Uptown Stories

HistoryYDI was founded in 1991 as a project of the Fund for the City of New York in support of the New York City Beacons Initiative that created school-based community centers for children, youth and families. YDI led the development of the initiative through training, professional development and programmatic innovation, creating the conditions necessary for strong youth development practice to take hold. The Beacons Initiative was a catalyst for the out-of-school time movement in New York City that now incorporates a variety of community-based program models which YDI continues to support today. Today, YDI works with nearly 400 youth-serving programs each year in community-based organizations, schools, and public agencies, impacting some 20,000 young people across New York City. The Youth Development Institute is a project of the Fund for the City of New York.SpecialtiesCapacity Building, Youth Development, Consulting & Training