FAQ
YA's
headquarters on the Gulf Freeway in Houston
What
is YA?
YA is an innovative youth development organization based in
Houston, Texas. Since 1988, Youth Advocates has been
building a positive youth community for young people in
Texas and in Los Angeles. YA utilizes hip-hop as its
central organizing principle, employing a vernacular that
young people appreciate. The ethos of this community
promotes autonomy, independent thinking, and creativity,
and builds unconventional opportunities for growth and
self-expression. Within this culture, YA establishes a norm
of affection that connects disenfranchised young people to
adults and to each other in constructive and discernable
ways. Eliminating geographical and ethnic boundaries, YA
creates a large circle of friends, joined by the common
values of love, acceptance, and mutual respect. As our
young people open themselves to new ways of thinking, their
negative behavior patterns--and their hopelessness--fall
away and are replaced by healthier, more proactive modes of
activity.
What
are YA's goals?
YA strives to break each youth’s cycle of destructive
behavior by replacing his/her negative activities with
membership in a youth community. Within this context YA
offers support and guidance in a positive, nonthreatening
atmosphere. In all interactions, the young person’s
needs and perspective are at the forefront, so that no work
takes place that does not advance the interests of the
youth.
What services does YA offer?
YA offers individual and group counseling, educational
support and tutoring, alternate activities, substance abuse
education, life skills training, health care services, job
search assistance, and therapeutic adventure activities.
The encouragement of adults and the support of peers make
it possible for YA members to transform themselves into
pragmatic adults ready to contribute to the improvement of
their society.
What
makes YA unique?
YA uses a detached worker model of service that operates
directly on the streets and in clients’ homes. YA
staff members build a solid relationship with each client,
and use that relationship as the springboard for larger
life changes. YA’s success continues to be strong,
with nearly 75% of our clients returning to some
educational setting, and almost 90% avoiding further
trouble with the law following their admission to this
program.
YA is known for its break dancers. How did this get
started?
In 1996, three YA members became interested in break
dancing and started practicing on their own. After a few
weeks, they started practicing in the YA offices, and
inviting their friends to come by. More and more young
people began coming to YA to watch and practice break
dancing, until in early 1997 the numbers had swelled to
over 50 dancers. The small office building we were
occupying could not support that many people at one time,
so YA rented its current building in the IAM&AW Local
12 Union Hall. Our first YA Night was held on a Thursday
night in February 1997, and was attended by more than 100
people. YA Nights continue in the same location every week.
How can I get the YA Dancers to perform at my
location?
YA's break dancers are available for performances at
schools, community centers, churches, after-school
programs, and other family-oriented events. To schedule a
performance, call YA at (713) 923-4270 or email
ya@youthadvocates.org.
Who funds YA?
YA receives funding in 2004-2005 from OneStar Foundation,
the Child Care Council of Greater Houston, the Houston
Endowment, the Brown Foundation, and the Meadows
Foundation, and a variety of individual and corporate
donors.
What
are some of YA's future plans?
YA is actively pursuing several new projects, including:
*Developing partnerships with the Harris County Juvenile
Probation Department, Baylor College of Medicine, and other
institutions to assist youth.
*Building a skatepark for skateboarders, rollerbladers, and
BMX bikers in inner-city Houston
*Moving to a larger facility for expanded programming
*Expansion of branches in San Antonio and Los Angeles
Youth Advocates,
Inc.
6363 Richmond Ave., Ste. 288
Houston TX 77057
713-923-4270
Phone 1-866-888-3951
Toll Free 832-202-0965 Fax
