What We Do
Since 2000, we have facilitated the Advancing Youth Development Curriculum for Youth Workers (AYD) and created a movement of positive youth development practice in DC
AYD is a national training program that is well established in the District, having been previously implemented by the National Training Institute for Community Youth Work and the DC Trust Corporation to further the network of committed professionals that provide quality programming for our children and youth in the District. This training also helps build the capacity and sustainability of our community-based organizations and agencies as it deepens the workforce in the field of youth development practice
Our Mission
The mission of the Art of Youth Development Practice is to provide learning opportunities for youth serving entities and individuals to facilitate the development of young people. AYD Practice, LLC provides services in the following areas: proposal/grant writing, technical assistance, and training/learning opportunities. The Art of Youth Development Practice also serves as a forum for sharing and promoting knowledge, ideas, and information about youth development practice. This forum is for everyone who understands that the wholesome development of young people is the wholesome development of us all.
What We’ve Achieved
❖ Nationally trained over 5,000 youth workers, policymakers, youth and stakeholders in Youth Development and related courses
❖ Developed multiple Youth Development curricula for youth practitioners, parents, and youth
❖ Worked on city-wide initiative with DYRS resulting in the transformation of Oak Hill to New Beginnings
❖ Worked with District policymakers and local funders to change guidelines to include youth development language and principles in RFPs for out of school time funding
❖ Established partnerships with numerous youth-serving organizations and agencies including DC Public & Public Charter Schools, DPR, DOEE, DOJ
❖ Developed the capacity for several community-based organizations to host virtual convening for youth during the COVID pandemic.
❖ During the 20-21 school year, delivered a 12-week Youth Leadership & College Prep series to a group of DC high-schoolers in the UPO POWER Program and workshops for our partners.
❖ We supported summer youth employment programming (SYEP) city-wide by providing six-week series programming for several organizations and agencies including DPR, MBSYEP, UPO, DOEE, LAYC and Children’s Charity International
“There would not be enough room to recite the superlatives associated with Mr. Madyun, so I'll simply stick with the simple fact that he has been the leading voice and master teacher for youth development in Washington, DC. I have the testimony my students, their parents, and my staff.”
— Kenny Carroll, United Planning Organization