Our mission is
to prepare youth for leadership in the community and workplace.

Background

Youth Power Center (YPC) was founded by Washington Redskins football players Art Monk (NFL Hall of Fame, Class of 2008), Charles Mann, Tim Johnson, and Earnest Byner.  To better empower youth to achieve their potential, YPC has evolved into a quality after-school program.

Originally called The Good Samaritan Foundation (TGSF), it began in 1993 as a charity that provided clothing, food and necessities to residents in the Anacostia community of Washington, D.C.  In 1996, TGSF introduced “Student Training Opportunity Program” (STOP) in Washington, D.C.   STOP was designed to train urban youth for summer internships. Through observation, TGSF identified the need for a comprehensive, year-round program to enhance youth development.  In 2007, TGSF implemented the “Summer Job Training Institute” (SJTI) for youth enrolled in the 8th grade. 

Today, youth enrolled in grades 8 through 12 participate in “Developing the Pipeline of a Lifetime of Options and Opportunities” (DPLOO) that focuses on workforce development, mentoring, and academic enhancement. 

Our Goals

Every youth who enters and completes the program will:

1) be gainfully employed and economically self-sufficient

2) graduates from high school

3) once graduated, enters higher education, a trade or vocational school, the military, or on a practical career development path and

4) has supported YPC in some material or volunteer way.

Our Values

Integrity – staff and youth are held to a clear ethical code

Compassion – genuine concern for youth and their development

Commitment – partnering with youth, parents, and the community to foster mutual respect

Empowerment – inspiring confidence in youth to achieve their potential

Accountability – achieving both quantitative and qualitative results

top of page