Empowering the youth to excel in the arts, academics, and social development.
MISSION
Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Center is committed to cultivating positive social development, academic success, and creativity in the minds, actions, and hearts of youth today.
By providing opportunities and resources that would otherwise not be available, LTYC programs (Youth Arts Empowerment Programs) build higher self-esteem and self-worth in young people yearning for success.
Supporting youth, ages 5-18, in the state of Maryland, DC and Virginia.
In 2004, two Baltimore School for the Arts (BSA) alumni founded Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Center (LTYC).
our history
Because of their upbringing in the public school system, they were acutely aware that not all children were provided with the same opportunities to succeed simply because of the neighborhoods they lived in, their school, their family structure, system racism, and many other contributing factors. Often BSA alumni are quoted saying, “The Baltimore School for the Arts changed my life” and because of this, they wanted to provide other children with life-changing arts-enrichment opportunities.
Since 2004, LTYC has been able to impact the lives of more than 250,000 students, ranging from grades K-12. Many of our students come from schools in Baltimore City and surrounding areas that are in dire need of arts education and behavioral intervention. LTYC’s first programs were summer workshops which allowed us the opportunity to close arts instructional gaps (Arts education for underserved youth) created by budget cuts for schools and communities that need it most.
“It’s important for us to dynamically engage with young people in the community and make sure that anything in their hearts that is connected to the arts is flowing through equitable access.”
— Dr. Dermell Brunson
Our Core Values
LTYC is guided by its unique set of core values. These core values support our mission, and they shape and identify the culture and character of our organization:
Building Relationships
Effective and Professional Leadership
Demonstrated Student Effectiveness
Engaging Community Partnerships and Partners
Delivering High Quality Arts Instruction
Serving the
youth…
Empowering youth through arts, education and more, Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Center enriches the lives of thousands of under served youth in the Maryland, D.C., and Virginia school systems, empowering them to develop their artistic talents and achieve their greatest potential. Since its inception in 2004, LTYC has continuously expanded its programming, geographic outreach, and calendar, building more and stronger relationships among students, families, and the community.
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LTYC’s innovative ARTS CORE (Acheiving Results by Transforming Students through Creative, Open, Reflective Expression) programming now encompasses a broad spectrum of creative and performing arts, from visual arts to theater. While students pursue their “personal bests” in the arts, they also learn leadership skills and are propelled toward academic success.
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Through a growing roster of school and community partnerships, LTYC has increased its presence in a greater number of communities. Not only have programs become more accessible to more youths in more areas, LTYC has stabilized participating youth in a programmatic structure that both stimulates their innate talents and reiterates academics.
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LTYC has introduced initiatives to support youths with care and understanding as they experience stress, grief, loss and trauma.
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LTYC provides year-round opportunities and resources to youths. This is the result of conscientious efforts to build a comprehensive calendar of programs that operate during school, after school and during the summer.
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Recognizing that it is imperative to include community parents in supporting youth, with respect to their goals and overall success rate, LTYC has designated a component in its program to acknowledge the efforts of parents; support them in their endeavors; and empower them to recognize the colossal difference their presence makes in their children’s academic environment.
LTYC strongly encourages parents to be involved in every aspect of their children’s learning.
OUR IMPACT
Through active participation, parents recognize their ability to influence their children in positive ways by sharing their time, personal experiences or professional expertise.
Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.