PLYMOUTH CHRISTIAN YOUTH CENTER

PYC ARTS & TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL (PYC)A CONTRACT ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL ENROLLING YOUTH WHOSE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS HAVE NOT BEEN MET BY TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS. STUDENTS TYPICALLY COME BEHIND IN CREDIT AND ACHIEVEMENT LEVELS, AND PYC'S SMALL CLASS SIZES AND INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION SUCCESSFULLY MOVE THEM TO GRADUATE AND PREPARE THEM FOR WORKFORCE, VOCATIONAL, AND COLLEGE PROGRAMS. PYC SERVED 147 UNIQUE STUDENTS DURING THE YEAR, 93% OF WHICH WERE JUNIORS OR SENIORS. THIS YEAR 86% PERCENT OF OUR GRADUATION ELIGIBLE SENIORS MET THEIR GOALS AND RECEIVED THEIR DIPLOMAS. 98% OF OUR STUDENT BODY WERE STUDENTS OF COLOR AND MORE THAN 95% OF OUR STUDENTS QUALIFIED FOR EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS (FORMERLY FREE AND REDUCED LUNCHES) AND 32 STUDENTS WERE IDENTIFIED AS HOMELESS AND HIGHLY MOBILE. WE CONTINUE TO WORK TO IDENTIFY AFTERSCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND PARTNER WITH HENNEPIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE AND MINNEAPOLIS COMMUNITY & TECHNICAL COLLEGE TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO EARN COLLEGE CREDIT. WE ALSO CONTINUE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH HENNEPIN COUNTY TO SERVE THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS. OTHER PARTNERSHIPS HAVE INCLUDED LEAP PROGRAMMING THROUGH PROJECT FOR PRIDE IN LIVING (PPL), YOUTHPRISE, AND SPARK-Y. THESE PARTNERSHIPS ALLOW US TO BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS. STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE 4 DAYS A WEEK WITH A LICENSED THERAPIST FROM HENNEPIN COUNTY. WE PARTNER WITH HENNEPIN TECH TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH ACCESS TO A SUMMER PROGRAMMING THAT ALLOW STUDENTS TO EARN COLLEGE CREDIT WHILE LEARNING ABOUT JOBS IN VARIOUS TRADES AND POTENTIALLY ATTENDING CLASSES THERE THROUGH THE POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION OPTIONS PROGRAM. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES AND ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AROUND JOB AND COLLEGE READINESS, THROUGH A GRANT WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH YOUTHPRISE. OUR CONNECTION WITH PPL AND THEIR LEAP PROGRAMMING - PROVIDES JOB EXPLORATION AND CAREER READINESS SKILLS THROUGH JAG (JOBS FOR AMERICA'S GRADUATES), AND APPRENTICESHIPS THROUGH PAYA (PARTNERSHIP TO ADVANCE YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP). FINALLY, WE HAVE PARTNER WITH SPARK-Y TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH HANDS-ON OPPORTUNITIES IN SCIENCE. THIS HAS INCLUDED THE BUILDING OF A GREENHOUSE AND AN AQUAPONICS SYSTEM.PYC ARTS & TECH HIGH SCHOOL IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE NORTHPOINT HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER ON OUR SCHOOL CAMPUS. THE NORTHPOINT TEEN HEALTH CLINIC IS OPEN TO PYC STUDENTS AS WELL AS THE TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY. IN FY24-25 THERE WERE 267 MEDICAL VISITS AND 342 BEHAVIOR HEALTH VISITS FROM PYC STUDENTS AND 326 VISITS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

AFTER SCHOOL EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMCAPRI BEST BUY TEEN TECH CENTER (CBBTTC)THE CAPRI BEST BUY TEEN TECH CENTER (CBBTTC) ENROLLED 92 STUDENTS, PROVIDING ACCESS TO STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY, MENTORSHIP, AND HANDS-ON LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. TEENS EXPLORED INTERESTS IN AUDIO PRODUCTION, CODING, PHOTOGRAPHY, VIDEOGRAPHY, 3D PRINTING, ROBOTICS, AND DIGITAL DESIGN WHILE BUILDING STEM, LEADERSHIP, AND CAREER-READINESS SKILLS THROUGH AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, WORKSHOPS, AND MENTORSHIP WITH LOCAL AND NATIONAL EXPERTS IN DIGITAL MEDIA, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BEST BUY AND THE UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND, CBBTTC LAUNCHED BLACK EXCELLENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION, A PILOT PROGRAM THAT TOOK 10 MEMBERS TO TOUR 12 HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (HBCUS). PARTICIPANTS GAINED EXPOSURE TO HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES