Mar Vista Family Center

The By Youth For Youth (BYFY) program is built on Mar Vista Family Center’s self-empowerment and personal responsibility philosophies, guiding youth to become leaders in their own lives, as well as in the lives of their families and their communities.

How the Youth Program Works

The BYFY program provides important leadership development for at-risk youth (ages 13 to 21). These young people then go on to supervise Mar Vista Family Center (MVFC) activities for younger participants (ages 5 to 12). The program has successfully produced MVFC supervisors and community leaders who have become respected advocates for the needs of children and families in their neighborhoods and communities.

Youth-Led Activities

BYFY youth run a variety of their own programs including leadership training sessions, after-school tutoring of younger students, peer mentoring, summer day camp, and the National BYFY Conference, which gathers youth from around the country, where they share their experiences and discuss solutions to commonly-experienced problems.

Supervised Activities

MVFC provides College Prep guidance for students, helping them with academic subjects, SAT prep and college planning. The process kicks off with an annual retreat for students and their parents, where topics range from financial aid to separation concerns. Future MVFC plans include mental health counseling to help youth with serious issues related to gang pressure, broken homes, violence and other negative influences.

Collaborative Activities

Through “N2 School” MVFC provides one-on-one tutoring and mentoring for youth at the highest risk of leaving school.

To Visit the Youth-Run BYFY Website, Click Here to Enter