Bringing out the best in young people.
History
YDO is a citywide-community based non-profit organization, committed to developing the strengths of young people in Lawrence, MA.
Initially formed in 2001, but really planting roots in 2006, YDO offers targeted after school enrichment and academic programs to low-moderate income youth in the city.
Vision
In collaboration with individuals and organizations from within and outside Lawrence, YDO invites young people to be seriously engaged in their education through programs in academics, the arts and athletics. Building on each individual student's particular assets, we encourage them to develop their potential and take charge of their growth and development.
Staff
- Howard Sticklor Executive Director
- Katie Yang HERC Director
- Stephanie McArdle Program Coordinator
Mission
“The Youth Development Organization seeks to grow a community of engaged, capable learners increasingly aware of their capacity for excellence. Through long-term relationships with caring adults, we help our students discover who they are and who they can become. By focusing on their talents, abilities, and interests, we encourage our students to take charge of their futures and work to achieve positive outcomes that will benefit themselves and their families.”
Partners
»Northern Essex Community College
»Jericho Road Lawrence
»Cambridge College
»Lawrence Family Development Charter School
»Acting Out Theatre Company
»UMass Lowell
»Phillips Academy - Andover
»MIT
»Brooks School
»Governor's Academy
»Lawrence Youth Soccer
»Boys & Girls Club
The YDO Approach
YDO is unusually positioned to make a difference in the lives of individuals and in the direction of the community. The accomplishments of YDO to date have resulted from our ability to attract both students and resources to programs of voluntary learning. YDO has managed to broker learning opportunities in large part by creating and leveraging the good will of individuals and organizations both from within and outside the city. YDO’s staff has found ways to reach out across Lawrence, within schools, churches and youth organizations, and invite young people to be seriously engaged in their education.
YDO offers enrichment programs in academics, the arts, and athletics to connect students to the larger world around them. We do this by forming partnerships with other non-profit organizations, schools and community organizations to create learning opportunities. Students who participate in YDO programs also find themselves in a relationship with a caring adult, as well as older students who serve as role models. Building on each individual student’s particular assets, we encourage them to develop their potential and take charge of their growth and development.
Our programs are unique and custom-designed with the interests of our students in mind. Our programs are designed as “clubs” for focused activity, where students are expected to both learn something and do something. YDO seeks to maintain a buzz of activity distinguished by its seriousness and informality. Each of our programs is a hook through which we engage students for long-term educational support. We look to encourage student involvement with appropriate trips (Blue Man Group, The Wizard of Oz, Berklee Gospel Ensemble and the Boston Celtics) and rewards (providing students with funds to purchase their own books at Barnes and Noble).
We want our students to understand that they have talents and interests that they can explore in order to discover “who they are and who they can become”. We desire to excite students about learning and help them grow in skills, awareness and confidence. Because our programs offer genuine enrichment and personal engagement, above and beyond what is otherwise possible, caring institutions like the Lawrence Family Development Charter School, the Lawrence Boys and Girls Club and Adelante, see our programs as a bonus to their students and in support of their own missions.