History
of FYI
Collaborating Organizations
Who Are the FYI Volunteers
History of FYI
Recognizing that young people in Washington Heights lack safe, structured, and
engaging ways to spend time in the non-school hours of the day, Fresh Youth
Initiatives (FYI) was launched in 1993 as a community-based youth development
organization.
Collaborating
Organizations
FYI maintains a healthy network of relationships - both in and out of theWashington
Heights community- in order to carry out its mission most effectively.
This orientation towards collaboration has been part of FYI's culture since
inception, as FYI started in 1993 working closely with the Post 280 "Dreamers,"
a Scout Explorer Post running a range of athletic, outdoor, and academic support
activities. Also in FYI's early days, we worked closely with the WOW program,
a school-based dropout prevention program run by Columbia University, and the
Ivy League, a year-round, girls-only program. This four-way collaboration presents
a menu of varying activities for neighborhood youth and is one way to craft
a holistic approach to youth development.
Over time this collaboration has taken many forms and over time, things change.
For instance, the Ft. Washington Armory at 168th Street and Ft. Washington Avenue
opened much of its space to youth programming in 1998, with the Police Athletic
League moving in to operate youth activities. The Dreamers now run under the
PAL umbrella, and the WOW program uses space there as well. Teach for America
also has an office in the Armory, and has become a valuable member of this collaboration.
Yet the bonds and trust formed in the years of very close collaboration are
at the heart of making today's work as effective as possible. For instance,
the Armory makes its space available for athletics and other special events
as much as possible; FYI is sure to include the others in its larger service
events; referrals of youth between groups continues to occur regularly.
We are all trying to work with young people, providing them support and working
towards their growth, safety and positive development. It would be self-defeating
to look at other groups as "turf" or "competition," especially
when there is a burgeoning youth population in the neighborhood. We have found
that maintaining this network of relationships has contributed to a stronger
sense of community in Washington Heights.
It is also important to acknowledge the two adult leaders of the Dreamers, Al
Kurland and Dave Crenshaw, who are among the most important community builders
in Washington Heights. FYI would never have gotten off the ground without their
sustained help over time.
Other important youth organizations in Washington Heights with whom we work
include:
" Children's Arts and Science Workshop (CASW)
" 181st Street Beautification Project
Other Washington Heights agencies which are influential and who work with larger
numbers of youth through beacon schools are:
" Alianza Dominicana
" Association of Dominican Progressives in the Community (ACDP)
" Children's Aid Society
Other Washington Heights organizations which have distinct youth programming
pieces include:
" Community League of 159th Street
" RENA-COA
" Dominican Women's Development Center
" Washington Heights-Inwood Coalition
Other
Facts
# of board
members = 18
# of staff
members = 12
Operating Budget = $885,242 For Fiscal Year 2007
# of hours of community service completed by participants = over 115,000
Who Are The FYI Volunteers?
The typical FYI participant is 10-18 years old, of either Latino or African-American
descent, and lives in a family with an income close to or below the poverty
line. Academically, they are usually in the "middle of the pack"- the kids who
often fall between the cracks of the educational system because they are neither
underachievers nor are they "gifted" - but have tremendous potential if
given the attention and encouragement of a supportive environment. Most participants
live in our home community of Washington Heights, in Upper Manhattan, New York
City.