Norman
M. Oliver - CEO and President Our Youth, Incorporated
VISION
Young people, no matter the circumstances
in which they find themselves, will be able to achieve their
potential and reach their capacity.
MISSION
Young people who are targeted as at-risk
and hard to reach will, through guided activities, attain
self-discipline, enhanced self-esteem, and the motivation
to realize life goals.
OUR
YOUTH, INC. (OYI), a not for profit,private organization,
was incorporated to extend the services of NOR Enterprises
to further challenge, develop and to create a smooth transition
from home to school and back to the community for our youth.
In other words,OYI focuses on the total youth while out
of the school environment.
OYI, located at NOR Enterprises headquarters, embraces area
youth in their natural neighborhood setting in south Wilmington
- with their family, peers and mentors. “Many of the
youth that we have in our program were not being serviced
in the community,” says Oliver, “OYI has helped
reduce school absenteeism among our youth, and has motivated
families to pursue a higher standard of living for themselves.”
OYI is unique, the staff and volunteers are neighbors of
the youth we service. OYI creates an environment of trust
and refuge for our participants. Staff is there to greet
each student as they enter to “reinforce” their
daily learning. Homework is completed properly, computer
skills are
taught and practiced, and school mates have time to chat
about their concerns. “Our center is in the heart
of the community
which has been designated an Enterprise Zone and an At-Risk
neighborhood, “ Oliver stated, “OUR YOUTH, INC.
has a well planned effort to not just limit support teaching
to the ABC’s, but to lend support in each child’s
economic, social and moral growth. Our youth are pressured
with the lure of drugs, violence that irrupts in their neighborhood,
and in some instances, staff becomes a sounding board for
children whose parents are or have been incarcerated.”
OYI also plans to extend their hours to become a full-time
center for learning and cultural enrichment.