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Project WHAT! (We’re Here And Talking!) is a paid leadership and advocacy program for Bay Area youth ages 12-17 who had or currently have an incarcerated parent. Our focus is on serving young people in San Francisco and Oakland, but are also open to those who live in other parts of Alameda County and Contra Costa County.
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The goal of Project WHAT! is to create a community that encourages children with incarcerated parents to use their voice, pride, and power. PW Youth Advocates are trained as facilitators, and eventually use their experiential expertise and leadership skills to provide training workshops for law enforcement, educators, lawmakers, and other community members on how to interact with, support, and advocate for children with incarcerated parents. Using their public speaking and leadership skills gained through the program, they advocate for themselves and their peers at the local and State level by speaking at legislative hearings, participating in protests, and presenting at conferences.
Our Team
More Children in the U.S. have had a parent incarcerated than have ashma.
Our Mission
PW's mission is to raise awareness about the impacts of incarceration on young people and improve the services and policies that effect them.
Our Vision
The vision of Project WHAT! is to create a community that encourages children with incarcerated parents (CIP) to use their voice, pride and power to improve their lives and their communities