I attended this evening’s well attended and spirited Bates Area Civic Association meeting, which centered upon the Latin American Youth Council (LAYC) moving into the JF Cook School.
A new name emerged during tonight’s meeting: Youth Council.
Perhaps someone could explain the difference between LAYC and the Youth Council.
Thanks.
Bates Area Civic Association 
Hey i think the name was Youth Build.
http://www.youthbuild.org I don’t know how the two orgs fit together though.
Yes, thanks for the correction. It was Youth Build!
Likewise, I felt that “Youth Build” came at us from out of nowhere. I had not heard a reference to “Youth Build” prior to last night. Each of the 5 times that the group has appeared before us they have represented themselves as the LAYC proposing a project for young adults— older than the majority of those who were present last evening. The young lady who spoke outlined the support given to “Youth Build” participants to achieve their high school diploma and ultimatly entering college. Arthur Dade, one of the LAYC leaders, at the ANC meeting described the project proposed for Cook School as one which will work with young adult people to achive their GED and to gain skills in the construction trade for eventual employment. It appeared to me that the leadership of the LAYC brought “Youth Build” participants to the meeting because the Mayor has familiarity with the group…I noticed how the Mayor engaged many of the young people on his entrance into the meeting. I left the meeting with a bit of confusion…who are they LAYC—Youth Build…. and what is their project about?
It’s pretty clear to me that the LAYC has little to do with schooling and more to do with housing from their literature (http://www.lisc.org/washingtondc/documents/2009MidYear.pdf):
Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) – we are working with LAYC to redevelop the vacant Cook School in the Truxton Circle neighborhood. LAYC will develop the property into 25 units of housing for homeless teens and teens aging out of foster care, and a charter school. We have provided funding for predevelopment activities, facilitated learning/information sharing sessions with the staff of the National Equity Fund and anticipate syndicating their low income housing tax credits.
I know I usually build a case in order of importance, you’ll notice the charter school aspects are listed last in the blurb from LAYC
These links help explain the connection. LAYC had a YouthBuild program that now operates as an independent public charter school.
http://www.ybpcs.org/index.html
Click to access PM_LAYC.pdf
In response to the previous post, I would like to take the opportunity to clarify the relationship between the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) and the LAYC YouthBuild Public Charter School (YBPCS).
Founded in 1968 and incorporated as a non profit in 1974 for the purpose of serving youth, the LAYC has grown from a small grassroots organization to a nationally recognized organization that serves all low-income youth and families across the District of Columbia and in Maryland’s Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties. The LAYC achieves its mission through a regional network of youth centers, school-based sites and two public charter schools with a shared commitment to meet young people where they are and help them make a successful transition to young adulthood. LAYC provides multi-lingual, culturally sensitive programs in six areas: Educational Enhancement, Workforce Investment, Social Services, Art + Media, Recreation and Advocacy.
LAYC’s nationally recognized youth development model, nurtured and refined over more than 35 years, has three goals for youth: 1) Increased academic success, 2) Improved ability to successfully transition to work, and 3) Improved skills for healthy living.
LAYC founded the LAYC YouthBuild Public Charter School in 2005 for the purpose of re-engaging high school drop outs through education, vocational training, leadership development, and community service. Students who attend YouthBuild split their time between classroom instruction to prepare for the GED exam and construction training. The redevelopment of the J.F. Cook School will serve as a second campus for the LAYC YBPCS that will provide DC youth with the following critical services: affordable housing, educational enhancement, job readiness training, vocational skills training and community service opportunities.
YBPCS staff will heavily recruit in Ward 5, particularly the Cook School community, to ensure that there is a large representation of students from these communities. During this 2008-2009 academic year, 12% of YBPCS students are from Ward 5. We anticipate that approximately 40% of students at the new YouthBuild Cook School Campus will be Ward 5 residents.
YBPCS’s current facility is located in the basement of a high-end condominium building in Columbia Heights. YBPCS staff, students have developed and maintained positive relationships with the staff and residents of the condominium building. The LAYC proposes to redevelop the Cook School into a safe, supportive and nurturing environment for DC youth to gain the necessary skills and confidence to become healthy, happy and self-reliant young adults. On behalf of the LAYC and YBPCS, I would like to share our enthusiasm about building strong relationships within the Bates Community in order to bring to life our vision for the Cook School and our mission of supporting local youth.
Here is an overview of YBPCS Academic and Vocational Outcomes for 2008-2009 Academic year:
· 68% student retention rate
· 84% student attendance rate
· 66% of graduating class earned their GED
· 85% of students with less than an 8th grade reading level advance 2 grade levels in reading
· 90% of students advance 1 grade level in math
· 92% of students earned certification in the construction vocational training