Akoma Unity Center helps San Bernardino youth

Akoma Unity Center in San Bernardino focuses on healing and transforming, while learning alongside historically excluded communities with a goal to cultivate healthy, economically empowered and organized families and communities.

Akoma runs a no-cost, after-school youth program that aims to give each scholar love, nurturing, empowering knowledge and skills to build confidence and to cope, heal and overcome the many challenges he or she will face.

The center serves ages 7-17 who attend school in the San Bernardino City Unified School District, providing nutrition, homework support and tutoring. Programs have included financial literacy, music, Toastmasters, hydroponics, college and career readiness, Spanish, Girl Scouts and young legislators.

In addition to the afterschool program, Akoma also runs a Summer and Winter Break Camp and a Rites of Passage Program bringing year-round access for youth to an engaging space that provides opportunities for growth and learning.

The center’s virtual after-school program lasts from 3 to 6:30 p.m. each weekday. It also provides weekly nutrition and all supplies needed to participate to families. Each day also has a theme:

• Mindful Mondays: Scholars participate in yoga, dance and self-defense.

• Art Therapy Tuesdays: It includes art activities from painting, pottery, threading and drawing to help them recognize and process their emotions.

• Wellness Wednesdays: It starts with an Umoja Circle, based on giving the scholars the opportunity to express their feelings and struggles they are facing, but to also practice their listening and community building.

• STEAM Thursdays: Scholars participate in hands-on science experiments and coding classes.

• Fun Friday Clubs: It’s a chance to lead clubs, including Anime Club, Gaming Club, Dance Clubs and Art Club.

One Akoma Unity Center scholar launched a peer-to-peer tutoring program with the guidance and support of her mentors. The program gives seniors and high school students the opportunity to mentor their peers and build tutoring skills.

“From the first moment I entered their site,” Shayla Whitaker said, “they have been keen to push me into the spotlight and have introduced me to many great people, community service activities and into the world of politics.”

Michael Diaz said, “Akoma’s Rites of Passage Program and peerto-peer tutoring program both have had a huge impact in my life.”

The tutoring program has given him and others the opportunity to help students from elementary through high school with their schoolwork, he said.

“Akoma is a place where I can be myself without anyone judging me,” Emya Mitchell said. “I’ve had the chance to participate in some awesome programs at Akoma. I was accepted into the Young Legislators Program and my favorite part was being able to take a trip to Sacramento and visit the State Capitol.”

Thanks, Akoma Unity, Center for your dedication to our youth!