African American Community Service Agency

AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY SERVICE AGENCY FRC

FIRST 5 Family Resource Centers are places in our community where children, parents, and caregivers can learn and grow together. Family Resource Center volunteers support families and help ensure that children are happy, healthy, and prepared for school and life. We are always looking for passionate individuals to share their compassion and talents with the young children and families on our community.

Programs

The African American Community Service Agency is available to community members seven days a week. Our facilities open early and close late to accommodate busy schedules. Here are some of the program our community can participate in supporting either via donation or as a volunteer.

AACSA Meaningful Life Initiative (AMLI) STEAM

The African American Community Service Agency (AACSA) recognizes education and opportunity are the pathways to a meaningful life. It is reflected in the quote, “Education means emancipation.” by Frederick Douglass. The AACSA strives to educate its community in Health & Wellness, Economic Development, Human Services, and most of all Education.

The existence of people from African and African American descent in Santa Clara County continues to scatter and slowly decline. Many of the past residents have relocated to the outskirts of the Bay Area i.e. Tracy, Modesto, Stockton, Antioch, Vallejo or left the state of California entirely. For the 2.4 – 2.8% remaining, the access to centralized culturally relevant community resources, networks of influence, investment, educators, education support systems, products and services have disappeared.

The AACSA Meaningful Life Initiative (AMLI) will ensure the remaining scattered population of African and African American descent is provided the village it needs to thrive, find meaningful purpose in their lives and continue to contribute to the diverse entrepreneurship, ingenuity and economic success of Silicon Valley and Santa Clara County. The AMLI, will host culturally relevant events, celebrations of community, cradle to beyond retirement education support systems, access to county and other social services.

Beyond School Hours

The Beyond School Hours program contains a collaboration of various programs designed to address the educational, health, emotional, awareness, and mental development of youth beyond their school activities. This program includes the following:

AACSA Leadership Academy
Summer Science Camp
Kids Club
Discovering the Total Woman from the Inside Out

Computer Training Center

The Computer Training Center program includes computer education in software/ hardware, multi-media training, and other technology programs. This program model has a controlled environment that is innovative and offers an opportunity for community reintegration with private, public and community partnering.

Young Adults Education Workshop

The Young Adults Education Workshop program provides workshops and seminars designed to prepare young adults in transitioning to adult life. The program includes seminars like interview techniques, resume writing, how to dress for success, financial management, volunteerism etc.

Health & Wellness Program

The Health & Wellness Program provides events, workshops and seminars that deal with the health/mental and emotional development of the community. This program includes the following:

Thursday Senior Brown Bag Distribution
Senior Holiday/Christmas Luncheon
Thanksgiving Food Baskets
Christmas Toys for Tots

Silicon Valley African American Cultural Center Project

The San Jose, the Capital of the Silicon Valley, has always been known for its diversity and cultural crossroads. Historically, African Americans have forefront in civic works, education and technological development in the Silicon Valley. It is because of this cultural richness that created a need for a central location for cultural preservation in the Valley. The Cultural Center Project is a joint venture between the African-American Community Services Agency (AACSA) and the Antioch Housing and Economic Development Corporation (AHEDC) of Antioch Baptist Church.

These two organizations have partnered to develop the only Cultural Center of its kind in the Silicon Valley. More than just a Cultural Center, the African-American Cultural Center Project is a state-of-the-art, mixed use, multi-faceted project, encompassing, a new modern “Green built” Community Center, with housing attached. Green build construction derives enhanced benefits in the health, economic, and environmental areas of living thereby improving overall quality of life.

This is a community, grassroots endeavor in which the community, businesses, and organizations will be engaged to make this endeavor a huge success. To learn more about this project, how you can be involved and/or join our future monthly newsletter, visit our site at http://www.svaacc.org.

Information Referral Center

The Information Referral Center program provides a web portal in which organizations, churches and other non-profit organizations can post a profile advertising services and activities that are value-added services to the community. The community is able to access the portal to search for organizations that provides a service they are seeking. This portal also provides the ability for organizations to post information that the community find valuable like programs, events and activities that is going on in the community. The Information Referral Center program is designed to meet a major void that has been identified by the community.

Community Calendar
Community Resource Center

Information Career Center

The Information Career Center program provides tools, services and activities designed to help the community obtain jobs, intern opportunities and career development. This program provides the ability for visitors to search for jobs and intern opportunities via our computers or binders containing the job listings, interns and volunteer postings. This program also includes organizing and sponsoring job fairs at the Agency, seminars that cover anything from interview techniques to how to dress for success and workshops that allow the community to share their experiences and leads that others may take advantage to obtain a job.

Referral Network for Social Services

For more information on any of our programs contact the Agency at 408.292.3276 or email us at [email protected] If you are interested in working with the Fundraising Committee on any one of the programs listed, please send your interest to us at [email protected]. Please include your contact info and which program(s) you are interested in volunteering as part of the Fundraising Committee. We are also accepting donations in which you can specify which program(s) you want to support or you can make a general donation.