Youth At Heart Kicks Off Fall Program at
Mark Twain Elementary School
Mark Twain Elementary has opened its doors to the YAH after-school enrichment program. Twenty children remained after school September 22nd, to take part in the first week of activities which included high-energy games and an interactive lesson on the importance of following instructions and self control.
Jeneshia Hicks, the YAH activity leader, was elated to take the YAH kids Club to the school. She believes she will be able to reach many more students as a result of engaging the students on their school grounds immediately after school, while many await transportation home. Hicks will receive plenty of help instructing the children each week from Oral Roberts University interns and program volunteers. The ORU students will receive service learning while mentoring the children which is a win-win proposition for both the interns and kids alike.
The children will spend a second day each week receiving help with homework at another location--Christ United Methodist Church. Seventy percent of children that completed YAH tutoring last year improved in reading at or above their grade level. We are looking forward to similar success this year.
Youth At Heart
Youth At Heart is a leader in providing programs in education, recreation and social development to youth living in Tulsa.
Since 1976, YAH has provided youth living in Tulsa’s socio-economically challenged neighborhoods a variety of after-school and summer programs that include tutoring, character training, youth mentoring, health and fitness training, sports leagues, career exploration, community service and summer camp. Each year, these programs reach over 3,000 children and teens, giving them an effective alternative to idleness, vandalism, drug use and gang activities that so often plague their communities.
Mission
The Youth At Heart's mission is to shape, support and encourage youth. To accomplish this, YAH provides youth learning opportunities through educational, recreational, and social experiences.
History
YAH was formed by the merger of two United Way agencies—Destination Discovery and Helping Hands of Tulsa. Destination Discovery was established in the summer of 1976, to provide educational and social programs for children living in low-income housing in Tulsa. Helping Hands of Tulsa was founded in October of 1984, to provide constructive and meaningful activities to children living in public housing through a Children’s Life Lessons Hour.
In 2003, at the urging of United Way, the two agencies consolidated to provide uniform programs in each of the 11 apartment communities they served. YAH now manages nine Tulsa Housing Authority community centers, and provides children and teen enrichment programs that include tutoring, crime prevention classes, life-skills training, character-building activities, and intramural sports.
Youth At Heart Communities:
- Apache Manor
- Comanche Park
- East Central Village
- Edenwood
- South Haven Manor
- Mohawk Manor
- Normandy Apartments
- Parkview Terrace
- Riverview Park
- Sandy Park
- Seminole Hills
