Services
The African American Achievers Youth Corps, Inc. (AAAYC) operates on the Indiana University Northwest Campus, 3400 Broadway, in Gary, Indiana. Mentoring services are provided Saturdays from 1-3 p.m. in Hawthorn Hall (Room 219). Tutorial and counseling services are provided on Tuesdays and Thursdays (2nd - 4th Grading Periods) from 4-7 p.m. during the academic school year. Tutorial and counseling services may be requested and are scheduled on an arranged basis as time and space permits. We also sponsor a summer academic camp for a six week period during the summer recess. We provide entrepreneurial opportunities and go on monthly excursions to amusement parks, Bulls and Pacer games, rodeos and more.
Our service area is primarily in Gary, but we accept members from all of Northwest Indiana.
Mentoring: Our system assures that
all youth contacts are under direct supervision of more than one adult at all
times. Mentoring topics include anger management, conflict resolution, respect
for adults, respect for womanhood, sex education, goal setting, the ills of drug
use, knowing one self, rites of passage, etc. Group mentoring occurs every
Saturday.
Tutoring: It is essentially important
that we allow them opportunities to prepare and/or strengthen their skills in
subject areas where some degree of difficulty has been detected. When we do this
we enable them to continue to excel. Two days a week, tutors are provided to
members for three hours after regular school hours. This tutoring concentrated
in the subject area- e.g., math, science, English, reading, computers, etc.
Counseling: The program attempts to help
males, through psychosocial intervention, to overcome self defeating
behaviors, identify their needs, express and cope with felling appropriately,
improve interpersonal and interpersonal relationships and lead a healthy,
chemically free lifestyle. Individual and /or family therapy is provided for
individuals who need the service on a needed basis by an experienced social
worker.
Recreation: The lack of recreation
causes young people to stand on the corners and often to get into trouble. Gang
activity has become the major social outlet for many African-American male
youth. This has been detrimental to the community. At a neutral site, Indiana
University Northwest, members are given opportunity to play basketball on
Saturdays. Excursions are planned as rewards for meeting Attendance.
Entrepreneurial: To teach members of the
African-American Achievers how to earn money and prepare themselves for the
business world. The program serves as an alternative to our African-American
males going out to sell drugs and getting involved in other illegal activities.
We have collaborated with local businesses to allow our youth businesses to
operate under their roof. In October, 2007 we completed an $800,000 renovation
of and opened the historic Glen Theatre which the high school boys in our
program operate and are paid for their services.
Parenting: To provide approaches for
parents to address the many problems their children are facing. As our young men
attempt to move from childhood to adulthood, they are confronted with complex
situations with in our communities. There is an urgency to create alternative
ways to aid our parents in providing a wholesome and adaptable living
environment. The parenting sessions (individual and group) empower parents to
positively direct their children to a successful future.
COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS
(1) On Good Friday the AAAYC will clean apartments for senior citizens at the Al
Thomas Senior Citizen High Rise. Lunch for participants will be provided.
(2) On a Saturday in April or early May the AAAYC lead volunteers from all Gary schools in a Stash the Trash Project. The entire 49 block length of Broadway (Rt.53) in Gary is cleaned of winter debris. Lunch and certificates are provided to all participants.
(3) Back to School Jamboree See our Photo Album
Our service area is primarily in Gary, but we accept members from all of Northwest Indiana.
Mentoring: Our system assures that
all youth contacts are under direct supervision of more than one adult at all
times. Mentoring topics include anger management, conflict resolution, respect
for adults, respect for womanhood, sex education, goal setting, the ills of drug
use, knowing one self, rites of passage, etc. Group mentoring occurs every
Saturday.
Tutoring: It is essentially important
that we allow them opportunities to prepare and/or strengthen their skills in
subject areas where some degree of difficulty has been detected. When we do this
we enable them to continue to excel. Two days a week, tutors are provided to
members for three hours after regular school hours. This tutoring concentrated
in the subject area- e.g., math, science, English, reading, computers, etc.
Counseling: The program attempts to help
males, through psychosocial intervention, to overcome self defeating
behaviors, identify their needs, express and cope with felling appropriately,
improve interpersonal and interpersonal relationships and lead a healthy,
chemically free lifestyle. Individual and /or family therapy is provided for
individuals who need the service on a needed basis by an experienced social
worker.
Recreation: The lack of recreation
causes young people to stand on the corners and often to get into trouble. Gang
activity has become the major social outlet for many African-American male
youth. This has been detrimental to the community. At a neutral site, Indiana
University Northwest, members are given opportunity to play basketball on
Saturdays. Excursions are planned as rewards for meeting Attendance.
Entrepreneurial: To teach members of the
African-American Achievers how to earn money and prepare themselves for the
business world. The program serves as an alternative to our African-American
males going out to sell drugs and getting involved in other illegal activities.
We have collaborated with local businesses to allow our youth businesses to
operate under their roof. In October, 2007 we completed an $800,000 renovation
of and opened the historic Glen Theatre which the high school boys in our
program operate and are paid for their services.
Parenting: To provide approaches for
parents to address the many problems their children are facing. As our young men
attempt to move from childhood to adulthood, they are confronted with complex
situations with in our communities. There is an urgency to create alternative
ways to aid our parents in providing a wholesome and adaptable living
environment. The parenting sessions (individual and group) empower parents to
positively direct their children to a successful future.
COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS
(1) On Good Friday the AAAYC will clean apartments for senior citizens at the Al
Thomas Senior Citizen High Rise. Lunch for participants will be provided.
(2) On a Saturday in April or early May the AAAYC lead volunteers from all Gary schools in a Stash the Trash Project. The entire 49 block length of Broadway (Rt.53) in Gary is cleaned of winter debris. Lunch and certificates are provided to all participants.
(3) Back to School Jamboree See our Photo Album