100 Youth Have Renewed Opportunity Thanks to The Port of Oakland

Impact Youth Programs

100 Youth Have Renewed Opportunity Thanks to The Port of Oakland

By Kristin Arzt | 6.22.2021

The Crucible is thrilled to announce that, for the third year in a row, we’ve been awarded a $5,000 Community Investment Program grant from the Port of Oakland! Thanks to the generous support of our neighbors at the Port of Oakland, 100 low-income BIPOC youth will have free access to The Crucible’s youth industrial arts programs, where they can challenge themselves and gain new skills in machine shop, blacksmithing, welding, and more.

Through their Community Investment Program, the Port of Oakland—one of the largest industrial trades employers in the country—has the capacity to serve the diverse communities within the Port’s geographical footprint, specifically in West Oakland. In supporting The Crucible, the Port’s intention is to expose youth to a variety of career opportunities, most notably in industrial trades that can lead to well-paying jobs in the local community.

“It means a lot to us to be supported by the Port of Oakland, a major employer in the industrial trades and a historic and impactful Oakland organization dedicated to supporting career pathways for young people,” says Susan Mernit, The Crucible’s Executive Director. “Here in the studios, we have seen firsthand how early exposure to working with your hands can get a young person engaged and excited about future work in the industrial trades, STEM, and artisan craftsmanship.”

Luana España, Community Affairs Representative for the Port of Oakland, emphasized they’re focused on supporting work that will serve those in Oakland, Alameda, Emeryville, San Leandro, and communities in the Port’s Local Business Area in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.

“Through our Workforce Development & Education giving area we support institutions like The Crucible that ensure youth from our local communities are exposed to career pathways in the industrial trades and educational opportunities that can turn into good-paying jobs in the future,” Luana explained.

Our youth programs are the first step in a complete pathway to young people working in the industrial trades and seeing the connection between theoretical math skills and applied learning. In The Crucible’s studios, youth can accomplish everything from building an art bike in the Bike Shop to pouring molten metal in the Foundry.