Community Works West

Community Works believes every young person deserves the opportunity to thrive, regardless of the challenges they face or the circumstances into which they were born.

Since 1997, Community Works has helped young people, families, and communities across the Bay Area build brighter futures through youth leadership development, restorative justice, healing-centered support, and systems change. Our mission is to remedy the harms of our justice system, restore our connectedness, and render transformational policy change. We envision a future where justice heals.

Many of the young people we serve have experienced significant barriers to success, including parental incarceration, exposure to violence, involvement with the justice system, housing instability, and other forms of trauma. Rather than defining young people by their challenges, we help them discover their strengths, build confidence, develop leadership skills, and become agents of change in their communities.

Through programs like ProjectWHAT!, our nationally recognized youth-led leadership program for children of incarcerated parents, young people develop public speaking, advocacy, mentorship, and civic engagement skills while transforming their lived experiences into leadership. Through restorative justice diversion programs, youth are given opportunities to take accountability, repair harm, and stay connected to their communities rather than becoming entangled in the justice system. Through coaching, case management, survivor support, arts-based healing, and reentry services, Community Works helps young people and families build stability, resilience, and hope.

Our work is rooted in the belief that healing, connection, and opportunity create safer and stronger communities than punishment alone. We partner with young people, survivors, families, schools, community organizations, and public agencies to interrupt cycles of harm and create pathways toward long-term success.

Your support helps provide mentoring, leadership development, restorative justice services, healing-centered care, and advocacy opportunities for youth and families throughout the Bay Area. Together, we can help young people realize their potential, strengthen communities, and create a future where justice heals.