SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The Opportunities for All (OFA) summer youth jobs program kicks off at the at the Chase Center in Mission Bay, a unique cross-sector collaboration between municipal government, corporate, and nonprofit organizations.
'When Opportunities for All launched,’ remarked Sheryl Davis, Executive Director, Human Rights Commission, 'the goal was to develop paid internships to support youth with diverse experiences, skill sets, and interests. As we enter the fourth summer of the initiative, the number of youth served each summer has nearly doubled, with nearly 10,000 placements provided over the last few years. Through Opportunities for All thousands of young people have developed their skills, built strong networks, and most importantly, they’ve been a part of the San Francisco pandemic recovery, by supporting nonprofits, preparing and delivering meals, leading civic engagement and social justice projects. We as a City have gained so much from working with the youth through this program.'
Josh Fryday: “The #CaliforniansForAll Youth Jobs Corps is a win for our young people, the City of San Francisco and the state of California,' said California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday. “California is investing in underserved youth and bringing people together in service to uplift our communities.”
Sara Williams, Opportunities for All: 'I am thrilled as we kick off another summer where our young people will work, learn, and grow. Their project-based work experiences will help them build job readiness skills, social skills, and co-working skills. Access should not be predicated on socio-economic circumstances. Opportunities for All will continue to provide a pathway to economic freedom and financial success for our diverse and talented young people. They are the future and will make our city, our communities, and our collective effort stronger.'
Angel Li, UCSF CHANGE SF Fellow (OFA 2020-Present): 'I deeply value OFA's mission to support all youth from all backgrounds and it has been a pleasure to work with them for the past two years. Working with other passionate people inspires me to continue learning and growing, so I can better support my community as a social worker. This past spring, I served as the Fellow for the UCSF CHANGE SF cohort, and loved helping to guide their amazing work and supporting them with their interests in a career in mental health. I hope to continue supporting future generations and empowering them to make change.'
Cliff Yee, Senior Director of Training, CORO: 'It's a huge responsibility to be able to guide young people in their journey - and a special opportunity to be the facilitator who trains young people to hold space for younger people. I get to do that with OFA and am humbled by this partnership, and by the trust instilled in me, to guide youth and young adults on their (leadership) journeys this summer.'
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