Economic Empowerment

Community Involvement

Scholastic Achievement

Educational Programs and Community Service Activities

Legacy Associates Foundation educational programs and community service activities have long been seen as a key role in the lives of our nation's adolescents. Our organization seeks to ensure that programs are designed to successfully meet young people's developmental needs and help them become healthy, self-motivated and productive adults.

The Men of Legacy Associates Foundation have worked to understand and implement recommendations for policy and practice through data-driven research to ensure that our programs are well designed to meet young people's developmental needs.

As an organization, we seek to become knowledgeable and aware of the elements that can contribute to a successful transition from adolescence to adulthood. We continuously examine what we know about the current landscape of youth development programs for America's youth, as well as how these programs are meeting their diverse needs.

Recognizing the importance of youth development as a period of transition to adulthood, Legacy Associates Foundation seeks authoritative guidance from policy makers, practitioners, researchers, educators and other key stakeholders on the role of youth development programs to promote the healthy development and well-being of our nation's youth. 

Importance of Youth Development and How You Can Help

Did You Know?
• Youth development has a positive impact on our community.
• Young people are the best assets today but they need skills and training to become effective citizens.
• To succeed as adults, all youth must acquire positive attitudes, appropriate behaviors and skills in five areas: Health; personal/social; knowledge, reasoning and creativity; vocation; citizenship.
• Adult mentorship and support are critical in youth development
• Your involvement can help young people learn and grow.

What is Youth Development?

Youth development is the ongoing process in which all young people are engaged and invested. Through youth development, young people attempt to meet their basic personal and social needs and build competencies necessary for successful adolescent and adult life. It is an approach, a framework and a way to focus on the capacities, strengths and developmental needs of youth. This approach also takes their weaknesses and challenges into account.

Six Basic Needs for Youth Survival and Healthy Development
1. Sense of safety and structure
2. Belonging and membership
3. Self-worth and an ability to contribute
4. Independence and control over one's life
5. Closeness and several good relationships
6. Competency and mastery


Legacy Associates Foundation is determined to positively impact the health and safety of metropolitan Detroit youth through the expansion of during and after-school programs. But, it is going to take people like you to make our vision a reality! Why? Consider just a few of these facts:

* 47% of juvenile crime takes place between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. (FBI National Incident-Based Reporting System, 2009)

* Students who spend no time in extracurricular activities are 49% more likely to use drugs and 37% more likely to become teen parents than those who spend one to four hours per week in extracurricular activities. (U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. Adolescent Time Use, Risky Behavior and Outcomes: An Analysis of National Data, 2010)

* In a survey of Police Chiefs, 86% said expanding after school and educational childcare programs would greatly reduce youth crime and violence. (Fight Crime, Invest in Kids, 2009)

* Participation in after school sports is linked to an increase in girls’ self-esteem, positive body image, self-confidence, and sense of competence, as well as a decreased incidence of depression, pregnancy, and smoking initiation. (Girls Report, 2008)

* High school students who participate in after-school activities are three times more likely to score in the top 25% on math and reading assignments compared to students who don’t participate. (U.S. Dept. of Education and Justice. Safe and Smart: Making After-School hours Work for Kids. 2008)

* On school days between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., the occurrence of violent juvenile crimes such as murders, sexual assaults, robberies and assaults triples. (FBI National Incident-Based Reporting System, 2007)

* Teens who do not participate in after school programs are nearly three times more likely to skip classes, use marijuana or other drugs, and they are more likely to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes and engage in sexual activity than those who do. (YMCA of the USA. After School for America’s Teens, March 2010)

* 94% of voters agree that there should be some type of organized activity or place for children and teens to go after school every day. (After School Alliance Poll, Summer 2011)

* Communities that have at least 50% of their youth involved in after-school programs are 5 times more likely to be a healthy community. (U.S. Department of Education)