Roots Community Health, member of the 40×40 Council, has begun construction on the Young People’s Wellness Center at 86th Avenue and International Boulevard in East Oakland, with plans to open in 2026. As part of the larger Rise East initiative, a $100 million plan to revitalize a 40-by-40 block area of East Oakland, the center symbolizes renewed investment in a historically under-resourced community. Designed as a sanctuary for young people ages 13 to 26, the center will offer confidential health care, mental health services, sexual and reproductive care, and substance use treatment, along with social spaces, workforce development, and creative amenities like a café, makerspace, and pop-up salon. Learn more in this article from The Oaklandside. 

This week, our partners at Cities United hosted their 12th Annual Convening in Louisville. The gathering brought together more than 1,300 peacemakers and community responders from across the country, making it one of the largest national events focused on comprehensive public safety strategies. For three impactful days, local elected and appointed officials, city and community leaders, public safety professionals, and young leaders came together to learn, connect, and share innovative approaches to interrupting violence, dismantling systems of inequity, and investing in communities. “Our partners across the country come together at the Cities United annual convening to learn, build, and honor our collective work,” said Anthony Smith, Executive Director of Cities United. “This year marks my 10 years as Executive Director. I am honored to be in my hometown to celebrate with local and national leaders, mothers and fathers, credible messengers, elected and appointed officials , young leaders and elders all committed to the same vision: that young Black men and boys, and their families, deserve to live in safe, healthy and hopeful communities.” Read more here and in this interview with WAVE.

“What we expect is that once this is passed, the legislature will use it to justify limiting youth access to health care, increasing classroom censorship, limiting youth access to gender-affirming care, limiting LGBTQ  stories and accurate histories by way of classroom censorship, limiting access to reproductive and sexual health care and information and also could lead to more family policing.” Maude Shepherd, a reproductive justice legal fellow for Jane’s Due Process and Trust Respect Access Coalition member, shares her concerns in the Dallas Observer about the harms and risks of Proposition 15. Advocates warn that this amendment could pave the way for new laws to undermine young people’s ability to make informed choices about their bodies and futures. Read more here and in Autonomy News. 

CHANGE NEWS: 

Change Consulting is seeking a Communications Manager – Graphic Designer with strong project management skills to support our Digital and Content team and our agency with ongoing graphic design and creative services. The ideal candidate is a visual storyteller who sits at the intersection of strategy and craft. They will craft impactful creative across social, web, email, and campaign collateral. Learn more here.