City of Youth has previously partnered with John Muir Charter School and Learn for Life. The City of Youth Academy provided participating youth with an enriching high school diploma program and numerous developmental resources. Our student-centered experiential approach actively incorporated student interests into a project-based curricula where the youth were evaluated primarily through projects and activities, as opposed to tests and traditional assignments. Social justice and leadership themes pervaded course content to support our goal of community development.

City of Youth Academy teachers were trained in individualized learning styles to better educate in classroom settings where students enrolled at various scholastic levels. Lessons were active and engaging including various forms of media. In addition, external community instructors and volunteers were integrated into educational programming in order to expose the youth to learning experiences inside and outside of the classroom.

Leadership Development

Leadership continues to be the centerpiece to COY’s programmatic efforts. Beginning with the initial mental toughness training which serves to orient and familiarize the young people with the importance of leadership development and altruism, the youth participated in a host of leadership activities throughout the year enabling themselves, their families, and communities to make positive changes.

Service learning and civic engagement were City of Youth’s primary modes of encouraging youth to exercise their leadership. Students were required to participate in at least two service projects per semester. In addition, students engaged in continuous, often daily community service. Students had an opportunity to identify community needs, plan activities to provide solutions for those needs and organize activities with involvement from external volunteers and community residents. 

Taking their leadership a step further, COY students had the opportunity to exercise their voice through the Youth Action Group (YAG), as well as with sub-committees supervised by the YAG. YAG members represented the entire student population by collaborating with staff to develop and improve organizational policies and procedures, conduct activities, outreach to partners, fundraise, and lead service initiatives. In addition, YAG members joined external coordinating committees and groups to bridge internal efforts with the community.

Healthy Minds, Healthy Lives

As with most low-income areas Los Angeles, City of Youth is located in a community labeled as a “food desert”. There was little opportunity for youth to engage in constructive recreational and social activities. This lack has impacted the mental and physical conditions of local residents causing increasing apathy toward the current situation. To combat this disadvantage, City of Youth provided students with comprehensive programming to increase their knowledge regarding healthy living through positive interpersonal relationships curricula, gardening, diet practices and team sports. Building interpersonal relationship skills was realized through the Love Notes curriculum provided by the Dibble Institute where youth explore the challenges and benefits to having healthy relationships. City of Youth also facilitated healthy eating practices and constructing the South LA’s first community garden. City of Youth has also organized a region-wide basketball league through the Charter School Basketball association (CSBA) where youth teams from across the county engage in friendly athletic competition.

Avenues to College and Careers

At City of Youth, we believe the youth’s participation in our programs is a stepping stone to all that they’ll accomplish later in life. To set our students up for success, City of Youth has provided comprehensive support in transitioning graduates to college and careers. College readiness competencies are integrated throughout each program component and begin at the start of the program year. The Fall commences student efforts in identifying and applying to potential institutions where they can continue their education. Once students graduate, City of Youth alumni are tracked for two years to support the students’ challenges and success. For those youth who prefer to enter the workforce after graduation, we’ve partnered with the local WIA to offer alumni with priority opportunities for employment.

Life Skills and Supportive Services

Most of the young people that participate in the program endure severe hardships typical of disadvantaged communities. Without the support of family and knowledge of resources, these youth find themselves in destructive predicaments. City of Youth offers participating youth an array of life skill and case management services from internal efforts and partnerships with social service agencies. Enrolled youth and alumni have an opportunity to benefit from these services in exchange for maintaining contact with City of Youth on a consistent basis. Below is a general list of activities that support this subcomponent:

• Drivers Education

• Financial Aid Workshops

• Character Development

• Library Research

• Parent Workshops

• Drug and Alcohol Intervention

• Time Management & Study Skills Workshop

• Traveling