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What is OCAY? OCAY-Oneonta Community Alliance for Youth- was founded in 1996 by area parents and teens who were concerned about youth rights and safety, youth empowerment, creative and safe after school, weekend, and summer activities for teens, and conflict over skateboarding. Kate O'Donnell organized community members to participate in the Children's Defense Fund, Stand for Children event in Oneonta and a bus trip and rally in Washington, D.C. and later convened concerned parents to address these concerns. Soon after, OCAY began organizing a series of community Forums on Youth at The Autumn Cafe, having monthly meetings, meeting with city officials responsible for youth programming, public safety, recreation, and funding, talking with local conflict resolution groups, and hosting Open Mic Coffeehouses at Scorchy's Diner, now the Corfu.What do we do? OCAY advocates and organizes for teens and families, for creative youth activities which are youth- inspired and organized, for safe, supervised, and fun spaces for young people, and for giving youth a voice in their communities. We work across generations and bring community groups together in coalitions to address youth, family, and community concerns and needs and to develop youth leadership.Who are our members? Otsego County pre-teens and teens 12-18, parents, area youth advocates, and community members.Oneonta Community Alliance for Youth’s IRS Forms 990 and 1023, Financial Statements, Conflict of Interest Policy and Governing Documents are available upon request. |
