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

MVFC’s youth program is composed of an array of activities that address the needs of children and youths, ages 5 to 21, by the enhancement of positive behaviors and the prevention and intervention of self-destructive ones. Each day, elementary, middle and high school students come to MVFC for its after-school programs:

College preparation, Tutoring and Homework
Computer Skills
Sports
Exercise
Creative Arts and Dance Classes
Advocacy and Leadership training
Peer Counseling
Case Management

Today, more than 600 children and teens are benefiting from the many effective MVFC Youth Programs. It is MVFC's key objective to continue bringing in more children and youth who are currently on the waiting list.

Youth-Led Activities

Through the By Youth for Youth (BYFY) Leadership Training Program, youths receive support in areas such as personal growth, community leadership and advocacy. Each summer 40 BYFY members are trained to lead MVFC’s six-week on-site Day Camp. Additionally, youth leaders host an annual BYFY Conference. In most recent years, hundreds of youth, ages 13 to 21, have attended and exchanged youth empowerment strategies dealing with drug and alcohol abuse, education, media, public policy, racism and street violence.

Supervised Activities

MVFC provides supervised after-school activities for hundreds of elementary, middle and high school students. First, students receive an early, healthy dinner followed by homework and academic tutoring in the Everychild Foundation Youth Center. Once homework is completed, students can partake in computer activities, read books from the library, engage in sports or work on a music or art project.

College Prep

The College Prep Program begins when students enter into middle school, engaging them and their parents with the objective of creating a College Bound Culture in every home. The program encourages parent participation to break down the barriers of attending college by inviting the entire family into the college application process. Students and parents receive academic tutoring, guidance on the SAT and exploration of financial aid options.

Families attend monthly meetings where they receive the tools and guidance to keep the college process going in their homes. MVFC's recent high school graduates are currently attending a wide variety of two and four-year colleges. Some earlier participants are now attending graduate school; others have returned to MVFC to join the staff.

[The Youth-Run BYFY Website is under construction, you will be advised once it is complete.]