Our Mission Statement
To provide a diverse program that meets the educational, physical, emotional and social needs of children-at-risk, in order to promote their sense of well-being and their potential to break the cycle of poverty.
The Samaritan Neighborhood Center located in Oakland, CA,is a community center that provides year round programs for low income children and youth. TheCenter's renowned Student Tutorial Endeavor Program (STEP) provides after school tutoring and homework assistance, computer labs with a safe and fast internet connection, recreation, arts and crafts, mentoring, youth leadership opportunities, a student operated snack bar, field trips and weekend camps during the school year.
Realizing that many kids would not be able to take advantage of our youth enrichment program because of transportation obstacles, we provide transportation from the schools nearest the Center each day after school, and also provide transportation home each evening for ourstudents. We typically enroll up to 100 children and youth during the school year. All of our programs are provided at absolutely no cost to the children and youth we serve.
The goal of the Center is to become part of the support system in the lives and families of children and youth who are at-risk in Oakland. The primary means of accomplishing this task is through our Student Tutorial Endeavor Program, which we call STEP. Through STEP our children and youth are provided the means to better themselves, gain self esteem, have academic success in school, develop relationships with positive adult role models, have opportunities to see and learn about other people and places outside of their neighborhood streets, and be exposed to values that include individual and social responsibility, non-violence and the absolute value of education.