It is the mission of the Mayor's Youth Academy to provide development opportunities to youth throughout the city of Richmond which includes: job readiness
training, leadership development, exposure to entrepreneurship, mentoring, and post-secondary career exploration.
Our goal is to develop Richmond's future workforce into determined, successful citizens who will one day become our city's leaders. In doing so the Academy
will strive to accomplish the following goals.
- Provide extensive training for youth
- Develop employability skills
- Promote civic engagement
- Expose youth to post-secondary educational and/or vocational opportunities
- Provide professional mentors and instructors in a variety of career paths
- Provide safe and constructive social outlets through supervised out of school activities
- Encourage continued school enrollment
The advantages of the Mayor’s Youth Academy are as follows.
- Creating the future workforce
- Receiving "real" work experience
- The ability to explore and train in a variety of career fields
- Gaining skills that are necessary for future employment
- Provides mentoring and networking opportunities from a diverse pool of professionals
- Stimulates the local economy
Program Overview
Future Leaders Council (FLC)
The Mayor's Youth Initiative (MYA) Future Leaders Council (ages 14-19) is an out-of-school program that promotes leadership, civic engagement,
entrepreneurship, and higher education. Designed to develop Richmond's leaders of tomorrow, this program provides youth with various leadership
opportunities through interaction with government officials, participation in workshops and seminars, and taking part in civic engagement and community
service events.
In 2012, the MYA - FLC youth will elect the following officers from within its members:
- Youth Mayor
- Council President
- Council Vice President
- Council Clerk
- Council Chief Administrator Officer (CAO)
- nine Youth District Representatives
The Future Leaders Council is charged with the development of youth agenda through the I Map America project and will present
recommendations to the Richmond City Council and the Mayor.
Summer Work Experience
This year the MYA Summer Work Experience will increase the number of summer employment placements in the corporate and non-profit community and provide
enhanced workforce development training for participating youth. MYA - Work Experience participants (ages 16-19), are provided with diverse employment
placements and introduced to a variety of industries and career paths including; higher education, non-profits, library sciences, entrepreneurship,
human/social services, state government.
Life Stage
New this year, MYA will launch a Winter Life Stage program. The MYA-Life Stage program provides apprenticeships for youth (ages 14-15) in the following
tracks; culinary arts, dance/movement, mixed media, music, visual arts, theater arts, and fashion design. Youth will have an opportunity to explore and
assess their lives through group workshops and seminars, as well as journaling. Facilitated group discussions will be incorporated through the
implementation of a proven Rites of Passage program model.
Youth Gardeners
MYA-Youth Gardeners, for ages 16 – 19, is a comprehensive health, education, cultural and economic development program that promotes leadership,
entrepreneurship, peer-to-peer outreach, and healthy living. The youth plant and tend to community gardens located at 31st Street Baptist Church and the
17th Street Farmer's Market. Once the garden is harvested, the youth sale their goods at the weekly Farmers Market. Through a partnership with the
Department of Minority Business, participants receive training on operating and maintaining a successful business.
Counselor In Training (CIT)
The Counselor In Training program (CIT), for ages 14-17, provides instruction to participants on management and leadership skills, as well as basic training in first
aid, group leadership, time management, and conflict resolution. Once the training is complete, youth are placed with recreation and community centers
around the city and serve as program assistants to recreation staff. In 2012, the MYA will also launch a Winter CIT program.
How to Apply
Please complete the applications below.
MYA - Summer Work Initiative 2012
The MYA Youth application may be downloaded and printed in advance
of the March 10, 2012 application intake day and submitted to the MYA program office:
Mayor's Youth Academy – EDI Building
701 N. 25th Street
Richmond VA 23223
Map It
You may also bring your completed application to the MYA Application Intake
Day held on March 10th, 2012 at the Arthur Ashe Center.
No Applications will be accepted after March 10, 2012.
MYA – Life Stage Summer 2012
Youth ages 14 and 15 interested in applying for the Life Stage Program should complete the
Life Stage Youth Application.
This application may be downloaded and printed in advance of the March 10, 2012 application intake day and submitted to the
MYA program office:
Mayor's Youth Academy – EDI Building
701 N. 25th Street
Richmond VA 23223
Map It
You may also bring your completed application to the MYA Application Intake
Day held on March 10th, 2012 at the Arthur Ashe Center.
No Applications will be accepted after March 10, 2012.
MYA – Youth Garden Summer 2012
Youth interested in applying for the Youth Garden Program should complete the
MYA Summer Works Youth Application.
This application may be downloaded and printed in advance of the March 10, 2012 application intake day and submitted to the
MYA program office:
Mayor's Youth Academy – EDI Building
701 N. 25th Street
Richmond VA 23223
Map It
You may also bring your completed application to the MYA Application Intake
Day held on March 10th, 2012 at the Arthur Ashe Center.
No Applications will be accepted after March 10, 2012.
Counselors In Training Summer 2012
Applications will be available at all Richmond Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities community centers on March 5, 2012. Teens ages 14 – 17 that are interested in applying should do the following:
- Go to their community center to obtain an application.
- Complete the application and acquire two reference letters (forms attached to application).
- Bring all information to first training session on April 25, 2012, for screening.
- Complete six weeks of training in order to be eligible to work.
For additional information, please email the Mayor's Youth Academy.
ECPI University Technology Series Summer 2012
Youth interested in applying for the ECPI University Technology Series should complete the
MYA Summer Works Youth Application.
This application may be downloaded and printed in advance of the March 10, 2012 application intake day and submitted to the
MYA program office:
Mayor's Youth Academy – EDI Building
701 N. 25th Street
Richmond VA 23223
Map It
You may also bring your completed application to the MYA Application Intake
Day held on March 10th, 2012 at the Arthur Ashe Center.
No Applications will be accepted after March 10, 2012.
Forms
Calendar of Events
Parent Information
The Mayor’s Youth Academy is designed to accomplish the following:
- Emphasize real-world labor expectations
- Increase awareness of services offered by local community-based organizations
- Provide opportunities for career instruction, financial literacy training, academic improvement, and social growth
For more information, contact the Office of the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Human Services.
"My son loved the MYA program, the combination of fun, learning and earning a stipend made his summer worthwhile."
Partnership Opportunities for Employers
By partnering with the Mayor's Youth Academy you will be a part of the development of a new emerging workforce and the
leaders of tomorrow. There are many ways to participate, including:
- Providing paid work experience placements for a city of Richmond youth
- Providing financial sponsorships for various program components (i.e. transportation, uniforms, etc.)
- Providing mentors and hosting seminars
- Hosting fundraisers
- Providing sponsorship packages
We are always looking for partners to provide work opportunities for our diverse youth population. We hope that you can
become one of our many partners by hosting one or more of our youth this summer.
Partner Enrollment
To partner with the Mayor's Youth Academy complete the
MYA Partner Registration Form below and financial contributions can be made to:
EnRichmond Foundation
c/o Mayor’s Youth Academy
701 N 25th Street
Richmond VA 23223
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Employer Enrollment
To register as a Mayor's Youth Academy summer work employer, complete the
Employer Registration Form below and return to:
Mayor's Youth Academy – EDI Building
701 N. 25th Street
Richmond VA 23223
Map It
