Manhattan Youth Downtown Community Center

Mission

Manhattan Youth Recreation and Resources, Inc. provides the highest quality early childhood programs, summer camp, aquatics and after-school programming for children, families and individuals who live or work in Manhattan. Our programs stimulate, challenge and strengthen young children, teens, adults, seniors and families. Our offerings are responsive to the changing needs of our community. In addition, we are committed to the civic issues that impact community life in Manhattan.


History

Manhattan Youth began providing services to a small but growing Lower Manhattan Community in the 1980's . At the time, Lower Manhattan was renowned as the financial center of the world, but was rarely celebrated as the vital community of families and children of all ages that it was then, and continues to be. We have always believed that the well-being of our families is vital to the well-being of Lower Manhattan. While average family income here is above the national average, we know that averages mask the extreme range of incomes and the needs of many Lower Manhattan families - needs that predate the devastation of 9/11, and Hurricane Sandy, and that have grown since.

In 2008 we opened the Downtown Community Center to much acclaim. Most recently we have spread our wings to include after school middle school programs throughout Manhattan. We have also engaged in a new Outdoor adventure program that emphasizes team work and cooperation while we hike the back mountains of our region!