Youth in the Fruitvale community are severely underserved in afterschool recreational opportunities and youth programs, and they have limited access to opportunities that help them grow and develop in positive ways. This is especially true for the 14-18 year olds evidenced by the 50% dropout rate for Latino students within the Fruitvale district. This is the highest drop-out rate of any racial group within the Oakland Unified School District. Although the Fruitvale has one of the highest concentrations of children living in the city, it has the least amount of parks and open space and the fewest afterschool activities and teen centers in the City of Oakland. Through the Empower Our Youth: Ensure Our Future project funded by Oakland Fund for Children and Youth, and our Fruitvale Neighborhood Sports Initiative funded by Team Up for Youth, the Unity Council has implemented efforts to begin to address the critical needs of Fruitvale youth. For more information regarding youth sports and recreation activities, please contact Jessica Jasso, Fruitvale Youth Sports Coordinator, at jjasso@unitycouncil.org or (510) 535-6121.