault or gang-related violence to peer intervention case management services to provide critical support, prevent re-victimization, and help break the cycle of violence
Clean Slate Tattoo Removal Helps youth with prior gang involvement remove their gang-related tattoos and provides support and life skill development services
Safe School Campus Initiative Program Offers crisis response to prevent and de-escalate incidents of violence on and around school campuses and provides youth with positive role models, family support, referrals to needed resources, pro-social activities, and conflict mediation
Female Intervention Team Provides gender responsive intervention services to support healthy personal and social goals to females ages 11-24 who are referred by juvenile court, juvenile probation, and social districts
San José Works Youth Jobs Initiative Connects youth ages 15-18 who reside in one of San José's designated opportunity neighborhoods with valuable work experience opportunities 
Digital Arts Provides opportunities for youth and young adults ages 13-24 to explore artistic expression and skill development through various multimedia programs
Late Night Gym Provides safe, positive evening recreation activities for youth at four gym locations and distributes information to youth on other services including mental health services, life skills classes, job training, tattoo removal, record clearance, and/or substance use counseling

RESOURCES

Priority Neighborhoods