PHYTT For Life youth center

Our mission is to provide a safe and healthy learning environment that will allow youth and young adults to effectively achieve academic success and personal growth and development through quality support and the promotion of excellence.

The PHYTT for Life Youth Center serves as a hub for college preparation through the support of tutors, volunteers, mentors, various programming and strategic partnerships. With state-of-the-art technology and innovative programming, the PHYTT for Life Youth Center will assist middle and high school students with their journey towards success in higher education. We are confident that this center will greatly impact the youth of this community by upholding our motto that "Excellence is Practiced Here".

All PHYTT for Life programs will be held in the Q Health Connections PHYTT for Life Youth Center located in the Sabathani Community Center at 310 E. 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55409 Room 117. Please call (612) 821-2383 for more information.

• Young Women of Excellence (Ages 14-18) – This 10-week program is designed to help young women in high school achieve excellence in their lives. In a safe and supportive environment, participants begin to create a vision for their future by attending sessions that focus on self development and empowerment, higher education, leadership, healthy relationships, money management, sexual responsibility, goal setting and networking.
  
  Young Women of Excellence participants experience personal growth through open dialogue, engaging in various activities throughout the Twin Cities, attending national college tours and much more!
  

Testimonial
“Working with the Young Women of Excellence has definitely had a positive impact on my life. I have gained a greater sense of responsibility and purpose. I have a greater sense of responsibility for practicing what I preach.  I tell the young ladies to work hard and strive to be a leader and not a follower. In that same spirit, I feel obligated to be an example of hard work. When I am able to see one young woman advance or grow I am infused with a greater sense of purpose. I have been fortunate to impact the lives of very bright young ladies and they have and will continue to leave a lasting impression on my life. The sense of fulfillment that I gain from interacting with these young ladies is priceless.”

Adrianna – Mentor for Young Women of Excellence
Minneapolis, Minnesota

• Voices of Tomorrow (Ages 12-14) – This program is designed to assist young ladies in making a positive transition from Middle School to High School as well as provide them with a safe and supportive environment for their voices to be heard.
  
  The curriculum for this group addresses everyday issues that young ladies face and presents them with the opportunity to generate their own positive solutions. This program will be used as a launching pad to point young ladies in the direction of post-secondary education, a successful career path and a healthy lifestyle.
  

• Girls on the Rise (Ages 8-11) – This program caters to the needs of elementary school age girls and offers them a space for their voices to be heard. In a safe and supportive environment, participants will begin to focus on building character, integrity, self-image and many other necessary topics that are important to their development.
  
  Girls on the Rise participants will engage in many activities that will not only celebrate their uniqueness but also affirm their positive strength and abilities as young ladies. The sessions are very interactive and allow for the young ladies to truly get involved in their own personal growth and development.
  

• Project Alpha – This collaborative project is designed to provide education, motivation, and skill-building on issues such as graduating from high school, going to college, relationships, networking, teen pregnancy prevention, and sexual responsibility for males ages 12-18. Project Alpha consists of a series of workshops and informational sessions conducted by Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity brothers.

Testimonial
“I feel a true sense of community when mentoring the young males in the Project Alpha program.” 

Reuben – Mentor for Project Alpha
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Shining the Light on our Young Men (By Robert E. Smith)

Testimonial
“Being a mentor for the Youth Xpress Page has impacted me by working with youth who have a passion for writing about things that affect their communities. I am passionate about working with youth so hearing about the issues that they face everyday and seeing them overcome those issues through writing has been very inspiring for me.“  

Briana – Mentor for Youth Xpress Page
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Reaching Our Dreams - Testimonial from Marlen

• The G.A.M.E. Society: Going Above My Expectations – This 10-week program is designed to assist young men in high school raise the bar and go beyond the low expectations set by society and often by themselves. The G.A.M.E. Society creates a safe environment where young men can engage in dialogue about real issues and begin creating a vision for their future in leadership, higher education, and a successful lifestyle. Sessions include: Young Men in Music, Current Events, Money Management, Sexual Responsibility, College and Future Preparation, Politics in America, Violence in the Community, Networking and More!

• College Connection – College Connection is a “mini-road map” to assist students in preparing for their journey towards higher education. This 10-week series of workshops provides youth with hands-on training from experienced facilitators as well as local college and university staff. Youth will engage in dialogue and practice in resume building, college essay writing, FAFSA 101, scholarship searching and other very important aspects of college preparation.

• ACT Preparation Workshop - This 8-week workshop will focus on math and science. Participants will take practice ACT tests, get individual help and learn secrets to better test taking.

• Get Up, Get Fit! Get PHYTT for Life (Excercise and Nutrition Program) – Get Up, Get Fit! Get PHYTT for Life is a summer exercise and nutrition program for youth ages 11-16. This is an eight week program that provides youth with a fun environment where they will learn to eat healthy foods, get involved in new activities and various sports, focus on achieving personal goals and build relationships with their peers.

  With a Health & Wellness Coordinator on site, this cost-free program is designed to assist youth in gaining a basic understanding of the essentials needed to live a healthy active lifestyle. Healthy meals and snacks will be provided as well as bus tokens if needed.

• Free @ Last – Become free through creativity! This 10-week program is designed to allow young people ages 14-19 to express themselves in a creative and positive manner through art, poetry, spoken-word, and a final performance. The courses will help youth focus on turning stresses and everyday issues into positive outcomes through creativity and expression. 

• The D.A.D. Program: Developing Active Dads – The goal of the D.A.D. Program is to develop awareness in young men of the importance of their role as the father of their children as well as the maintenance of a positive "working" relationship with the mother of their child/ren. We will provide a father-friendly environment for young men to come together, address parenting needs and receive accurate parenting information. This will be achieved through interactive conversations with fatherhood practitioners, community elders, group activities, parental and hands on training that will develop their parenting skills.

  D.A.D. participants will meet on Thursday evenings for one and one-half hours per session for 10-weeks. Activities will include how to be supportive of the mother of your child/ren, providing for your child/ren, keeping your child/ren healthy, exploring the world with your child/ren, and taking care of your personal and professional business. Each session will have time for the dad's to learn how to prepare healthy meals and food for their child on a small budget.

  Trained fatherhood practitioners with extensive experiences working with young fathers will facilitate the sessions. Educational resources and other supportive resources for young fathers will be made available as their needs are identified. For more information call (612) 238-2390.

• Askable Adults – What is an Askable Adult? Our focus is to empower this community by creating approachable adults, able to communicate with the youth in their lives about the risks of adolescent sexual behaviors.   By providing them with correct information and clear, effective communication skills, it will enable these adults to encourage the adolescents in their lives to talk openly and honestly about sensitive issues.  This allows the youth to make responsible, healthy choices, and informed decisions.  An "Askable Adult" is not limited to only parents and/or guardians of an adolescent, but may also include any number of significant adults in that adolescents life that is empowered to be an appropriate role model for them.