The Gift of Belonging
This holiday season, we are celebrating the power of belonging. Since 2020, Urban Strategies’ Elevate Youth California Program has built community for young people from under-resourced neighborhoods. We give our Fellows a place to belong, a voice that’s heard, and opportunities to uplift the communities they love.
This holiday season, give the gift of community. Your support creates belonging, purpose, and possibility.
Dauttis Karbassi
Former Elevate Youth California Fellow
Born and raised in the Bay Area, Dauttis was a student at Oakland Tech High School when he spotted an announcement about the Elevate Youth California fellowship at Urban Strategies. He became a Youth Fellow in January 2022.
As a Fellow, Dauttis engaged in various outreach activities, data analysis and grant writing. He was most appreciative of learning to write grant applications for funding, because he was not aware of being able to get funds to support his ideas and interests.
Daria Belle
Former Elevate Youth California Fellow
Following the sheltering-in-place of COVID, 16 year old Daria Belle was ready to connect with other teenagers. Urban Strategies’ Elevate Youth Opportunity program provided Daria with a sense of community. The EYC program became a space for her to not just be a student, but a collaborator.
As a Fellow, Daria gained knowledge about the prevention of substance use disorders, how to administer Narcan and use fentanyl testing strips. All of this information was particularly relevant in the post-pandemic Bay Area. After serving as a Fellow for 18 months, Daria moved on to college.
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