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Mission

Founded in 1968 and incorporated as a non-profit 501 (c)(3) in 1974 for the purpose of serving immigrant Latino youth, LAYC has grown from a small grassroots recreation center to a nationally recognized organization serving all low-income youth and families across the District of Columbia and in Maryland's Prince George's and Montgomery Counties.

LAYC achieves its mission by operating a regional network of youth centers and public charter schools with a shared commitment to meet young people where they are and help them make a successful transition to young adulthood. LAYC provides multi-lingual, culturally sensitive programs in five areas; Educational Enhancement, Workforce Investment, Social Services, Art + Media, and Advocacy.

What We Do

LAYC provides multi-lingual, culturally sensitive programs in the following areas:

Educational Enhancementprograms include standards-based culturally competent year-round tutoring and homework assistance, healthy recreation and fitness, computer literacy classes, and college preparation.

Social Services programs strengthen the family unit as the primary foundation for youth development through counseling, prevention, child placement, and residential housing.

Workforce Investment programs assist out-of-school youth build the skills they need to obtain and retain meaningful employment through a holistic program of job readiness and life skills training, job placement services, computer instruction, and preparation to pass the General Education Development (GED) examination.

Art + Media programs encourage youth to experience the power of their art as a means of self-expression and as a tool for exploring community issues. Creative abilities are developed through classes in fine arts, photography, video, radio, and media production, music, and creative writing.

Advocacy programs work to influence public policy and practices and social systems that affect low-income and minority youth in Washington, D.C. and Maryland.

Download an LAYC Information Packet (pdf)

 

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