As the 2023 Black History Month comes to a close, JCYC is proud to once again launch the Thomatra Scott Scholarship campaign! A former JCYC staff member, Thomatra Scott or “Scotty” was an advocate for youth in education, health, housing, employment, human rights, prison reform, and racial justice until his passing in 2000. We would sincerely appreciate donations to this fund which will support the educational goals of Black youth participants from JCYC programs.
Scotty acted as an important bridge between the African American and Japanese American communities in San Francisco’s Western Addition. In 1969, at the height of the Black Power era, Scotty joined the Pan-African People’s Organization (PAPO) and served as a youth program coordinator for the Economic Opportunities Council’s (EOC) Multi-service Center. Scotty recognized that the challenges for many Black youth was a direct result of a poor educational system, and he counseled hundreds of boys being released from detention centers to enroll in remedial reading courses. In addition, Scotty was a founding member of the Westside Mental Health Center and a member of the Western Addition Council of Youth Serving Organizations.
In the twilight of his career, Scotty took a position with JCYC as a community organizer focused on preventing youth substance abuse. JCYC Executive Director Jon Osaki reflected, “I happen to be at JCYC on my 18th birthday and Scotty gestured me to come over. He greeted me with a warm smile and stuck a voter registration form in my hand. For the first time, it made me think about the importance of standing up and making sure that my voice was counted. All of us at JCYC are honored to continue a scholarship in Scotty’s name and cannot think of an individual more worthy.”
JCYC would be grateful to our many friends and supporters who can contribute to the Thomatra Scott Scholarship. Donations can be made online at
donatenow.networkforgood.org/JCYC
or via check made out to “JCYC”. Please make sure to specify the Thomatra Scott Scholarship. Checks can be mailed to:
JCYC Administration
2012 Pine Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
Thank you in advance for your consideration.