ABOUT YCD

OUR MISSION


YCD believes that every individual should have the right to sustainable and generational economic mobility. We positively impact lives, empower people to break cycles of poverty for themselves, their families, and their communities.

YCD IN THE COMMUNITY

OUR STORY


The great migration of 1910 to 1970 brought an influx of African-Americans from the South and into urban areas like San Francisco with the promise of job opportunities and better living conditions. What was once traditionally known as a workforce development agency, YCD has grown to expand it’s programs and service areas to focus on assisting community members from the cradle to career and beyond. 

By the 1960s, the Bayview-Hunterspoint area consisted primarily of African-Americans and other minorities, all of whom faced challenges with inadequate housing, limited employment opportunities, and racial discrimination. In 1973, a group of fifteen young Black people, disappointed with the city's lack of funding for essential training programs, marched to City Hall to demand $75,000 in funds to train community members for viable careers where they could support themselves and their families.

This group was known as Chocolate City, and they would serve as the inspiration for what we now know as Young Community Developers. Over the years we have served and connected residents to the tools and resources needed to live sustainable lives.

YCD has grown from a workforce development agency to expand its programs and service areas to focus on assisting any and all community members from the cradle to career and beyond.

In 2018, YCD expanded its reach by partnering with 100% College Prep and Inner City Youth; two organizations with strong histories and allegiance to their communities.

100% College Prep serves the Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood and makes the dream of college achievable for all children. 

Inner City Youth (ICY) has been an anchor in the OMI Community and D11 for over 20 years. Their aim is to inspire and empower through innovative programming, services and resources that create long term sustainability for youth and adults in their community.

WE’VE BEEN RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE BEST NONPROFITS TO WORK FOR!

Early this year, Young Community Developers was named as one of the 2024 Best Nonprofits to Work For by The NonProfit Times, the leading national business publication for nonprofit managers, has partnered with Best Companies Group to identify nonprofit organizations where leaders have excelled in creating quality workplaces.

For more information on The Nonprofit Times’ Best Nonprofits to Work For program, visit www.BestNonprofitstoWorkFor.com.

MEET THE TEAM

  • Dion-Jay Brookter

    Chief Executive Officer

  • Aisha Blackwell

    Chief People & Operations Officer

  • Divali Ramkalawan

    Chief Program Officer

  • Rashieda Mumin-Jordan

    Chief Financial Officer

  • Diane Gray

    Director of Education

  • Mitchell Smith, Ed.D

    Director of Workforce Development and Training

  • Tracey Taper

    Director of Special Initiatives

  • Avei St. Pierre

    Program Director, Inner City Youth

  • Crystal Brookter

    Program Director, Black to the Future (BTTF)

  • Maurice Moret

    Program Director, The Phoenix Project

  • Valentina Sedeno

    Program Director, Reentry

  • Hattie Wyatt

    Site Director, Potrero Hill

OUR BOARD MEMBERS

  • Sedrick Spencer

    President

  • Mitesh Parikh

    Co-Vice President

  • Rhonda Andrew

    Co- Vice President

  • Dr. Nadia Anderson

    Secretary

  • Brittney Doyle

    Treasurer

  • Claude Everhart

    Member

  • Toye Moses

    Member

  • Carol Tatum

    Member

  • Manuel Flores

    Member

CELEBRATING YCD’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY


Last year, we celebrated our 50th anniversary with our colleagues, donors, advocates, and our community. In addition to the Golden Impact Gala we hosted at the Chase Center, we celebrated the wins from our Housing, Education, and Workforce departments with their own individual showcases.

REPORTS & HIGHLIGHTS


YCD strategically combines resources to create successful programs. We want you to know how we operate and allocate our resources, and what’s next for our organization. You’ll find our updated reports below. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

2020-2021 Annual Report

2019 Annual Report