Mission Statement
The mission of Inner City Youth Opportunities is to educate and mentor low income Cincinnati inner-city youth year-round by providing a safe environment and programs to prepare them for a successful future.
Inner City Youth Opportunities has been serving our Cincinnati community since 1993 as a Non-Profit 501 ( C ) 3 focusing on some of our most at-risk children in grades K – 12. ICYO is working to help close the education gap for our low-income children. When resources and support is not available at home, just being in the classroom is not enough to keep students on grade level.
Often they are facing more pressing challenges at home like food insecurity, lack of adult presence , being responsible for caring for siblings, and safety from neighborhood crime – for non-English speaking families, the struggles are even greater factoring in fear of being victimized by the system and a lack of understanding of how to navigate social services.
ICYO steps in to offer at no charge to the families year-round:
- A safe supervised afterschool Homework Assistance & Tutoring Program
- Transportation to & from all Youth Development programs
- Individual & small group academic skill practice tailored to each child’s level
- Emphasis on Early Childhood Literacy
- Daily meals included for all activities
- Access to social activities, field trips, tennis camps, summer sponsored camps, Holiday parties, healthy cooking classes and gardening
- Preparation classes for life after high school graduation including Financial Educational Literacy
Vision Statement
Our vision is to develop a strong program to empower Inner City Youth to confidently lead positive, productive lives. Our goal is for every child to reach their full potential and discover their abilities and talents. Education is the foundation of success and we believe all children should have opportunities to make their dreams a reality.
ANNUAL CAMPAIGN
Our families need us now to help get through these incredibly difficult times. Please make a gift today!
Help Volunteer
The volunteers of Inner City Youth Opportunities are a vital part of the organization and have been a major support over the last twenty-three years.
Donate Today
Your gift today will help change a child’s life. Thank you for your generous investment in our children and our community.
Our Tennis Program
Youth Tennis, says the USTA, is easy to learn and tailored for all ages and abilities, giving kids a game that will help them build friendships and learn skills they’ll use for life.
Academic Intervention
Academic Intervention offers low-income inner-city youth after-school Homework Assistance & Tutoring with an emphasis on Early Childhood Literacy for grades K – 12.
Youth Development
These programs allow our inner-city children to have experiences beyond their neighborhoods that most families wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford.
J’mya’s Success Story
J’mya joined ICYO at 6 years old and is now 13. From the second that she stepped into our doors we always knew the great potential that she held in her heart and her brain.
When she first came into the program J’mya struggled academically and behaviorally. However, as time went on J’mya started to realize her own potential the way we did. As she grew up her self-proclaimed “follower” behavior began to dwindle, and her leadership skills truly started to shine.
J’mya enjoys tutoring the younger students that come in on Mondays and Wednesdays. She has proven to be good at keeping the younger kids focused and containing and nullifying loud and disruptive behavior. During the summer at ICYO J’mya comes in every day to help teach tennis and control behavior on the courts. She has learned great sportsmanship through her time with us and tends to radiate fun and respectful competitiveness wherever she goes on the tennis court.
J’mya has proven to be a greatly important asset to our leadership team and we hope that she will continue to grow and learn with us at Inner City Youth Opportunities. As of now J’mya plans on continuing to cook delicious meals for her family and friends and build on her cooking skills to hopefully one day be a chef. However whatever route she decides to take, we from the ICYO family are so proud to see all the progress and success that J’mya has achieved and are quite excited to support her future endeavors, hopes, and dreams in any way possible.
“I’m so happy you were able to pull through. I talk about the program all the time and was so happy to have found it. It’s so hard when you can’t afford a tutor and you guys are filling the gap. You really are assisting families in a huge way. You helped us a ton! I pray you will be able to assist for many years to come and evolve from there!”
“Over the many sessions that I have tutored Ziyae, every one of them has brightened my day. Ziyae is a very intelligent kid who works harder than many others older than her. She is a great reader and puts up with my long math lectures! Along with being so hardworking, she is one of the funniest and sweetest people I know. Since watching her during our time together, I have no doubt in my mind that she is destined for greatness!”
Our Sponsors & Community Partners
