YSA provides job training for low income and at-risk youth in the Bay Area, using art as the vocational medium. Participants are paid stipends which increase with additional responsibilities.
Author: Aaron Silver
Local neighborhoods, big impact
Over 500 homeless and low-income youth involved in our Studio and Community Art program. Over 400 program graduates went on to complete high school/GEDs, enter college, begin alternate vocational training, or work for YSA.
Who We Help
We work with Bay Area youth (aged 16-25) who are low-income, unemployed, and untrained. They often come from situations of poverty, homelessness, or foster care.
YSA Fall/Winter 2015 Graduation
Come join YSA for the Fall/Winter 2015 graduation on Friday, December 18 4-7pm. Look forward to food, drinks, and fun as we celebrate our youths’ hard work! Cheers and happy holidays.
YSA Art Show & Benefit!
YSA will be featured in this art show & benefit hosted by McGuire Real Estate. Come join us!
Greetings from Alcatraz Ave: Meet Youth Spirit Artworks
On one end, you’re in Oakland. At the other, you’re in Berkeley. If you keep going, you’ll end up back in Oakland. If you trip, you’ll fall into Emeryville. It’s an interesting mash-up of municipalities with a rich history of activism and commerce. When I moved here 10 years ago, there was only one restaurant within a short walk and the newspaper once referred to Alcatraz as a “corridor of violence” between South Berkeley and North Oakland gangs. Now it sports a bicycle collective, a cupcake shop, several cafes, two yoga studios, a weekly farmers’ market and about five more spaces with permits to open in the next six months…. Read the full article here
Get to Know More About Us!
Interviews with the program director and participants of Youth Spirit Artworks in Berkeley CA. Youth ages 16 to 24, with an artistic bent, attend this program to learn skills in producing and selling their artwork while reflecting on their lives and future ambitions.
Tune into 94.1FM/ 7PM Fri. Nov.21st – Celebrate YSA’s MX Mosaic Sign Project!
A piece about YSA’s Malcolm X Elemantary School Mosaic Sign Project will air today on 94.1 FM between 7 and 8 pm on Full Circle!!! Thank you Greg Jackson for coming to interview our youth! The same piece may also air Sunday on 89.3 between 2 and 230.
Malcolm X Mosaic Signs Unveiling
Join Youth Spirit Artworks young Leaders at Ashby & Ellis St. on Sat. Nov. 15th 2:30pm to 4pm as we unveil our glorious new MX Mosaic Signs! This project was cosponsored by S. Berkeley Neighbors, MX PTA & School, S. Berkeley Sr. Center, Lifelong Medical Center & Adeline Street Merchants Association!
Rain or drizzle location: Youth Spirit Artworks, 1740 Alcatraz Ave, Berkeley, 94703.
For more info, please text: 282-0396.
Join us! The “Safe & Sound” Youth Spirit Artworks’s MX Mosaic School Signs Project!
Join Youth Spirit Artworks this Sat. & Sun. Oct. 18th & 19th–10am to 6pm to help complete “MX Elementary School Mosaic Sign 2” at King St & Ashby Ave. Big fun. Refreshments & snacks!!
The “Safe & Sound” Youth Spirit Artworks’s MX Mosaic School Signs Project has involved over 300 local kids in making tiles & individual pledges to do “1 special thing to care for their health more deeply.” and to write that on a pledge magnet. Our two Ashby Ave school signs will be completed by Oct. 20th!!! Thanks to all the supporters, youth & volunteers making this youth-driven project possible!
