Philadelphia, PA (August 18, 2011) – Youth Action (YA) today invites new parents and their children to join them for their 2011  Junior Youth Action (JYA) Orientation Meeting. Junior Youth Action’s Orientation Meeting, will be held on Saturday, September 10^th, 2011 at the University of Pennsylvania’s Class of 1947 room located on 3417 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 at 11am sharp.  The meeting will introduce prospective parents to a ten month mentorship and leadership development program operated by high school and college students.

Junior Youth Action is led by Youth Action members and designed to develop young leaders of tomorrow. Our program offers the perfect opportunity for elementary and middle school students to mature intellectually, improve their leadership skills, enhance their knowledge of black history, and expose them to the importance of volunteerism. In Junior Youth Action, young students are encouraged to speak up in discussions, express their opinions, and take initiative in everything from academics to the arts. In addition to providing activities that will allow each student to engage in extracurricular activities directly related to their hobbies and interests, we seek to stimulate their social consciousness. We instruct students on important issues facing our communities, provide opportunities for students to engage in volunteer service activities, and take students on cultural field trips

“If we don’t educate our black youth on stewardship and leadership now, our future black men and women will be less than the best,” says JYA alumni mentor Brittany “Reeci” Botts. “But if we do, the young black boys and girls who walk down your street will be the next doctors, lawyers, and congressmen.”
Every third Saturday of the month from 12:30pm-2:30pm at the University of Pennsylvania located on 34th and Spruce Street in Philadelphia students will meet with Youth Action members for tutoring, fun enrichment activities, and mentoring sessions. The first of half of the Saturday program is dedicated to educational activities. The second half is dedicated to exposing JYA members to service learning curriculum. Also, each JYA member is paired up with a YA mentor where JYA members will discuss problems, interests, or concerns they have with their YA mentor. Another integral part of the JYA program is that all students participate in community service.
JYA Alumni Mentor and Director Aja Thornton says “in today’s society it’s important for our youth to become aware of the problems surrounding our community. If they learn young, they’ll learn how to make
positive change.”