WHILE BUILDING CONFIDENCE, CULTURAL PRIDE, AND COLLEGE-PREP SKILLS.CBBTTC ALSO INTRODUCED ECHELON RISING, A PAID SUMMER INTERNSHIP AND TRAINING PROGRAM HELPING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS DEVELOP HANDS-ON TECH AND CAREER SKILLS. SIXTEEN INTERNS EARNED THE NORTHSTAR DIGITAL LITERACY CERTIFICATION, VALIDATING KEY TECHNOLOGY COMPETENCIES AND STRENGTHENING THEIR COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS.CAPRI APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM4 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE CAPRI APPRENTICE PROGRAM IN FY24-25. THIS CAREER PATHWAY PROGRAM PROVIDES PART-TIME PAID WORK WHERE STUDENTS EXPERIENCE HANDS-ON THEATER OPERATIONS SUCH AS CONCESSION SALES AND MONEY MANAGEMENT, INVENTORY CONTROL, SET BUILDING AND PAINTING, MIC SET-UP AND SOUND BOARD OPERATION, LIGHT FOCUSING, THEATER MAINTENANCE AND GROUNDS UPKEEP, AND EVENT SET-UP AND BREAKDOWN.CAPRI AFTER SCHOOL THEATER PROGRAMAPPROXIMATELY 8-10 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM PYC ATTEND CAPRI AFTER SCHOOL THEATER (CAST) PROGRAM. CAST MEMBERS LEARN ABOUT ALL ASPECTS OF THEATER INCLUDING ACTING, STAGING, WRITING, BACKSTAGE TECH AND FRONT-OF-HOUSE MANAGEMENT. MUSIC, DANCE, SPOKEN WORD, VIDEO AND THE VISUAL ARTS OFTEN ENTER INTO THE MIX, TOO, AS STUDENTS' INTERESTS AND TALENTS ARE DISCOVERED.RUNNING YOUR OWN RACE THE CBBTTC SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED A STRUCTURED AFTER-SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT AND EMPOWERMENT MODEL, PROVIDING YOUTH WITH A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. THROUGH CONTRACTED SERVICE PROVIDERS, MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN DIVERSE WORKSHOP OFFERINGS SUCH AS DIGITAL IMMERSION, REAL TALK, AND #CHATTUESDAYS, LED BY BOTH NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AND LOCAL EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELDS.SUMMER CAMP CAPRI 20 MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHOLARS TOOK PART IN A FREE 5-WEEK INTENSIVE MUSICAL THEATER PROGRAM AT THE CAPRI THEATER LED BY SOME OF THE TOP PROFESSIONALS IN THE TWIN CITIES THEATRICAL COMMUNITY, CULMINATING IN A LIVE PERFORMANCE OF A MUSICAL ON THE CAPRI STAGE. STUDENTS ADVANCE THEIR CRAFT IN ACTING, SINGING, DANCING, DRUMMING, AND VISUAL ARTS. THERE IS NO COMPARABLE PROGRAM IN THE TWIN CITIES THAT OFFERS SUCH COMPREHENSIVE, QUALITY PROGRAMMING FREE OF CHARGE FOR FAMILIES. SATURDAY CAMP CAPRIEVERY THIRD SATURDAY THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR, THE CAPRI PROVIDES FREE ARTS PROGRAMMING FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHOLARS. PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTISTS LEAD 90-MINUTE WORKSHOPS IN THEATER, DANCE, PUPPETRY, VISUAL ARTS AND MUSIC. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES BREAKFAST AND LUNCH FOR STUDENTS AND DEVELOPS LIFELONG LEARNING AND AND LASTING CONNECTIONS FOR YOUTH AMONG THEIR PEERS. THROUGHOUT THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, 133 YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN OUR MONTHLY THIRD SATURDAY CAMP CAPRI ARTS PROGRAM. STARTING IN SEPTEMBER 2025 THIS PROGRAMMING IS EXPANDING TO FIRST AND THIRD SATURDAYS.PCYC SUMMER FREEDOM SCHOOLWE PARTNER WITH THE CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND TO HOST THE ANNUAL PCYC SUMMER FREEDOM SCHOOL. THIS SIX-WEEK PROGRAM PROVIDES ENRICHMENT THROUGH A RESEARCH-BASED AND MULTICULTURAL PROGRAM MODEL THAT SUPPORTS SCHOLARS AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH FIVE ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS. WE FOCUS ON HIGH-QUALITY ACADEMIC AND CHARACTER BUILDING ENRICHMENT, PARENT AND FAMILY INVOLVEMENT, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND SOCIAL ACTION, INTERGENERATIONAL SERVANT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, NUTRITION, HEALTH, AND MENTAL HEALTH. IN 2025, WE HAD 41 SCHOLARS GRADES 1-5 PARTICIPATE IN VARIOUS ACTIVITIES SUCH AS READING, PLANTING A SUMMER GARDEN, AND LEARNING SELF-EXPRESSION THROUGH HIP-HOP AND WRITING.PCYC ANNUAL CHILDREN'S GIFT SALETHANKS TO MORE THAN 130 VOLUNTEERS AND THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE PCYC COMMUNITY, 459 YOUTH WERE ABLE TO CHOOSE FROM 3,020 GIFTS FOR THEIR LOVED ONES.