Allegheny Youth Development is a Christian-based organization that uses academic assistance and self-control development to help highly at-risk adolescent boys grow into responsible, productive men.

Mission
Allegheny Youth Development's mission is to educate, equip and empower our inner-city youth to reach their God-given intellectual, social, physical and spiritual potential.

History
AYD rose from the remains of Youth Opportunities Unlimited, a North Side ministry that closed in 1994, abruptly thrusting a tight-knit core of 12 teen boys onto the streets during the most violent summer in Pittsburgh history. For help, they turned to a handful of former Y.O.U. staff and parents; together they laid the foundation that became AYD. For the past 10 years, AYD has focused its service on the Marshall-Shadeland and Brighton Heights neighborhoods.

Our Program Model
AYD has been especially effective in using the “soft” techniques of mentoring, relationship-building and a fraternal, Christian atmosphere to leverage “hard,” measureable results in academic performance and behavior. Data drives our decisions on practical matters like curriculum choices and lesson planning, but we are ultimately guided by the long-term needs and success of our members. We purposely take a longitudinal focus in helping boys grow into young men. Our model takes six or seven years to run its course, but the results are dramatic and long-lasting, generating a long-term return on investment.

The dividends of this approach perpetuate as AYD raises leaders among our members who will eventually run the organization and spread our unique approach exponentially here and in other neighborhoods. We’re committed to training and empowering young men to become leaders within their community.

We’re among the first of growing number of organizations to use an evidence-based model to effect a measureable change in a participant’s amount of self-control, with the goal of improving classroom behavior. Experience and study have shown us that the most successful students are those who learn how to learn, rather than just absorbing and reciting knowledge. Life-long learners become better employees, better leaders and better citizens.