Help Launch the Oakland Pilot.
Oakland is where MacLift begins. This is our starting line — the place where our mission moves from vision to action and where the first young lives will be lifted.
Our First Pilot
MacLift Foundation's first pilot brings free mental wellness and peer mentoring support directly to Oakland youth. This is where we plant our roots, test our programs in real communities, and prove that prevention-first support can change young lives — with plans to grow across California.
The pilot will offer both in-person programming delivered through partner schools and community centers, as well as a digital program designed to reach young people wherever they are. We are actively building relationships with Oakland schools and community partners now, with a planned launch in 2027.
Every workshop, every mentoring match, and every resource will be free for youth ages 7–18 and their families. No young person should have to face their hardest days alone, and no family should have to choose between paying bills and getting their child the support they need.
Free Mental Wellness Workshops
Age-appropriate sessions that help young people understand their emotions, build coping skills, and reduce the stigma around mental health.
Peer Mentoring
Trained, background-checked mentors matched with young people for regular check-ins, encouragement, and a trusted relationship.
In-Person & Digital Programming
In-person sessions at partner schools and community centers, plus a digital program to reach youth wherever they are.
Community Partnerships
Building relationships with Oakland schools, community organizations, and families to deliver support where it matters most.
The LIFT Framework
Four guiding principles shape every aspect of the Oakland Pilot — from the first conversation with a young person to the lasting impact they carry forward.
Listen
We start by listening to young people and their families. Their voices shape the program. Before we teach, before we mentor, we hear. Youth help design what MacLift looks like in their community, because the best support starts with understanding.
Invest
We invest in trusted relationships through trained mentors who show up consistently. Every mentor is background-checked, trained, and committed to building a real connection — not a checkbox. Trust is earned, and we invest the time to earn it.
Fortify
We build coping skills, confidence, and resilience through hands-on workshops and peer support. Young people learn to manage stress, navigate conflict, and recognize their own strengths — tools they carry with them long after the program ends.
Transform
Young people leave the pilot with tools, connections, and hope for what's next. Transformation is not a single moment — it is the steady shift from silence to self-advocacy, from isolation to belonging, from struggle to strength.
Building Toward 2027
Right now, we are laying the groundwork. We are building relationships with Oakland schools and community partners, screening and training mentors and volunteers, developing our program curriculum, and putting youth-safety policies firmly in place. Every step we take today brings us closer to the day we open our doors to the young people who need us most.
The Oakland Pilot is how we prove what's possible — and how we build the foundation to expand across California. Your support today makes that future real.
Be Part of the Launch
Whether you partner with us, volunteer your time, or make a donation — you help make the Oakland Pilot a reality for hundreds of young people.