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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. MissionLAYC’s mission is “to support youth and their families in their determination to live, work, and study with dignity, hope, and joy.” Every young person who comes through LAYC’s doors will obtain all needed services to meet three goals essential for a successful transition to young adulthood: (1) increased academic success, defined as graduation from high school and at least two years of post-secondary education; (2) improved ability to successfully transition to work and retain employment with long-term career potential; and (3) improved skills for healthy living. Additionally, LAYC has one overarching organizational goal: to promote positive change in conditions, policies, and laws affecting youth. 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. All LAYC services are provided using a positive youth development framework that promotes skill building, community engagement, and opportunities for leadership development. What We DoLAYC 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. Promotor PathwayThe Promotor Pathway, is LAYC's intensive, long-term relationship-based strategy to meet the multiple needs of the region’s most vulnerable youth: disconnected young people. These youth are likely to be homeless or in foster care, have substance abuse or mental health issues, be involved with the criminal justice system or gangs, have dropped out of school, or be unemployed. The Promotor Pathway is undergoing a random assignment evaluation conducted by Public/Private Ventures and has received national recognition as part of the Social Innovation Fund through Venture Philanthropy Partners youthCONNECT initiative. Measuring SuccessLAYC’s work in outcomes measurement and performance management serves as a national model for the use of data to inform nonprofit organizational and programmatic decision-making. To measure effectiveness, LAYC uses Efforts-to-Outcomes (ETO) performance software to collect and analyze demographic, output, and outcome information on each program. Outcome measures are linked to LAYC’s three primary goals for youth in the areas of education, work skills and healthy behaviors. LAYC is one of the few nonprofits to have multiple staff receive ETO Administrator Gold Certification. |
