LAYC Wraps Up Successful Summer '08 Programs

LAYC offered an exciting array of programs this summer to 600 young people.

Through the District’s Summer Youth Employment Program, LAYC placed nearly 200 young people in jobs in of areas such as hospitality and small business development, all aligned with DC’s workforce needs. At LAYC’s Art + Media House, SYEP participants worked for ten weeks on Faces of Changes, for which they created three murals in historic U Street and Columbia Heights and refurbished call boxes as neighborhood art icons. Summer camp activities offered 161 elementary and middle school youth the opportunity to have fun while receiving academic support in math, reading and writing. 125 young people learned tennis and other aspects of healthy fitness at the Pancho Gonzalez Youth Tennis Academy. In Langley Park, MD, 28 participants received instruction in preparation for the GED exam, counseling and gained leadership, life skills through the Youth Empowerment and Success Program (YES).

LAYC also launched a new program: the Summer Leadership Institute provided 25 DC youth with advocacy and public speaking training to develop them as community leaders. This program will continue in the school year with plans to organize a youth led social change campaign.

As the students said their goodbyes to summer fun to embark into a new year at school or a new job, LAYC staff was busily planning for fall. LAYC will continue to offer some 50 programs to help youth become successful and happy young adults with the skills they need to succeed educational, professionally, and to become engaged in their community.