by Rachel Gardner, 15; Brianna Starks, 14; and Carmela Verderame, 10
Y-Press, Inc.
DETROIT, MI—As adolescents walk into YouthVille Detroit, they enter a place where staff members not only know their names, but their backgrounds and life goals as well. This is no ordinary recreation center. In its service to its approximately 3,500 members all over Detroit, YouthVille cares for the whole child – body, mind and future.
“The reason why I keep coming back is because of the growing opportunities,” said 18-year-old youth leader Renisha Bishop. “At Youthville, nothing ever really stays the same as much as it changes. It has outstanding programs, and I get to express myself.”
Like a rec center, YouthVille offers recreational facilities in its 75,000-square-foot site on the city’s northside, including basketball courts and fitness facilities. Likewise, it’s open only to members, who pay a $25 yearly fee (or qualify for scholarship assistance).
However, it is a nonprofit organization that has expectations of its members. Adult and youth leaders offer tutoring, homework help and access to computers. Also, members can choose from a wide variety of classes, such as dancing, Web design, poetry, tutoring, archery and basketball. All are expected to sign up for the appropriate leadership class: “Ladylike” or “For Young Men Only,” often taught by older youth members who mentor the newcomers.
“YouthVille is changing the city by giving the youth in the city a brighter future and things to keep them productive instead of destructive,” said youth leader Dakari Carter, 16.
A big part of Youthville is structure, Dakari said. Members are expected to be involved in a class or group activity at all times. Such structure enriches youths’ experiences and helps them focus. Still, youth have a say in just about everything. Class and project ideas come from youth members and reflect what interests them. “We always try to integrate youth in the development of any type of programming that we have at YouthVille Detroit,” said program director Rita Clark.
Experienced youth serve as class instructors and as mentors to younger members. YouthVille also offers youth the means to become leaders not only within the organization but in the wider community as well, through partnerships with other organizations.
Take, for example, Youth Dialogues, a program run by the School of Social Work at the University of Michigan. YouthVille members have been regular participants in this unique eight-week effort to encourage diversity and communication between races. Through Youth Dialogues on Race & Ethnicity, they have also had the chance to travel to Washington, D.C., Lansing, MI, and Chicago to speak with policy leaders and government officials.
Clark, who has a background in broadcast journalism and social work, is committed to YouthVille because it offers youth the opportunity to do things that they otherwise could not do.
“Today our youth are faced and confronted with many, many challenges,” she said, noting that some families even struggle to cover bus fare. “We have the opportunity to address some of those emotional and psychological challenges on a day-to-day basis.”
YouthVille also teaches its members to give back to the community. Every year it participates in Global Youth Service Day, where YouthVille volunteers collaborate with other organizations in various neighborhood beautification projects around the city.
In a sense, YouthVille acts much like a parent to its members.
“They like check on your grades, make sure you’re doing what you’re supposed to do in school before you can even start working with the other stuff, such as technology or playing basketball,” said Karltonio Jones, 16.
