OCCUR and the San Francisco FAITHS Program are  presenting a 2012 Model Built on Faith V kick-off workshop, “Mobilizing Youth To Transform Our Communities,”  which will be held 8:30 a.m. – Noon, Thursday, Feb. 22,  at the First Unitarian Church, 685 14th St. in Oakland.

In these critical economic times, the enthusiastic involvement of young men and women is key to the future of faith-based institutions, nonprofit collaborators and the communities they serve, according to OCCUR.

In the OCCUR 2012 Kickoff Session, an expert panel of leaders will speak, including Chris Chatmon, Executive Officer of African American Male Achievement, who supports the needs of African American and young men of color for the Oakland Unified School District.

Chatmon will present proven strategies to inspire and mobilize youth as well as challenge faith institutions to take immediate steps to give  young people a voice, address their urgent and critical needs as well as engage participants in the process of transforming the conditions in their communities.

To RSVP, email at occur@sbcglobal.net or fax  (510) 268-9065 or call (510) 839-2440.