| California State University-Hayward is using its Community Outreach Partnership Centers grant to perform outreach activities in South Hayward, California. The university is performing activities in three functional areas that directly address current community needs. These areas include employment and training, expanding educational opportunity for youth, and access to support services.
The target area of South Hayward has endured poverty and social distress for over three decades. Businesses on the main commercial artery, Tennyson Road, consist of family businesses catering to the diverse ethnic population, check cashing outlets, fast food restaurants, automobile repair shops, and a very high concentration of on- and off-sale outlets for alcohol. The housing stock consists of multifamily apartment units or three- or four-unit structures primarily built in the late 1950s and 1960s. Much of the area appears blighted with poor fencing, weed infested lots, and abandoned cars, reminding everyone of the need for additional resources for community members.
In spite of the above challenges, South Hayward remains a community marked by a strong civic activity and hope for the future. Limited resources and high interest in improving conditions for residents have created an environment of cooperation between service providers, churches, and volunteer organizations. A number of community-based organizations populate the area, offering services such as shelter programs, counseling, English as a Second Language, youth leadership programs, social services, health support, and childcare. With these community-level services in place, a strong foundation for rebuilding South Hayward exists.
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