A Place For Youth

APFY CENTER IS A SAFE SPACE WHERE TEENS AGES 13-17 CAN RECEIVE ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING. PROGRAMS AND SERVICES INCLUDE FREE TUTORING, HOMEWORK HELP, STANDARDIZED TEST PREP, COLLEGE PREP, ACADEMIC COUNSELING, LIFE SKILLS, ADVANCE THEIR STEAM LEARNING, AND GAIN SKILLS IN ARCHITECTURE, ARTS, DESIGN, ENGINEERING, AND TECHNOLOGY.

IN OUR FIRST YEAR, WE WERE GUIDED BY THE OBJECTIVES IN OUR ORIGINAL PROPOSAL, WHICH AIMED TO BRIDGE EDUCATIONAL GAPS, PROMOTE HEALTH, LEADERSHIP, AND MENTORSHIP, AND BREAK CYCLES OF POVERTY BY PROVIDING FREE ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL RESOURCES. THESE RESOURCES INCLUDE ADVANCED STEAM LEARNING, TUTORING, ACADEMIC COUNSELING, LIFE SKILLS TRAINING, AND COLLEGE AND CAREER PREPARATION. OUR MISSION IS CENTERED ON EMPOWERING INNER]CITY YOUTH TO SUCCEED ACADEMICALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY, HELPING THEM BUILD A BETTER FUTURE.ONE OF OUR KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS WAS TRANSFORMING A SHELLED 1930S WAREHOUSE IN WEST ADAMS, LOS ANGELES, INTO A VIBRANT YOUTH ENRICHMENT CENTER. THIS UNIQUE LOCATION, IN AN INDUSTRIAL ZONE WITH LIMITED EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, IS ACCESSIBLE BY BUS AND METRO AND IS NEAR SOME OF THE AREA'S LOWEST-PERFORMING HIGH SCHOOLS. THE RENOVATED SPACE HAS BECOME A WELCOMING AND MODERN HUB TO SUPPORT TEENS FROM UNDER-RESOURCED AND PREDOMINANTLY LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.TO SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMS, WE BUILT A DEDICATED TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS COMMITTED TO SERVING OTHERS AND DEVELOPED CURRICULUMS THAT ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE LAUNCHED COMMUNITY INITIATIVES BY VOLUNTEERING BIWEEKLY AT LOCAL COMMUNITY EVENTS, SCHOOLS, RESOURCE CENTERS, GARDENS, AND FOOD DISTRIBUTION SITES. WE ESTABLISHED PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO BRING FUTURE ESSENTIAL RESOURCES TO OUR CENTER, SUCH AS FREE MOBILE VISION AND MEDICAL CARE, BENEFITING THE YOUTH AND FAMILIES WE SERVE.BY DECEMBER 2023, WE HAD FULLY MOVED INTO OUR NEWLY RENOVATED SPACE AND CREATED A WARM, VIBRANT EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT. WE HOSTED VARIOUS OPEN COMMUNITY EVENTS, INCLUDING AN INAUGURAL CELEBRATION AND A FREE WINTER MOVIE SERIES THAT BROUGHT TOGETHER FAMILIES AND YOUTH. OUR TEAM ALSO HELD OPEN HOUSES AND ORIENTATIONS TO INTRODUCE THE COMMUNITY TO OUR CENTER, TEAM, AND FUTURE PROGRAMS. THESE EVENTS MARKED THE BEGINNING OF OUR FIRST-CLASS ENROLLMENT IN JANUARY 2024 AS WE PREPARED TO OPEN OUR DOORS TO A NEW COHORT OF TEENS EAGER TO ACCESS OUR RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES.THIS FIRST YEAR HAS LAID A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR OUR NONPROFIT, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR WORK OF SUPPORTING AND EMPOWERING LOCAL YOUTH.