The mission of Youth Spirit Art Works (YaYa California) is to empower and transform the lives of homeless and at-risk youth giving youth the experience, training and self-confidence necessary to meet their full potential.

Description:
Youth Spirit Art Works (YaYa California) is a new interfaith social enterprise jobs venture working with homeless and at-risk Berkeley and Oakland youth ages 16-25. Youth Spirit Art Works uses commercial arts job training, and specifically, arts furniture painting as a vehicle for transforming youth lives.

History:
Youth Spirit Art Works (YaYa California) is a brand new organization modeled after a highly successful non-profit agency in New Orleans called YaYa, which has been involved in working with youth doing arts furniture painting and other commercial arts jobs activities since 1988. Youth Spirit Art Works has developed to meet the enormous needs of homeless and at-risk youth in Berkeley and Oakland who face incarceration and three strikes sentencing, premature death due to homicide, drug and alcohol addiction, risks of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, joblessness, and other challenges.

Contact person: Sally Hindman, Executive Director, (510) 704-0689, (email)

Address:

3129 Ellis Street Berkeley, CA 94703 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.YouthSpiritArtWorks.org

Directions:

Call for directions.   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: Ashby BART,   Walk distance (in minutes): 5   Nearest Bus Stop: 15, 2 minute walk