Providing opportunities for minorities, who are often marginalized and challenged to access resources to help them live, healthy, happy, productive lives is not new to the YMCA.
Quentin Mease, Achievers Founder . Image from Facebook Post…YMCA of Greater Houston 
Leo B. Marsh, Achiever Program Trailblazer Image from YMCA Hall of Fame, Springfield College 
Charles Hansen, Current Executive Director Metro Youth YMCA
In 1967 Quentin Mease at the South Central YMCA in Houston, Texas developed the Black Achievers program and in 1971 financial consultant Dr. Leo B. Marsh at the Harlem Branch YMCA (New York) initiated the Black Achievers format we know today to motivate African-American teens to pursue academic and career success. The program was designed to help African-American teens improve academic standards and boost self-esteem. Today Achievers is a diverse national teen program nurturing young adults of all socio-economics, with a special focus of uplifting the most underserved. Nationally, more than 10,000 young lives are better through their participation in YMCA Achievers. The program focuses on academics, college prep, positive relationships, life skills and positive identity.
The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit has implemented Achievers for 40 years. The nationally supported Achievers curriculum is based on Five Pillars as listed below. YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit have modified the local curriculum to include social-emotional learning affirmations that are used by youth throughout the program to reinforce themes of the Five Pillars they include; I Live, I Learn, I Work, I Play, and I Serve.
- Life Skills focuses on life/social skills, decision making and mental health
- Academics focuses on educational achievement
- College/Career Knowledge focuses on career exploration and preparation
- Positive Relationships focuses on peer, family and community relationships and service
- Positive Identify focuses on physical fitness, self expression and study/work life balance
Charles Hansen serves as the Executive Director of the Metro Youth YMCA, which leads the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit’s Achiever programs. Presently over 200 youth participate in this program. Today we offer weekly virtual workshops inclusive of SAT/ACT Prep, Youth in Government, Mentoring and more. Prior to COVID-19 students attended monthly college campus tours visiting eight to ten Michigan colleges and universities and attended in person workshops which were both fun and educational. We have pivoted and are providing workshops virtually, soon we will be providing safe in person sessions adhering to all social distancing and safety protocols as outlined by the Michigan Health Department. Over the last decade our Achievers program has supported high school graduation and post secondary education access for more than 1000 youth, leveraging more than one million dollars in scholarships and financial aid to support their education. Over 1000 youth have learned basic employment skills through summer internships and work experiences.
Adopt A Family Gift 2020
In addition, the YMCA Achievers program adopts families for the holidays. One or more families are adopted each year and showered with both gifts and basic need items. This past December 20 families were adopted with support from Bank of America, over 80 children and their parents were supported.
The YMCA offers services especially designed for high school seniors to assist them with graduating and accessing college or other post secondary learning opportunities and career paths. We are excited to share that this program is available to all metropolitan Detroit youth. To learn more on how you can register your 14 to 18 year old high school student please call 313.223.2844 or register online today: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/ymcadetroit/activity/search?activity_select_param=2&activity_keyword=achievers&viewMode=list
