Latin American Youth Center

Latin American Youth Center is a NGO created in 1968 in Washington metropolitan area initially created to empower Latino youth, later extended to youth of all races, to "achieve a successful transition to adulthood, through multi-cultural, comprehensive, and innovative programs that address youths' social, academic, and career needs" in order to transform low-income young people and their families.[1]

Population served

LAYC serves more than 4,000 young people, including low-income teen parents, and homeless youth with support for their studies and to get their GED certificates.[2]

In 2016 DC approved the Ending Youth Homelessness Act and created two drop-in centers; one of them, in Columbia Heights (a few blocks from Columbia Heights station) is managed by LAYC. Youth can go during daytime to take a shower, a meal, wash their clothes and study for GED tests without any appointment and regardless if the user are clean or sober, and receive substance abuse counseling, HIV testing, mental-health care and housing referrals. The center operates from 8 am to 8 pm.[3][4]

Budget

LAYC is supported by the District of Columbia, and also two Maryland counties, Prince George and Montgomery. In 2015 LAYC's budget was US$15,807,189.[5] LAYC also receives fundraising from other inverstors such as Venture Philanthropy Partners.[6]

Program services

LAYC programs are Social services, Community wellness, Education, Workforce investment and social enterprise, Arts and media programs, among others.[7][8][9]

The LAYC Career Academy is a program to support and let young people to study for their GED certificate or for a career such a Medical Assistant, Computer Hardware Technician, etc.[10]

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to GALA Hispanic Theatre.
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