MAHOGANY YOUTH CORPORATION
This organization has already been registered
Someone in your organization has already registered and setup an account. would you like to join their team?Profile owner : i**o@m**************s.c*m
Mission Statement
Mahogany Youth Corporation (MYC) connects youth to nature. Our mission is to empower kids to expand their possibilities through fishing, the hook that we use to get their attention. Healing youth through nature is the result. With Marine Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math activities in the in school, afterschool and summer camp programs, textbooks come alive in the great outdoors. MYC teaches fishing as the hook that we use to get the youth interested in learning and practicing life skills. Because of your support, Mahogany Youth Corporation (MYC) addresses significant community issues such as youth academic success, the decline in youth health because of inactivity leading to heart disease and obesity, a lack of environmental responsibilities, economic development for at-risk youth, abused and neglected children and more. Together we provide an opportunity for positive youth development through the introduction of personal self-management skills, general social skills, and drug resistance skills. One of the highest priorities identified was services for positive youth development and adolescent risk prevention. MYC has identified the following high-risk behaviors to be problems for youth in their neighborhoods: dangerous or reckless driving; marijuana, alcohol, and other drug use; tobacco use, delinquent behavior, including gangs and fighting; and sexual activity. Our program addresses each of these issues and teaches critical thinking skills to mitigate environmental impacts from their neighborhoods.
About This Cause
Many youths see the ocean for the first time with MYC starting a lifelong connection with nature. Working with supportive partners like you, together we change their lives. Long-term Improvement in the youth’s education, emotional well-being, and environment is the goal. (MYC) was founded in 1994 by Robert O’Bryant, a licensed drug counselor with over twenty years of experience. Mr. O’Bryant's experience working with incarcerated juveniles, drug offenders, and recovering addicts led him to establish an outdoor conservation and mentoring program called "Teach a Child to Fish." Initially launched in Miami-Dade County's Gwen Cherry Park, the program expanded throughout the county, and many graduates have returned as volunteers and mentors, bringing their own children to participate in the program. For over fifteen years, MYC has provided a high-quality STEAM-focused summer camp that includes fishing, swimming, snorkeling, safe boating, science and nature experiments, and scientific research in the field of marine biology, with an emphasis on fishing, building underwater robots, and water quality research. Since 2007, MYC has implemented school-based programs, starting with an afterschool program in North Dade Middle School, followed by an in-school/afterschool program in 2010 in Jose De Diego and Richmond Heights middle schools. The foundation of MYC's principles lies in an ancient proverb: "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime." Through the principle of fishing, MYC strives to promote self-sufficiency and alleviate poverty by teaching low-income children the importance of an honest livelihood and positive attitudes towards society that will benefit them throughout life. Research has shown that children residing in inner-city neighborhoods experience a nature-deficit, with few green spaces and little access to the tranquility of the natural environment (as noted in "Last Child in the Woods" by Richard Louv). MYC has a program that reaches out to vulnerable youth in South Florida, particularly in inner-city neighborhoods like Overtown, Liberty City, Arcola Lakes, and West Little River. The program provides services to at-risk children living in high-poverty zip codes and collaborates with organizations like His House Children's Foster Home and Genesis Hopeful to extend outreach to children in foster care and as they age out. MYC's school and parks-based programs aim to introduce marine activities to young people while teaching non-violent responses to cope with challenges in their environment. MYC's curriculum is designed to support the self-esteem of participants and create a safe space for young people of various sexual orientations, cultures, and ethnicities. The program serves a diverse group of participants, with 70% African American, 20% Hispanic, 5% Caucasian, and 5% other minority groups, and 65% male and 35% female participants aged 6 to 18. Research has shown that children in inner-city neighborhoods experience a nature deficit with few green spaces and limited access to the natural environment, which is essential for healthy childhood development. MYC offers a range of programs, including in-school, out-of-school, afterschool, summer camp, youth employment, fishing, swimming, environmental education, cleanups, and Saturday programs. The goal is to expand the program to serve more schools, increase the summer employment program, extend the summer camp, and expand the foster care program. Mentors work with youth to teach life skills, provide once-in-a-lifetime adventures, and support them as they navigate through difficult neighborhoods, connecting them to nature in a personal and meaningful way. MYC's program aims to advance equity in marginalized communities in Miami Dade and Broward counties, focusing on disadvantaged youth in areas like Overtown, Liberty City, Opa Locka, and Miami Gardens. Over 90% of youth in Miami Dade schools are eligible for free or reduced lunch, and many face challenges related to poverty and unemployment. MYC provides services for positive youth development and adolescent risk prevention, emphasizing the importance of employment skills and training for students who may not be on a college track. The program engages children in hands-on science, learning about marine biology and ecology, technology, engineering, and math in the field and in the classroom. They also participate in art projects, visit museums like the Frost Museum for hands-on experiences, and improve their reading and comprehension through classroom reading and workbooks. MYC provides exercise and movement, swimming lessons, fishing, scientific research methodology, literacy training, and drug and gang resistance-behavior modeling. The program also includes acting and role-playing, adding arts and cultural skills to the curriculum. MYC has been providing science-oriented programs for over 29 years, including in-school, after-school, out-of-school, summer, and Saturday programs. The program has expanded to include STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) focus, sponge restoration, and snorkeling. Participants have engaged in coral restoration, plankton studies, Gyotaku fish printing, drama classes, candle making, and mural creation. This year, the program has expanded the fine arts program to allow students to explore and develop their artistic talents and interests, including music, visual arts, drama, and dance.