Upward Roots Inc

FOUNDED IN 2010, UPWARD ROOTS ENGAGES YOUTH IN A DYNAMIC CURRICULUM BASED ON EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP, AND SERVICE LEARNING, PROMOTING THE IDEA THAT EACH AND EVERY YOUNG PERSON CAN BE A POSITIVE CHANGEMAKER WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY. BY PROVIDING THE TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP NEEDED TO SUCCESSFULLY PLAN AND EXECUTE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS OF THEIR OWN DESIGN, UPWARD ROOTS HELPS YOUNG PEOPLE DEVELOP INTO EMERGING LEADERS, WHILE ALSO IMPROVING SELF-CONFIDENCE, ACADEMIC PROGRESS, PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CIVIC ATTITUDES. IN OUR PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY SERVICE IS A YOUTH-LED, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROCESS, WHERE YOUTH IDENTIFY NEEDS THAT THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT AND DESIGN SERVICE SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS. WHEN WE LET YOUTH LEAD, POSITIVE CHANGE HAPPENS. UR PARTNERS WITH OAKLAND TITLE 1 PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS WHERE OVER 90% OF URS CHANGEMAKERS IDENTIFY AS RACIAL OR ETHNIC MINORITIES AND ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE OR REDUCED-PRICE LUNCH. OVER THE COURSE OF 10-12 AFTERSCHOOL SESSIONS IN A SEMESTER, PARTICIPANTS ENGAGE IN URS DYNAMIC CURRICULUM. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE THE SPACE AND STRUCTURE FOR PARTICIPANTS TO GROW PERSONALLY AND ACT COLLECTIVELY TO CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE THROUGH PLANNING AND LEADING A COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT TO ADDRESS A NEED THAT THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT IMPACTING.