Homies Empowerment is an independent, grassroots community-based organization out of East Oakland. They 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, they mirror the positive assets that attract young people to gangs: a sense of belonging, protection, rites of passage, and meeting basic needs. Their after-school program evolved to full-fledged Ethnic Studies and Leadership courses offered throughout Oakland schools.
With the onset of COVID-19, they went from being exclusively a youth-development and educational-focused organization to one that stands in solidarity with the entire community to help meet their urgent food and basic needs. Their Block Clean-Up Crew also came together to contribute to a clean and dignified community environment.
Currently, Homies is operating a Community Care Center, Learning Center, and several food access programs out of their FREEdom Store: Tuesday food distribution, Love Packages, and Loaves and Fishes.
Interested in Volunteering with Homies? Email VolunteerAtHomies@gmail.com or fill out the Volunteer form using this link.
