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Vision Youthz is a Bay Area non-profit
dedicated to bettering the lives of at-risk youth.
Read the Vision Youthz concept
paper here. (Adobe
Acrobat, .pdf file)
See a Real Player video (7 minutes)
about Vision Youthz, here.
Frequently
Asked Questions About
Vision
Youthz
Q:
What is Vision Youthz?
A: Vision Youthz
was born out of the compassion and inspiration
of UCSF medical student volunteers and their
students in the San Francisco Juvenile Hall
in 1994. Seeking to break the cycle of poverty,
violence, and incarceration which plagues our
country, Vision Youthz’ mission is to support
at-risk youth with a community of people and
resources that provide attention, experience-based
education, nature immersion, and a network of
opportunities.
Q: Who uses the
services provided by Vision Youthz?
A: Vision Youthz’
primary services focus on previously-detained
youth, age 14-21. The relationships and community
built by Vision Youthz, however, spreads well
beyond these parameters. Ultimately, Vision
Youthz serves the entire community, as the youth
-- and their many talents and energies -- are
rescued from a path of crime and given the ability
to advance themselves and our common good.
Q: Why is Vision
Youth different from other non-profits for at-risk
youth?
A: While extending
and collaborating with existing services, Vision
Youthz fills the gaps between the many dispersed
programs and builds a youth culture and supportive
community of mentors and activities of its own.
Specifically, as requested by the youth, Vision
Youthz uses Nature and nature immersion so that
the youth can challenge, educate, and heal themselves.
Vision Youth balances the city based pursuits
of education and career with the wilderness-based
pursuits of personal development.
Q: Who are some
widely known groups that support Vision Youthz?
A: Among the many
groups and individuals who support Vision Youthz,
the organization has partnerships with UCSF,
The San Francisco Foundation, S.F. City College,
S.F. Conservation Corps, Glide Memorial Church
Training Services, Huckleberry Youth Programs,
Building Visions, The Mentoring Center, National
Maritime Museum, Big City Mountaineers, Hidden
Villa, Wilderness Awareness School, and YCD.
Jeff Kreisler, founder of Confusion Laughter
Peace, helped Vision Youthz get started many years
ago.
"I was given the opportunity to be whatever
I wanted, all I needed to do was work hard.
I can no longer delude myself into believing
that these opportunities are available to all
people. I do, however, strongly believe that
they should be. Circumstance was gracious to
me; my brain, my heart, my spirit -- whatever
it is that makes me who I am -- could just has
easily have been placed into someone locked
out of many opportunities, through no fault
of my own. I find that to be the greatest injustice
facing us today."
Vision Youthz works to combat the inevitablly
tragic effects of a justice system, and a society,
which minimizes the options for youth to grow
into healthy, productive human beings, while at
the same time reacts to increasing youth crime
and violence with an over-reliance on incarceration
and retribution. Vision Youthz offer guidance,
education, and hope.
For more information about Vision Youthz, to
volunteer, or to make a donation, contact the
Vision Youthz offices at (415) 641-4850.
Thank you for your support.
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