At the Center for Urban Excellence (CUE), our work is structured around five key pillars of service that all aim to empower and support youth, young adults and their families:

Healing Arts Education: We provide a platform for youth to express themselves creatively. Our arts programs range from poetry, spoken word, emcee and movement classes to visual and mixed media arts workshops. We also facilitate participation in performances and exhibitions, nurturing youth and young adult artistic talents and providing a creative outlet. Programs: “Art is Resilience” poetry and visual arts in 3 Golden Gate Community Schools Contra Costa COE.

Fostering Resilience Framework and Training: We provide dynamic programs to help youth develop essential resilience skills. This includes mindfulness training, art activities, stress management techniques, and problem-solving strategies, all aimed at equipping our youth with the ability to navigate life’s challenges.
Youth Leadership Development: With our Fostering Resilience: Youth Leadership Program, we invest in building future leaders. Our youth engage in community service projects, receive leadership training, and have access to mentorship opportunities, encouraging them to become active agents of change in their communities. Programs: 1 in Contra Costa County Juvenile Detention Facility, 5-year coaching program in partnership with MOCHA and Oakland USD and 1 virtual cohort.

College and Career Readiness: In partnership with Solano County WDB, we offer comprehensive programs to prepare 24 youth and young adults for success in higher education and the workforce. This includes college application and financial aid assistance, career counseling, job readiness training, and more.

Critical Media Literacy Workshops: We believe in the importance of informed media consumption. Our workshops equip youth with the skills to critically evaluate media, fostering informed decision-making and promoting active engagement with the media landscape applying “The Media and Me: A Critical Media Literacy Guide for Young People.”