The young people of the Metro Youth YMCA I Can Achieve program have worked hard all year, visiting colleges, doing service projects and learning how to make positive decisions. Last Friday, they celebrated their hard work with a formal party at the Boll Family YMCA.
ICan Achieve is open to students in grade 9-12 who participate in the mentorship and college preparation program . Each day of the week, the sessions follow a specific theme aimed at helping the young people reach their fullest potential and achieve their best.
The 5 principles of the the program are:
- i Live: modeling positive decision-making
- i Learn:enhancing academic performance
- i Work: career development; investigating and pursuing career opportunities
- i Serve: community service projects
- i Play: health and wellness through fitness and fun
In addition, youth tour colleges both locally and nationally. This year’s tour focused on East Coast colleges, allowing students to experience some of America’s oldest institutions of higher learning. Staff work with students on college applications and scholarships as well; many have gone on to succeed in college and employment, and some even have come back to mentor the young people going through the program now.
Through a campaign called “Suits for Sons”, 30 young men in the program were given free new suits donated to the program by Serman’s Men’s Wear at a substantially discounted rate, in an effort to make sure all the young men had suits to wear for the formal (as well as graduation events or job interviews events coming up soon as well. Serman’s, which is located near the Boll and has been a fixture on the downtown scene for 96 years, is closing and owner Steven Ross wanted to do something positive for the youth of Detroit. He also offered young men 50 percent off on accessories for the event. In addition, new and gently used formal dresses were donated for female students by the staff, program volunteers and family members.
The evening featured food, dancing, and a photo booth for the young people, and admission for them was free.