History

Boston Urban Youth Foundation has impacted the lives of youth in Boston for over ten years. BUYF’s unique and innovative programs, such as Servant Leadership Initiative, which takes urban youth to places like Mexico City for ministry opportunities, and our Building Futures Educational Initiative which provides high school scholarships and takes middle and high school youth on college tours to instill hope and vision for college and a career. As of Winter 2002, 53 BUYF alumni are attending college and seven have recently graduated. This past year, 87% of middle school truants graduated the next grade.

BUYF began work in Boston in 1974 as a branch of Young Life, a national youth organization, at the invitation of community and church leaders. We incorporated locally as a non-profit, tax-exempt organization in the spring of 1992.

When BUYF became independent, this strengthened our financial position and enabled us to focus on Mission Hill and Roxbury, the neighborhoods where most BUYF youth live.

BUYF’s mission is to help young people develop spiritually, emotionally, academically, and economically. BUYF seeks to motivate, mobilize, and equip vulnerable youth toward college and a successful future.

BUYF’s staff has extensive experience working with urban youth. This includes our long-time President, four full-time School Success staff, and Program Director.

BUYF volunteers reflect the ethnic makeup of the neighborhoods in which we work. Because many young adults might not be able to volunteer due to financial need, we sometimes offer stipends. We also recruit from churches in our target neighborhoods.

BUYF’s Board of Directors includes community and business leaders and area residents. It is responsible for all facets of program and administration. The Board has active committees, including a Resource and community Development Committee that is responsible for securing funding.