Our Mission

Boston Urban Youth Foundation’s mission is to help at-risk youth develop spiritually, emotionally, academically, and economically.

Boston Urban Youth Foundation serves over 500 youth ages 11-18 from the Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan neighborhoods of Boston. BUYF uniquely combines case management, incarnational mentoring, academic skill-building, vision casting, and positive peer group experiences to build positive futures, one kid at a time. BUYF motivates, mobilizes and equips at-risk youth toward college and a positive future. BUYF partners with parents, schools, courts, and police. BUYF’s in-school and after-school integrated approach involves caring adults in the lives of young people. So that they can fulfill their God-given potential.

Our Methodology

• Share the love of Christ in word and deed
• Build strong mentoring relationships with young people
• Expose young people to the abundant opportunities available to them
• Motivate and inspire youth to develop skills and identify and use their talents
• Assist youth in activities that will insure their success

BUYF uses a unique in-school/after school program model that promotes positive values, hope and vision. Programs include Whatcha Looking for?, School Success/Academic Enrichment Center, College Vision, and Youth Enterprise Project.

Research-based Methods

Case management:
Build relationships with youth through tracking, intensive planning, academic assessment, and counseling for each youth, to allow each student to set and meet educational goals.

Mentoring:
Match youth with caring adult mentors for long-term support; mentors assist youth with goal-setting, goal-achieving, and leadership skills.

Academic Skill Building:
Academic skill-building using Plato Math and Reading Program to assess and improve academic skills; Individual assessment and intensive planning for success in school

Positive Peer Group Experiences:
Leadership seminar, Monday night Club, weekend activities, college tours, Vision Retreats, summer camp, Servant Leadership Initiative, local student-led community service projects

Vision Casting:
Case managers and mentors work with each youth to cast a vision for their future. A combination of relationships with caring adults, academic skill-building, trips, Vision retreats, camps and college tours helps each youth create a plans and goals for the future.