Bridges Oakland

CA · Since 2010

The Oakland Bridges program began in 2010. Bridges serves young adults with barriers to employment ages 17-26 throughout the Oakland metro area with career preparation, job placement, and retention support.

1,031

Young adults served since 2010

960

Placements since 2010

78%

90-day retention (2025)

543+

Employer partners

51

Schools served

About this program

Bridges Oakland serves young adults ages 17 to 26 with barriers to employment across the Oakland metro area. The program partners with Oakland Unified School District to identify students who can benefit from career readiness support and to coordinate transition planning with school staff.

Founded in 2010, Bridges Oakland builds on the broader Bay Area Bridges presence to deliver career preparation, job placement, and a year of follow-along support to young adults across the Oakland metro area. The program operates in coordination with Bridges Richmond and Bridges San Francisco to extend the network's reach across the East Bay.

Bridges Oakland partners with the Oakland Fund for Children and Youth (OFCY) and other local funders to support career preparation, placement, and on-the-job follow-along for young adults across the East Bay.

Like every Bridges site, the Oakland program is free for participants and their families. A Youth Employment Specialist works one-on-one with each young adult to identify career goals, develop interviewing skills, connect with employers, create a résumé, apply for jobs, get a job, and succeed in a job. After a placement, the same specialist supports the new hire through the first year of employment, coordinating with the employer's HR team and following up at 30, 60, and 90-day milestones. The program is funded through grants, donations, and corporate giving. There is no tuition, and no fee to the employer.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm. Contact the Oakland team using the information below to start a conversation.

Stories

Stories from Oakland

Graduates and employers in the Oakland community.

See all stories
Ash Kravitz in Oakland, from the 2021 Stephen G. Marriott Youth Achievement Award video
Participant StoryAmazon

Oakland participant promoted at Amazon, 2021 honoree

Ash Kravitz of Oakland received the 2021 Stephen G. Marriott Youth Achievement Award after a holiday hire at Amazon converted to a permanent role and a promotion within two months.

Oakland, CAMay 5, 2026
Earning Homer Awards as a lot associate at Home Depot Oakland at Home Depot
Participant StoryHome Depot

Earning Homer Awards as a lot associate at Home Depot Oakland

Ben, 21 and on the autism spectrum, works as a lot associate at Home Depot in Oakland and has been recognized by co-workers for excellent customer service.

Oakland, CAMay 5, 2026
Nick Bell (left) and Max (right) at the Claremont Club & Spa Kids' Club in Oakland — Nick was a 2018 Bridges placement, Max joined the team in 2024
Participant StoryClaremont Club & Spa (Fairmont)

Paying it forward in the East Bay

Bridges placed Nick at a neighborhood Kids' Club in 2018. Six years later, he's the one doing the hiring.

Oakland, CANovember 1, 2024

The Oakland network

Who we work with in Oakland.

Employers hiring our participants

  • Safeway
  • The Home Depot
  • Sprouts Farmers Market
  • UPS
  • Amazon
  • Tesla
  • Dave & Buster's
  • Marshalls
  • Old Navy
  • FedEx
  • Dollar Tree
  • Target

Local partners and districts

  • Oakland Unified School District
  • Oakland Fund for Children and Youth (OFCY)
  • Smith CT

51

schools in the Oakland service area.

View all 51 schools →

  • Oakland High School

    Oakland Unified School District

  • Oakland Technical High School

    Oakland Unified School District

  • Skyline High School

    Oakland Unified School District

  • Rudsdale High School

    Oakland Unified School District

  • Bay Hill High School

    Oakland Unified School District

  • Castlemont High School

    Oakland Unified School District

  • Life Academy High School of Health and Bioscience

    Oakland Unified School District

  • Sojourner Truth Independent Study School

    Oakland Unified School District

  • Five Keys Independence High School

    Oakland Unified School District

  • Fremont Federation High School

    Oakland Unified School District

  • Golden State College Prep Academy

    Oakland Unified School District

  • MetWest High School

    Oakland Unified School District

  • Ralph J. Bunche Academy

    Oakland Unified School District

  • Arise High School

    Oakland Unified School District

  • Gateway to College High at Laney College

    Oakland Unified School District

  • Alameda High School

  • Alameda Unified School District Adult Transition Program

  • Bay Area Technology School

  • Berkeley High School

  • Berkeley Technology Academy

  • Bridge Academy Community School

  • Btech Academy

  • Butler Academy

  • CIP - Laney College

  • Coliseum College Prep Academy

  • Dewey Academy

  • East Bay Innovation Academy (EBIA)

  • Encinal Junior & Senior High School

  • Envision Academy

  • Fusion Academy

  • Hayward Adult School

  • Ida B. Wells High School

  • James Baldwin Academy at Seneca

  • Lodestad

  • LPS High School

  • McClymonds High School

  • Merrill F. West

  • Merritt College

  • Monta Vista High School

  • Oakland High School

  • Pittsburg High School

  • Royal Sunset High School

  • San Leandro High School

  • San Lorenzo High School

  • Seneca Center

  • Sequoia High School

  • Street Academy Alternative School

  • Summit Tahoma School

  • The Phillips Academy

  • The Springstone School

  • West County Community High School

Meet the team

Working alongside young adults and employers in Oakland.

Christopher Dourov

Interim Director

Christopher Dourov

christopher.dourov@bridgestowork.org

Specialists & support team

Office

510-834-4700

Deaf or hard of hearing? Dial 711 to reach us through Telecommunications Relay Service, or email info@bridgestowork.org.

2201 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612
Monday–Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm

Common questions

Bridges Oakland, answered.

Does Bridges from School to Work serve Oakland?
Yes. Bridges has operated in Oakland since 2010, helping young adults with disabilities prepare for, find, and keep competitive jobs with local employers.
Is Bridges Oakland free?
Yes. Bridges is always free for participants and their families, and there is no fee to employers. The program is funded through grants, donations, and corporate giving.
Who is eligible for Bridges Oakland?
Bridges serves young adults with disabilities who are preparing to enter the workforce, including both in-school students and out-of-school job seekers. The quickest way to find out is to start an interest form or answer a few quick questions on this site.
How does Bridges Oakland work?
Bridges follows a Prepare, Place, Support model: one-on-one job-readiness coaching, strength-based matching with local employers, and a dedicated Youth Employment Specialist who stays involved for a full year after a participant is hired.
What kinds of employers hire through Bridges Oakland?
Bridges Oakland places young adults with local and national employers across retail, hospitality, food service, healthcare, logistics, and other industries, including Safeway, The Home Depot, Sprouts Farmers Market, UPS, among many others.
How do I get started with Bridges Oakland?
Start an interest form on this website, or contact the Oakland team directly using the office details on this page. A Youth Employment Specialist will follow up to talk through next steps.
Where is the Bridges Oakland office?
The Bridges Oakland office is located at 2201 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612. Office hours are Monday–Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm.
Where you come in

Ready to connect with Bridges Oakland?

Whether you’re looking for support, want to hire talent, or are interested in partnering, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply NowSee If Bridges FitsHire from Bridges