Resources for Black and Latinx Children and Youth
Access programs to help African American/Black and Latinx young people in Berkeley thrive academically, physically, and emotionally.
African-American/Black and Latinx youth and their families can sign up for free or low-cost programs supported by the City of Berkeley’s Youth Equity Partnership (YEP). YEP provides funding to nonprofit community agencies to offer a wide range of programs from infancy through high school.
To find out if your child is eligible and how to apply for services—including child care, tutoring, college readiness, and more—please contact the program provider using the links below.
To be eligible for most YEP-funded programs, individuals must be African American/Black or Latinx, 0-18 years old, and live or attend public school in Berkeley. Some programs have limited availability and may have a waitlist. Many programs offer services to a wider population through other funding sources.
Early Childhood (ages 0-5)
BAHIA Pre-school Program (Centro Vida): Subsidized bilingual (Spanish/English) preschool for ages 2-5 years old.
Big Oaks Learning Center (formerly Ephesian Children's Center): Subsidized part- or full-time preschool for children 2.9-5 years old.
Nia House Childcare: Subsidized full-day Montessori preschool for children 18 months-6 years old.
Sisters Together Empowering Peers (STEP): Peer-led support group for African American/Black parents to prepare their children ages 0-5 years old for kindergarten.
Elementary School (ages 5-11)
BAHIA School-Age Program: Bilingual (Spanish/English) afterschool program for children ages 5-10 years old.
Berkeley Youth Alternatives Afterschool Center: Afterschool program for elementary school students ages 6 -14 years old.
Berkeley Youth Alternatives Counseling: Counseling services for elementary school students ages 6 and up.
BUILD Literacy: UC Berkeley students offer one-on-one reading mentorship for students at all BUSD elementary schools.
Big Oaks Learning Center (formerly Ephesian Children's Center): Afterschool program for elementary school students.
Mentoring for Academic Success (MAS): Academic support for low-income Latinx elementary school students starting in third grade.
Pathways Coaching (Stiles Hall): Academic and social support for students at Sylvia Mendez and Thousand Oaks elementary schools.
Middle School (ages 11-14)
Berkeley Youth Alternatives Counseling: Counseling services for middle school students.
Berkeley Youth Alternatives Afterschool Center: Afterschool program for middle school students.
Bridging Berkeley: Math tutoring for students at Longfellow and Martin Luther King, Jr. middle schools.
Mentoring for Academic Success (MAS): Academic support for low-income Latinx middle school students.
Village Cultural Academy: In-school academic and arts program for 6th and 8th grade students enrolled in AVID at Longfellow Middle School.
Pathways Coaching (Stiles Hall): Academic and social support for students at Longfellow and Martin Luther King, Jr. middle schools.
Raza Youth Consilio: In-school positive cultural identity and youth development program for Latinx students at Longfellow Middle School (contact: aaronlechuga@berkeley.net).
Young MENtors: In-school support for boys of color at Longfellow Middle School (contact: aaronlechuga@berkeley.net).
High School (ages 14-18)
Berkeley Youth Alternatives Counseling: Counseling services for high school students.
Berkeley High School Bridge Program: Intensive college and career readiness services for Berkeley High School students (contact: jessieluxford@berkeley.net).
Biotech Academy at Berkeley High School: Education, internships, and advising to prepare students for a career in biotech.
Mentoring for Academic Success (MAS): Academic support for low-income Latinx students through ninth grade.
R.I.S.E.- Responsibility, Integrity, Strength & Empowerment: Intensive academic support and college preparation for high school students.