By Colleen Westberg, Blacktie Staff
Established in the 19th century, The Youth & Family Center has for over a hundred years provided educational, social and physical enrichment opportunities to impoverished children and their families. They serve the entire Fifth Ward, where the facility is located, but most clients reside in the ward’s St. Louis Place and Old North St. Louis Neighborhoods.
Youth & Family Center programs serve nearly 1,000 kids, parents and seniors annually. Their programs have adjusted to fit the needs of the changing community, and are grouped under four main focus areas. These are education, athletics, life skills, and advocacy.
Individuals living in low-income households have little or no access to computers or the World Wide Web. And as government agencies, large corporations, and institutions of higher learning have shifted their communication systems, tax reporting, conflict resolution and student recruitment & admission processes to paperless format, this problem is magnified.
The Access For All Technology Initiative increases the rate of computer ownership among men, women, children and older adults living in economically depressed communities and equips them with the skills to leverage technology to improve the quality of their lives. Children attend a series of workshops focused on using computers to enhance research skills and use PowerPoint to build public speaking skills. The Adult course centers on teaching adults of all ages how to use a computer to build employment skills, to communicate with others through email and how to use the Internet to research information relevant to their lives. Course graduates become proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
For athletics, children at the center participate in youth golf clinics under the direction of a PGA professional. They may also play tennis at the Dwight Davis Tennis Center in Forest Park. While attending The Youth & Family Center summer camp, children swim and play aquatic games, and learn water safety. Organized sports such as soccer and T-Ball offer kids an opportunity to be part of a team, to learn cooperation, sportsmanship, persistence and patience.
To build life skills in young people, the Center offers group and individual counseling, educate students on pregnancy prevention, teach youth to respect others and respect themselves, work to build confidence and self-reliance.
The Center’s meals program provides nutritious meals and social interaction for adults 55 and older. In addition to combating hunger among the elderly, the Jazzy Seniors program includes bingo, arts & crafts, luncheons and field trips.
Children who participate in the After School Program are served their evening meal at the Center. On average, the After School Program serves over 4,000 meals to young people annually. Since many of these children battle peer pressure to drop out of school, join a gang or begin a life of crime, counseling efforts help these fragile young minds stay focused, stay in school and find success in life. And every school day, children study and work with volunteer tutors.
Since many families living in and around the Near North Side of St. Louis struggle to find safe and affordable child care, the Youth & Family Center's Summer Day Camp gives parents a safe and positive place where their children can enjoy summer vacation while mom and dad are at work.
The Youth and Family Center is proud that they have supported the St. Louis community for so many years with programs that reflect our changing society!
Fast Facts:
Mission Statement: The Mission of The Youth and Family Center is to help youth, families and older adults attain self-sustaining lives by providing innovative and enriching resources and to serve as an anchor for the Near North Side of St. Louis
Address: 2929 N. 20th Street , St. Louis, MO 63107
Phone Number: 314-231-1147
Fax:314-436-9057
Email Address: info@theyfc.org
Website: www.theyfc.org
Number of Employees: 8
Full Time Volunteers: 3
Executive Committee: President: Alois J. Koller, Jr ; Vice President: Katherine Claggett; Vice President: Scott Schaffer; Secretary: Reginald Dickson; Treasurer: Joshura Davis.
Executive Director: Herman Noah
Board Members:, Caleb Croquart, Douglas Eller , John Godwin, Alois Koller, Jr., Laura Gerdes Long, Kimball R McMullin, Thomas McNeely, Leslye Mitchell, Dr A. Michael Shaw II, Rob Holton, Patti Donnelly, Charles Smith. Advisory Board: Bobbie Baker, Brian Berglind, Ernest Dietrich, James Grove, Jr, Caroline Gunter, Jeanetta Hill, Meredith Jones, III, William Lane, Stephen Leibach, Ronald Norwood , David Ott, Lauren Selkirk, Jack Thomas, Betty Thompson , Mary von Hoff , Guenther Von Hoff, Michael Williams.
Founded: 1888
Community Served: Children, seniors and families in North St. Louis, MO
Associated Guilds: United Way Agency , Variety Club and the Optimist Club
Ongoing Projects: After School Care, Summer Camp, Residential Camp, Computer Training, Athletics, and Senior Assistance Programs
