Newsroom

July 2026 — Auberle's 412 Youth Zone Staff poses during the Youth Zone's ten year anniversary celebration at their drop-in location in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Auberle's 412 Youth Zone helps young people navigate life beyond foster care and housing instability with personalized support, essential resources, opportunitites for creative expression, and a community that cares.

A Q&A with Jen Strom, Deputy Director of Auberle's 412 Youth Zone 

About Auberle's 412 Youth Zone 

Q: Who do you serve with your team and how?
A: We serve young adults ages 16-23 who have aged out of the Foster Care system or are facing unstable housing. We have core values that allow us to focus on how to approach each young person individually.

• Relationships: We believe all people need authentic relationships with caring adults and peers.

• Intent: We assume positive intent. Every one of us and every young person is doing the best they can to meet their basic needs with the skills they currently have.

• Commitment: We are committed to cultivating a Zone that respects nonviolence, emotional intelligence, social learning, growth and change, social responsibility, open communication, and democracy.

• Expertise: We uphold that young people are the experts in their lives.

• Change: We maintain that everyone is capable of change and everyone deserves the chance to change. Change is an iterative process that includes progress, retreats, and stagnation.

• Potential: We believe each young person we encounter has great potential to make a positive contribution to our community.
  
  

  Auberle's 412 Youth Zone Staff meet as a full team in the Downtown Pittsburgh drop-in location. Staff meet regularly to share best practices for supporting 1,000+ youth annually.

Q: What are your goals as a team?
Our mission is to provide a safe and welcoming environment where young people from Allegheny County can find the stability, support, and resources they need to reach their goals and achieve their aspirations in life beyond the Youth Zone. 
 

At Auberle's 412 Youth Zone, community is the catalyst for change. Here, staff and participants enjoy food, dancing, and fellowship at the Youth Zone's annual Holiday Party. 

Q: How would you describe your team in a few words?
A: Dedicated, compassionate, driven, and holistic.

Q: What motivates your team to do this work?
A: The young people we serve!
 

Auberle's Director of Young Adult Services, Kortney Hartman, gives a tour of the on-site mural at the 412 Youth Zone, where participants were invited to write what the Youth Zone means to them. 

Q: What type of impact is the 412 Youth Zone currently having? 
A:  We are proud to share that both a 412 Youth Zone staff member and a Youth Zone member were recognized at the Statewide SWAN Permanency Conference in June 2026 for their outstanding contributions to youth advocacy and support.

Our very own staff member Kashawna Jackson was honored with the Independent Living (IL) Professional of the Year Award at the SWAN/IL Conference. Over the past decade, Shawna has made a lasting impact on the lives of countless young people. She embodies the values of compassion, commitment, trust, and consistency, meeting youth where they are and supporting them as they navigate their journeys toward independence. Her dedication continues to resonate not only with current Youth Zone members but also throughout our alumni community.

Xavier, a 412 Youth Zone member, received the IL Youth Advocate of the Year Award in recognition of his exceptional leadership and advocacy. A recent graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Xavier has actively participated in the FosterClub program and played a key role in connecting the Heyward House Foundation with 412 Youth Zone, helping to strengthen resources and opportunities for youth. Today, he continues his commitment to supporting others through his work as a child welfare professional in Allegheny County.

We congratulate Shawna and Xavier on these well-deserved recognitions and thank them for the meaningful difference they continue to make in the lives of young people.

In addition to life skills classes, financial literacy classes, and educational support, Auberle's 412 Youth Zone offers a creative recording studio space, laundry, showers, a clothing closet, and more. These resources help youth feel confident and supported in their transition to independence.

Q: What message do you want to send to the Auberle community about this work? 
A: Be kind to one another. You never know how kindness can mend the scars that go unseen.

Throughout 2026, we’re shining a light on the people behind the mission at Auberle: teams whose dedication, expertise, and collaboration make our life-changing work possible. Join us at www.auberle.org/careers.

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