The City’s Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) was established in 2006 to empower youth ages 11 to 21 with tools for success and life skills needed to become responsible, healthy, educated, and knowledgeable youth and young adults. YEP provides a positive environment for youth development through communication, education, culture, philosophy, mentoring, history, and personal enhancement to entice young minds to become hungry for success.   

YEP began implementing the college educational tours (educational tours) in 2012.  These educational tours were established to provide opportunities to inner-city youth who would normally lack structural opportunities to improve their lives. Moreover, the educational tours inspire youths with high educational aspirations despite the personal, institutional, and economic challenges faced in achieving these goals.

The educational tour scheduled for this year is planned to take place in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. More specifically, the tour will occur during Spring Break Week, which is March 23 through 27. The itinerary includes not only tours of major historically significant universities – Hampton and Howard, but it will also provide an opportunity for participants to visit the renowned National Museum of African-American History and Culture. Further, the youth participants will experience legislative processes at the federal level by meeting with representatives of the House and Senate.  In complement, arrangements have been made for participants to attain business attire to wear during their visit with respective elected officials and/or their staffpersons.

The monies earmarked for this educational tour will primarily include costs to cover transportation, lodging and food as well as other related expenses.