About the Nonprofit
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MISSION STATEMENT:
SA Youth’s mission is to empower high-risk youth and young adults to achieve their full potential by providing quality educational programming in a safe environment.
AGENCY OVERVIEW:
SA Youth was founded by Brother Danna Gauthreaux in the basement of St. Mary's Church to assist the many youth who congregated in the downtown area. SA Youth was incorporated in 1984 and recognized as an IRS 501(c)3 organization in 1986.
The agency empowers low-income, high-risk urban children, youth and young adults to navigate the toxic stress of their households and community and to acquire the skills needed to succeed academically, physically, mentally, and professionally.
SA Youth is an innovative thought-leader in San Antonio. As a founding member of Excel Beyond the Bell network of Up! Partnership, SA Youth is committed to using data and student input to maintain excellence in its high-quality afterschool and youth development programs.
DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES:
The agency empowers low-income, high-risk urban children, youth and young adults to navigate the toxic stress of their households and community and to acquire the skills needed to succeed academically, physically, mentally, and professionally. SA Youth fulfills its mission through two signature programs: Academic Achievers and See Our Opportunities Rise! (SOAR!).
SA Youth serves all ten elementary and four middle school campuses in South San Antonio Independent School District (SSAISD) through Academic Achievers, an after-school/out-of-school time program. Academic Achievers serves up to 860 at-risk students at a time. Each site, with security and health safety measures in place, operates for a minimum of four hours a day during the school year and up to ten hours per day over the summer and select school holidays.
SOAR! exists to provide resources, support and encouragement to Opportunity Youth, youth and young adults ages 16-24 who are not employed or enrolled in school. The number of Opportunity Youth in our city has more than doubled since the pandemic to over 75,000. SA Youth provides access to programs, academic coaching, and case management so they can earn their high diplomas, identify their goals and the steps to achieve them. After graduation, SA Youth assists SOAR! participants with leadership and life skills training, civic and financial education, and help with completing job applications or enrollment in post-secondary education or the military. SOAR! consists of 4-month cohorts for 15 - 20 unduplicated youth. Services are offered in two locations: SA Youth's Poplar Center facility and the Young Adult Stability and Support (YASS) Drop In Center serving homeless youth of San Antonio.
