I migrated from El Salvador in the 1980’s and quickly started to learn about the racial divide among blacks and whites that existed in America. I was in high school when Rodney King was violently beaten by LAPD police due to a speeding violation in 1991, and “police brutality and race relations became center stage.” The…
“Latin American Youth Center is helping youth who have no other place to go. Helping youth is the best way to spend time. It is an investment in their lifetime. There’s no greater cause than that,” says Andy Van Etten, a former LAYC Board member. Having raised 3 kids himself, he speaks from experience. Prior…
On February 5th, Latin American Youth Center honored inspiring local heroes at our 9th annual Breakfast for Heroes, in Silver Spring, Maryland. This year, we had the pleasure of honoring three local heroes who are actively involved with LAYC’s Maryland Multicultural Youth Centers and our DC sites: The Honorable Craig Rice, Montgomery County Councilmember, The…
January was national mentoring month and, at LAYC/MMYC in Silver Spring, we are always excited to celebrate the growing group of deeply caring and skilled adult volunteer mentors, mentees, and families that make up our community based, one-to-one mentoring program, ‘Mentor Forward’. Mentor Forward launched in early 2019 and has since made waves providing quality…
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) and LAYC’s Maryland Multicultural Youth Centers (LAYC/MMYC) honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy each January through the MLK Day of Service. This year’s celebration, on January 20th, included events across…
Two days before he was to celebrate Christmas with his two young daughters, Tyshaun Turner, an alumnus of Latin American Youth Center’s River Corps program, was murdered shortly after coming home from his job with New Columbia Solar. River Corps staff, graduates, and I learned about Tyshaun’s passing later that night. His death, the 163rd…
