ABOUT YOUTHBEAT
YouthBeat provides free digital media training to OAKLAND kids. Our mission is to help underserved Oakland youth achieve their dreams and succeed– in school, career, and life.
2009 — FOUNDED
YouthBeat was founded as the Media Enterprise Alliance by Jeff Key-- a long-time art and media teacher at Head Royce, a prestigious private school in the Oakland hills.
Disturbed by the lack of opportunities available to Oakland’s low-income youth, Jeff set out to provide the same kind of cutting edge media arts training provided at private schools to low-income students in Oakland public schools for free.
Jeff launches an institutional partnership with KDOL-TV and develops an accredited video production class through the Oakland Unified School District and Laney College.
2010 - PRODUCTION COMPANY LAUNCHES
YB’s paid youth internship program established with first client work. Advanced students begin working with professionals on real-life, resume-building video projects, which also earn revenue to support programming.
2012 - YOUTH AND THE NEWS
Youth Beat becomes a PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Lab, providing students the opportunity to create stories that air on the national newscast. Production begins on our student newscast in the brand new KDOL-TV studio.
2014 - SCHOOL SITE SATELLITE PROGRAMS LAUNCH
First satellite school programs launch at Oakland International High School and MetWest High School, allowing us to deliver programming and classes to students during the school day. Enrollment doubles from 50 students per year to 100 students.
2016 - PROGRAM EXPANSION
Enrollment explodes to nearly 300 students per year -- a 65% increase over the previous year. Programming now at seven school sites throughout the city.
2017 - YOUTHBEAT
Media Enterprise Alliance rebrands itself as YouthBeat and further expands it’s reach, launching an after school animation program and a Laney College dual enrollment course in studio production.
2018 - YouthBeat Forges NEW INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS
Alliances with Vans, Pixar, the Oakland A’s, and many more companies are established to help students learn from and network with industry professionals.
2019 - FURTHER PROGRAM EXPANSION
Enrollment surpasses 500 students! And YouthBeat’s programs now include classes for elementary, middle and high school students. YouthBeat PRO grows to new heights with high-end, major projects completed for Bridgespan, Vans, and the Oakland Workforce Development Board.
2020 - YOUTHBEAT GOES VIRTUAL!
In reaction to COVID-19, Youth Beat goes virtual in March 2020 -- as soon as the quarantine started -- and our talented team of Teaching Artists quickly learns to engage and support students in a virtual space. The students create fabulous, award-winning work -- all from home, working in virtual teams!
2022 - apprenticeship + careers
To help meet the need of opportunity youth and create an alternate career track for students, YouthBeat launches its first Pre-Apprenticeship cohort and expands its impact in working with young adults on career development and industry access.
