For Bay Area sports fans, the 2025-2026 seasons will be an exciting era in sports history. In February, San Francisco hosted the NBA All-Star Game; and that excitement will only continue to grow with Super Bowl LX and the FIFA World Cup both taking place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara in 2026. All of this is made possible in part through the dedication of the Bay Area Host Committee. The Bay Area Host Committee (BAHC) is a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization focused on uniting the Bay Area through sports by bringing world-class events to the region.
In partnership with Tipping Point Community, another nonprofit organization whose mission is to fight poverty in the Bay Area, the BAHC recently launched the Bridge to Work program, an employment initiative designed to create pathways toward stable, quality job opportunities for communities experiencing workforce barriers.
Juma was honored to be selected as one of the four nonprofits that will be program partners for the Bridge to Work initiative. Juma youth will fill critical roles in areas like guest services and hospitality at these major sports events. These roles will offer Juma youth new opportunities to earn, learn, and advance their skills. The program will also provide training in technical and soft skills as well as career navigation services, wraparound support in needed areas such as transportation assistance, and access to an alumni network as the program grows.
Over the All-Star weekend in February, 13 Juma youth participated in three events surrounding the NBA All-Star game, serving as a pilot for the Bridge to Work Initiative. Juma Youth’s experiences of the weekend overall were positive, with many youth highlighting the fun of meeting new people and seeing new areas of the city that they don’t usually get to work in.
“I met new people, and I was able to practice my communication skills and social skills,” a Juma youth reflected. Other youth cited their appreciation for being able to be ambassadors for their city. Several also mentioned they liked the ‘cool All-Star uniforms’ which they were able to keep. Another youth was excited to see one of their sports heroes in person on stage.
Opportunities like this one are a shining example of one of our core values that we are #strongertogether. In addition to the training and work opportunities provided to Juma youth through the Bridge to Work initiative, Juma also received a generous grant from the BAHC and Tipping Point Community to provide additional support for the young people who participate in the program.
More than ever, we are grateful for the communities that offer their support to organizations like BAHC, Tipping Point Community, and Juma. Together, we are paving the way to opportunity for young people in the Bay Area. And when youth thrive, whole communities benefit.
Feature Image Credit: nba.com/allstar/2025
