Opened in 1994, the Oak Street Youth Center (OSYC) was developed to address the lack of programs targeted to young people in middle and high school. To address this gap of services in the community, BCNC created the Oak Street Youth Center (OSYC) which addresses the changing needs and issues of children who are becoming young adults, and provides youth with a safe space and the opportunity to make choices, and learn in a creative and supportive environment.

The youth center works with young people ages 11 to 18. The center develops the leadership, social, emotional, and academic skills of Asian American youth. The OSYC is works with youth to create opportunities for personal growth and leadership and we connect and engage youth with their family, school and their community.

The program has three primary components:

• Academic
• Leadership
• Recreation and Enrichment

The academic component is the Chinatown After School Enrichment program (CASEP) which offers

• academic and homework tutoring by trained volunteer tutors;
• English as a Second Language classes at different levels (basic, advanced, and a conversation class);
• MCAS, ISEE and SAT preparation;
• College Workshops and Tours (new in 2007-2008 program year) for high school students who need assistance in the college application process

There is a small tuition for CASEP activities.

The leadership component includes three main programs:

• YouLead: a volunteer youth leadership and mentoring program, trains 15-20 youth leaders (aged 14-18) a year to develop workshops, activity clubs, and support groups for their peers. This is a year long commitment, and YouLead mentors get volunteer hours for their involvement.
• Girls' Values: a program for Asian American girls (aged 11-14) to get paired up with a mentor, meet in a group weekly to have a supportive setting to talk about issues of being a girl. The weekly sessions include field trips, activities (from cooking to crafts) and discussions.
• Coffee House: a business program for teens where they learn about basic marketing, finance, and business concepts and skills. They put on events for the Youth Center.

And lastly the Youth Center offers enrichment and recreation activities. Among these offerings are field trips to local museum and areas of interests; recreational activities including sports instruction and cooperative team games; and activity clubs such as Chinese calligraphy, cooking, musical instruments and band, musical composition, quilt making, architecture, and drama.

Recognizing that a strong and supportive family is important for the healthy development of a young person, we plan parent workshops and family field trips to provide opportunities for families and parents to meet and support each other. Counseling, translation, and advocacy services are also available to both youth and parents.

2:00 pm - 7:00 pm (during school days); 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm (Saturdays)

10:00 am - 7:00 pm (during summer); 1:00 pm - 7:00 pm (public school vacation weeks)

A annual membership is required to attend all Oak Street Youth Center programs. Some activities and programs may require a small additional fee.

Questions about the Oak Street Youth Center?

Contact Sophia Kim, Program Director: 617-635-5129, x1026 or sophia.kim@bcnc.net

For bilingual support, contact Victoria Yue, Senior Youth Worker: 617-635-5129, x1015 or victoria.yue@bcnc.net