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Welcome to LAYC's Maryland branch, the Maryland Multicultural Youth Centers (MMYC). Here you will find information about LAYC/MMYC's programs in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties. LAYC's mission is to empower a diverse population of youth to achieve a successful transition to adulthood, through multi-cultural, comprehensive and innovative programs that address youth's social, academic and career needs. Our commitment to results-based programming that meets youth where they are, are the pillars that guide the work in Maryland.

Luisa Montero

Several years ago, as more of LAYC's youth, families and staff began moving to the Maryland suburbs and these inner suburbs began to experience a steep increase in the immigrant population, LAYC began the process of expanding services to these areas. In the summer of 2005, in partnership with the Democracy Collaborative of the University of Maryland and Nicholas Orem Middle School in Hyattsville, LAYC offered its first program in Maryland as MMYC. Since then, LAYC/MMYC has grown to serving over 1,000 youth per year through four sites in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties (Silver Spring, Germantown, Langley Park and Riverdale). MMYC staff sit on boards, participate on task forces and community dialogues, and support community events. We are proud to be part of the fabric of these communities in Maryland, partnering with schools, county government agencies, other community-based groups, faith-based groups, colleges and universities.

Our team of 30 staff and 35 AmeriCorps members provide daily support to youth in the form of afterschool and summer programs, pre-GED and GED classes, computer training, college preparation programs, job readiness training, job and internship placements, gang prevention, arts, recreation, case management and counseling. But beyond the programs themselves, our staff form relationships with youth; youth who may be living in unsafe environments, abusing substances, experiencing mental health difficulties, are involved with the criminal justice systems or gangs, unemployed, dealing with challenging family situations, no longer in or about to drop out of school. These staff-youth relationships, combined with proven programs, result in the positive outcomes we see: graduation, enrollment in post-secondary education, employment, career decisions, stable housing, skills to lead healthy and happy lives, and the ability to play productive roles in their communities.

We are grateful to our funders and partners who understand and support the work we do on behalf of the youth we serve. We are grateful to the many youth and their families, who trust us and work with us to make the efforts necessary to improve their lives and their contributions to the community.

Luisa Montero
Director, LAYC/Maryland Multicultural Youth Centers

Lupi Quinteros-Grady became the Deputy Director for the Maryland Multicultural Youth Centers (MMYC) in 2005. MMYC is a division of the Latin American Youth Center that is serving minority and immigrant youth by providing comprehensive, culturally sensitive programs in education, employment, and social services. She provides executive management expertise in the oversight of three sites in Prince George's and Montgomery Counties serving over 1,000 young people annually. Quinteros is an appointed Commissioner serving on the Governor's Commission of Service & Volunteerism. She has worked in the field of youth development for 13 years and has implemented a variety of programs such as Upward Bound, Workforce Programs and AmeriCorps. She is a graduate of The George Washington University where she received a Master's in Bilingual & Special Education.

MMYC Student Spotlight