The Latin American Youth Center is located at the Center for Educational Partnership, a former school building owned by The University of Maryland that now houses various student programs within the community.
It is part of a larger program at the Riverdale location called the Maryland Multicutural Youth Center, which works with various youth programs in the area to help support teens. It also includes the local AmeriCorps program.
Eunice Humphrey, the site director, says the Latin American Youth Center has been around for 25 years and was initially a grassroots effort to help illegal immigrants and minorities. The center's major goal was to help those youths become successful.
The center helps teens obtain their GED and find employment. It also provides AmeriCorps mentors, a place for teens to gather after school, summer camp programs and enrichment workshops. Workshop topics include murals, bikes, art, health and fitness and nutrition. Students can also earn community service hours and the center hosts various events that are open to the community. The center's outdoor garden is also open to the public.
Gandhi Brigade is a unique and vital resource for the young people of Silver Spring. Located on the fifth level of the City Place Mall, this non-profit organization partners young people concerned about their community with adults experienced in multimedia. This gives the community's youth the tools to create presentations and programs that raise awareness about issues that are important to them. Information about past projects, volunteering and donating can be found on the Gandhi Brigade Web site.
The regional headquarters for the Boy Scouts of America can be found next to the entrance to Druid Hill Park. The mission is to foster local Boy Scout chapters throughout the Baltimore region and beyond. The central office offers administrative oversight for local Boys Scouts chapters, fundraising, media campaigns and volunteer efforts.
Community Bridges provides leadership and empowerment to a diverse mix of underprivileged girls in the Silver Spring community through a variety of programs based on the age of the girls. At younger ages, team-building, community activism, health and self-confidence issues are addressed, while older girls are mentored to embrace their cultural diversity while becoming emerging community leaders. Finally, teens are educated about dating safety, managing the transition to high school or the working world and continued leadership skills development.
At the Boys & Girls Club of Harford County, young people can get together with friends and play sports while also receiving additional life education. The organization hosts several educational programs, including Project Learn, Ultimate Journey and Career Explorers Club. To learn more, visit the club's visit website or stop in to see what happens after school.
Wide Angle Youth Media is located just off of North Howard Street. This non-profit organization provides local teens with the opportunity to explore media education and share their personal stories through their community. The organization also sponsors the annual Youth Media Festival, with various themes such as "Who Are You?", in which students share their strategies for overcoming stereotypes.
