Mission Statement
Since 1983, Civicorps Schools has provided transformative educational and employment opportunities for 50,000 underserved Oakland youth and young adults. Our Academic and Professional Pathway (APP) program helps young adults, ages 18-24, obtain a high-school diploma, secure a living wage, pursue post-secondary education, and embark on family sustaining careers.
Civicorps is the only organization in the East Bay that offers both a Professional Pathway with paid job training as well as an Academic Pathway with an accredited high-school diploma program. In addition, ours is the only program that offers long-term training for young adults lasting up to two years as well as a year of follow-up career and college support.
Our population mirrors Oakland’s disadvantaged communities: 98% of our students are an ethnic minority of whom 75% are African-American, and 95% are live in poverty. When youth enroll with Civicorps, they have dropped out of high school and almost all are unemployed.
Civicorps has created incredible outcomes for this population. In our last graduating class, 83% of students continued onto college and 17% into employment. Also, six months after graduation, 82% of our graduates are in college and/or employed.
Description
Civicorps’ Academic and Professional Pathway (APP) program helps 120 young adults, ages 18-24, obtain a high-school diploma, secure a living wage, pursue post-secondary education, and embark on family sustaining careers through the following components.
Academic Pathway: Students attend our full-service community school, the Learning Academy, taking the classes needed to obtain a high-school diploma. Our innovative education approach includes individualized learning plans, academic coaching, study skills training, and tutoring. Students also engage in work readiness training, adult mentoring, case management, leadership opportunities, and community service.
Professional Pathway: Youth are employed with Civicorps and work 32 hours a week on paid job-training projects. On-the-job, youth gain occupational skills, work readiness skills, and industry-recognized certifications. Students also participate in financial literacy to learn how to manage their income. Additionally, youth continue to engage in adult mentoring, case management, leadership opportunities, and community service.
Career and College Support: For 12 months post-graduation, Civicorps offers assistance with applying for a job, placing youth in our internship program, enrolling in certification programs and community college, and procuring resources.
When youth enroll with Civicorps, they have dropped out of high school and almost all are unemployed. Through the APP, Civicorps is creating incredible outcomes. Each year, Civicorps graduates 30 students, of whom, 70% are continuing onto college, career and technical training programs, and/or employment.
