Seven Tepees Youth Program

The Learning Center serves low-income students from San Francisco’s most under-resourced neighborhoods: the Mission, Potrero Hill, Bayview/Hunter’s Point, Outer Mission, and Excelsior. Youth in these communities face many challenges, including poverty, immigration status, homelessness, parental neglect/abandonment and/or being a caretaker for younger siblings.

Many Tepees’ students attend underperforming schools with low test scores and graduation rates, and 98 percent are Latino and/or African American, two groups historically underrepresented in higher education and statistically at greater risk than others for school failure. All are in need of additional support and are often referred to Seven Tepees by a school teacher, counselor, or administrator due to the high risk of dropping out of school.

Seven Tepees’ comprehensive integrated services offer support and engagement through two distinct but complementary programs. The Learning Center, located in the heart of San Francisco’s Mission District, is an engaging place for youth after school and during the summer. For many, this is the safest place they have in their lives – where they can do their homework, receive tutoring, be with friends, explore new activities, participate in counseling groups, meet with an individual counselor and learn healthy living practices, all while being supported by staff who know them and care about their growth and well-being. At the Learning Center youth engage in environmental stewardship, academic support and enrichment, career preparation and exploration, paid internships, mentoring, leadership development, field trips and community service opportunities after school and during the summer. Upon successful completion of the high school Learning Center Program, they are eligible to receive a scholarship of up to $5,000.