Summer Youth Development Academy

With the well-documented education budget cuts statewide and high school graduation requirements at a mere 56 percent, it is imperative to provide academically stimulating programs outside of the regular school year. We are determined to provide thoughtful, enriching, and stimulating summer programming to underserved youth who would otherwise spend the long summer months bored, unsupervised, and falling academically behind more affluent peers (a phenomenon known as summer brain drain).

The Summer YDA offers low-income, at-risk youth programming free of charge on the campus of California State University Dominguez Hills (CSUDH). Serving roughly 200 middle-school youth, programming consists of academic and extra-curricular activities including creative writing, health and wellness, athletics, and swimming. Youth are also introduced to various local role models, civic leaders, and college students and professors to provide real-life examples of what their futures could hold.

The overwhelming need for positive summer programming for youth is impossible to ignore. Middle school is our last chance to steer a student on the pathway to high school graduation because by the time they reach high school, it may be too late. Here at Sharefest, we take it upon ourselves to provide early intervention in order to increase odds of success, and maximize student academic and personal potential—regardless of income level.

 

PROGRESS THUS FAR:

  • 6 years
  • 825 students

PURPOSE:

  • Mentor youth to become leaders of tomorrow
  • Improve the lives of underserved, at-risk youth in LA county
  • Engrain the importance of graduating high school
  • Build unity among youth from different communities

PROGRAMMING:

  • Art
  • Athletics
  • Creative writing
  • Health and wellness
  • Leadership development
  • Math and Science
  • Service learning
  • Swimming
  • Team building
  • Theater
  • Violence prevention

ACADEMY DETAILS:

  • Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  • Four weeks
  • CSUDH campus
  • Free to qualifying students (we raise the $500 needed per student)
  • Breakfast, lunch, and snacks included
  • Transportation provided

I have attended the youth development academy (YDA) for the past three years. Through academy, I have learned to step out of my safety net of friends and talk with people that I have never met before. This experience allowed me to feel more confident with myself and make new friends when it was hard before. Now I’m 15 years old. I run cross country and play soccer and am taking AP classes. After High School, I plan on going to a four-year university, then to law school. Thank you for creating the YDA. I plan on coming back next year as a Junior Counselor. See you soon!
— CRISTIAN, 10th Grade, Harbor College Teacher Prep Academy.

 

 

Year-Round Youth Development Academy

Sharefest’s YDA provides after school programming to continuation high school students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). In addition to academic support, the YDA provides mentors and the tools to prevent violence, learn life skills, and achieve self-sufficiency and awareness to allow for productive, informed decision-making.

The YDA offers weekly classes for high school credit and provides a safe alternative to drugs, gangs, and violence. With school days ending at 12:30 p.m. for students who are already academically behind their peers, our communities are in dire need of quality, enriching after school programming, especially for those at highest risk of not graduating from high school. With the U.S. Department of Education estimating 28 million school-aged youth having parents that work outside the home, it is no surprise that 5 to 8 million youth come home to an empty house after school. A major discrepancy exists between the number of after-school programs in existence and those needed, particularly in low-income neighborhoods. By offering the YDA after school, we not only support the academic efforts of our students, we also keep them off the streets and offer them structured program with positive role models. We believe mentoring is a powerful, influential tool and empower students to make positive changes in their education, personal lives, and their community.

 

PROGRESS THUS FAR:

  • 4 years
  • 480 students
  • 2012: Avalon Continuation High School API scores increased 52 points

PURPOSE:

  • Mentor youth to become leaders of tomorrow
  • Unlock personal and educational potential of underserved youth
  • Increase student engagement and motivation to succeed in school

PROGRAMMING:

  • Art
  • CAHSEE tutoring (Math and English)
  • College preparation
  • Courses for high school credit
  • Creative writing
  • Health and wellness
  • Job readiness
  • Leadership development
  • Service learning
  • Violence prevention

COST & LOCATION:

  • Free to current students
  • LAUSD continuation high schools