In the Community

Services to Youth

ACCL hosted the 15th Annual Respect Yourself Youth Symposium on Saturday March 5, 2011 at the Samuel Merritt Health Education Center, 400 Hawthorne, Oakland, CA. This annual event works with 200 youth from a variety of schools and community centers in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. This year's theme, "Power to Change" focused on building self-esteem, reinforcing non-violence, and increasing health and safety awareness. 

 Pictured above: Respect Yourself Book Club, East Oakland Youth Center

Respect Yourself Youth Symposium in June 2004 In 1958, twelve years after the Founding of the Links, the National body adopted the first program facet, Services to Youth. The objective of this facet was to aid minority youth in America to find and fulfill their intellectual potential. Under the Services to Youth facet the Alameda Contra Costa Links signature programs include:

• A book club for girls at the East Oakland Youth Development Center.
• Respect Yourself Symposium – An annual leadership development conference for youth in the Bay Area.

The Arts

This program was launched in 1964 around the theme, “Freedom of Fine Arts”. Historically the Arts facet has encouraged appreciation of and support for cultural enrichment and the arts. As an organization, the Links are particularly interested in assisting youth to develop and display their artistic talents. Activities include an annual poster contest and bringing students to see the Alvin Ailey Dance Troupe.

National Trends and Services

Also launched in 1964, National Trends and Services focuses on the thrust of national and international issues that have an affect on the community in the foreseeable future. The Alameda Contra Costa Links has the following Initiatives under National Trends and Services:

• Service to the women and children at Project Pride a residential facility in Oakland where women are finishing out their correction sentence and reentering society. These services include:
  • Reading to the children at the facility
  • Skill building workshops for the residents
  • Hosting a Mother’s Day Celebration
  • Sponsorship of online courses for the residents
  • Preparing and serving Thanksgiving dinner
  • Providing move-in supplies like toiletries, clothing and gift cards
• United Negro College Walk-A-Thon to raise money for college scholarships for African American youth.
• Linkages to Life is a program to raise awareness among African American communities about the importance of donating organs, tissue and bone marrow.

International Trends and Services

In 1978, International Trends and Services became a stand-alone facet with the focus being on the developing programming with a focus on universal human rights, citizenship and international goodwill. The Alameda Contra Costa Links have collaborated with the “Friends of the Children of Lascahobas Haiti.” We have developed a three-year relationship with the organization collecting and sending donations of personal care packages and over 300 pairs of shoes to needy families in this region of Haiti.