When Jada came to LAYC as a high school senior, she was working two jobs and focused on being a parent to three younger siblings. She had no parental support, faced many difficulties at school, had low self-esteem, and felt hopeless and defeated. “I didn’t want to live. I felt defeated. I was done. I…
On the banks of the Potomac River, in an elegant performance space with 25-foot high ceilings and white crinkle-textured walls, youth from LAYC’s Teen Center in DC added hundreds of sticky notes to studio mirrors that ran along the length of the room. The notes read: Belonging is smiles and laughter. Belonging means acceptance. I…
For many families in DC and Maryland, summer has come to a close and students are back in school. As the first day of school for many LAYC youth approached, the days leading up to the first day of class offered time for reflection. Students had a chance to think about the previous school year,…
This August, over 200 young people and their families gathered at LAYC/MMYC’s Prince George’s County Riverdale site for a Back to School Backpacks and Haircuts event. The event, a collaboration among LAYC/MMYC, MIGO Productions (a nightlife company), and DC Barber Expo, along with the support of other community partners, aimed to get young people excited…
It was the summer before Hope’s senior year of high school. She had had a tough time earning high marks during her first three years of high school, but this year, she resolved, would be the year that changed everything. She saw on the horizon the prospect of transferring to a school where she…
Latin American Youth Center’s summer programs are in full effect! Across DC and Maryland, staff have opened our doors to over 720 young people. At Rita Bright Family and Youth Center in DC, summer enrichment includes mentorship programming for youth of elementary school age. “Who can tell me the difference between a fixed mindset and…
