The city of Oakland is committing more than $3 million to programs offering summer employment and enrichment to Oakland youth this year and next. The goal is to increase access to paid work opportunities for Oakland’s young people, particularly those who live in East and West Oakland. Mayor Barbara Lee is also calling it an investment in public safety and violence prevention.
Earlier this month the Oakland City Council approved $3.1 million in funds for 21 local organizations that will offer employment and engagement opportunities this summer and the summer of 2027. The money was allocated primarily from the Oakland Fund for Children and Youth, Oakland’s workforce development board, and Measure AA, a 30-year parcel tax voters approved in 2018 to expand early childhood education and college access.
Together, the jobs and the summer engagement programs are expected to serve more than 2,100 youth — with more than half living in District 7, deep East Oakland…