YOUTH MENTORING CONNECTION

FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2024, 450 VULNERABLE YOUTH WERE PROVIDED WITH CORE MENTORING AND POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. YOUTH WERE MATCHED WITH CARING ADULT MENTORS WHO EMPOWERED THEM WITH LONG-TERM AND CONSISTENT SUPPORT TO BUILD RESILIENCY THROUGH YMC'S GIFT CENTERED APPROACH. IN ADDITION TO CORE MENTORING, YMC PROVIDED OTHER POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS INCLUDING ECHO, URBAN OASIS FILM ACADEMY, STOKED CITY SURF CAMP, YEAR-ROUND SUNDAY SURF, RITES-OF-PASSAGE ANNUAL RETREAT, AND YOUTH SUPPORT. YMC ALSO HOSTED EVENTS FOCUSING ON POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, OPEN TO FORMER, CURRENT AND PROSPECTIVE MENTEES.YMC DEEPENED ITS RECENT PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS, INCLUDING OPTIONS FOR YOUTH, THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL, NEW OPEN WORLD ACADEMY AND SEED SCHOOL. OUR CORPORATE AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS INCLUDE SYNERGY, SHOUT FACTORY, I HAVE A DREAM LA, HOME BOYS INDUSTRIES, STREET POETS, RHYTHM ARTS ALLIANCE, FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN LA, TWIN TOWN TREATMENT CENTER, AND YOUTH BUILD. YMC'S YOUTH OUTCOMES REMAIN CONSISTENT YEAR AFTER YEAR WITH YOUTH ACHIEVING THE FOLLOWING: 95% HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE AMONG HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS; 88% OF THOSE ENROLLING IN COLLEGE OR TRADE SCHOOL. IN THE FOUR KEY SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING DOMAINS, 93% IMPROVED COMMUNICATION; 91% HAVE STRONGER DECISION-MAKING SKILLS; 81% INCREASED RESILIENCY; AND 74% HAVE GREATER FEELINGS OF SELF-WORTH. YMC ALSO BEGAN LAYING THE GROUNDWORK TO OPEN OUR URBAN OASIS YOUTH CENTER (UOYC). STAFF WERE HIRED IN ANTICIPATION OF OUR BUILDING RENOVATIONS' COMPLETION IN LATE 2024, INCLUDING THE UO MANAGER, A RESOURCE COORDINATOR, AND PROGRAMMING COORDINATOR. UPON OPENING, YMC WILL OFFER NEW LIFE SKILLS WORKSHOPS, A DROP-IN CENTER, AND EXPANDED YOUTH SUPPORT/RESOURCES. THE UOYC WILL ALSO BE A PLACE WHERE YMC PARTNERS CAN PROVIDE YOUTH SERVICES AND CLASSES-INCLUDING OUR LONG-TIME PARTNERS STREET POETS AND RHYTHM ARTS ALLIANCE, TO PROVIDE CREATIVE EXPRESSION THROUGH POETRY AND AFRICAN DRUMMING CIRCLES AND DANCE. THERE WILL BE COMPUTER STATIONS FOR SCHOOLWORK AND JOB SEARCHES; SPACE FOR ON-SITE COUNSELLING, SPACE FOR OUR URBAN OASIS FILM ACADEMY; RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES; AND MORE.