Bronx / New York / United States
MISSION Directions for Our Youth works in the most troubled schools, in the most distressed neighborhoods to help those students most in need. Our goal is to provide leadership and inspiration through workshops, mentors, college visits, the arts and recreation. Directions focuses on community development and youth empowerment. We adhere to the principles of equality, fair play and cooperation. Our work is a part of a tradition begun by the settlement house movement, informed by the civil rights movement and expanded by a commitment to global citizenship. Directions strives to ensure that young people receive the necessary resources for attaining health, education and information which will enable sound decision-making. Finally, Directions for Our Youth partners with other nonprofit organizations, government agencies, foundations and corporations to extend the reach and impact of our mission. Directions for Our Youth provides hundreds of role model presentations from African-American and Hispanic professionals. Their success stories are mixed with discussion sessions, workbooks and counseling aimed at clarifying goals and identifying the elements of personal success. At the end of every semester, college visits are scheduled for hundreds of young people. Many of these students have never been on a campus and will be the first member of their family to pursue higher education. Directions for Our Youth operates two community centers located in the heart of the South Bronx, the nations poorest neighborhood. They provide a portfolio of youth and family programming that address many needs, including summer camps, tutoring, mentoring, education, arts, health and recreation. Directions for Our Youth is committed to helping New York Citys students develop the skills they need to become community leaders. Working with schools and Beacon community centers, we conduct civic education workshops across the city to help empower youth. Our students learn how to organize a meeting, draft a press release, lead a petition drive and work with elected officials to advocate for their needs and neighborhoods. In 2004, DFOY was awarded two Beacon community centers. One of the centers saw its director named, New Yorker of the Week by NY 1 television. The other Beacon has competed in national AAU basketball tournaments across the country and is a part of the Childrens Defense Funds youth leadership program. Also in 2004, Directions began a strategic partnership with the United Nations and the City of New York. It created an International Youth Day celebration which included basketball, dance, art and song. Five years later, International Youth Day now includes soccer and a partnership with the Parks and Recreation Department. In 2005, Directions launched a state and citywide campaign 10% for Youth which focused on earmarking one-tenth of the billion dollar budget surpluses for youth programs - summer youth jobs, community centers and dropout prevention.
