2700 Shadeland Ave 2nd Fl.
Pittsburgh PA 15212
P: (412) 766-5040
F: (412) 766-3274

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Who We Are

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.

Our mission statement is based on the Bible's repeated statement that God has a perfect plan for each individual's life - his or her potential. If we don't give our young men the education, equipment and empowerment they need to achieve their potential, we are in fact disobeying God's plan and hindering His plan.

Core Beliefs

The Bible's message of redemption and hope through Jesus Christ must motivate everything we do. We will always welcome members of any faith, or of no faith, and we will never "force" our Christian beliefs on anyone. However, we will always make that message instantly available to anyone who asks to hear.
A loving, trusting relationship between an adult and a child provides the best channel for teaching. We highly value one-on-one relationships.
Effective relationships are built on extraordinary commitments of time, with great intensity, over long periods. We strive for efficiency with things, but effectiveness with people.
All children can learn. There are no bad kids, only bad behavior. Bad behavior is learned, but likewise can also be unlearned.
What is good for our members is good for AYD. Institutional decisions must always be based on the needs of our members. This of course is not license to make reckless business decisions - a failed institution will fail our young members. But AYD's success must always stem from our members' success.
In working with youth, we believe Christ's mandate to "freely receive, freely give" assumes its most literal meaning. A lack of money must never prevent the neediest child from receiving our services. In most cases that means offering service free of charge. However, "free of charge" does not mean free of obligation. We must teach the "freely give" half of the equation, developing and nurturing a sense of joyful giving in our all our young men.

Our Roots

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 Allegheny Youth Development.

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Allegheny Youth Development is a 501 (c)(3) organization.
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2436 California Avenue | Pittsburgh PA 15212 | 412-322-5040
Giving young men a spiritual edge to success