Our Youth are Unstoppable

Dear Friends,

GED diplomas are the path to high school completion for many young people - a gateway to their educational and professional aspirations.

Did you know that when the pandemic closed GED testing centers in Maryland many students’ progress toward earning their diploma came to a halt?

But not for students in Latin American Youth Center/Maryland Multicultural Youth Centers (LAYC/MMYC).

Our staff immediately assessed how to keep youth engaged, motivated, and working toward their goals.

The results:

139 youth continued working toward their GED in Montgomery County last year, with 57 students testing for at least one of the four exam sections;

The annual rate of GED graduations across LAYC/MMYC's Montgomery County programs more than doubled in FY21, with 25 total GED graduates;

Virtual internships enabled 25 young people to develop valuable skills and gain work experience with businesses and nonprofits.

This past year, our Montgomery County team saw a two-fold increase in GED program enrollment due to an influx of referrals from Montgomery County Public Schools, in addition to an increased interest from students struggling to engage with or transition to distance-learning.

With your help, we charted a path forward for our young people, addressing immediate needs and adapting GED instruction to a virtual setting with self-paced, flexible classes that fit the needs of youth who work or take care of a child.

Montgomery County Reengagement Center highlight

In the last two years, LAYC/MMYC’s Montgomery County Reengagement Center team, part of our larger GED and workforce team, has served over 300 young people, meeting a range of needs so youth can focus on education and workforce training. Our services include:

GED instruction and job readiness training including career exploration, internships, resume writing workshops, and more.

Internet access and technical support for distance-learning and testing, online classrooms, and online tutoring.

Case management and mental health counseling to help youth cope with increased anxiety, depression, or feelings of loneliness resulting from the pandemic.

Mentorship and community-building, support for youth and families through food and rental assistance and access to diapers and toiletries for young parents, and long-term relationships with caring LAYC/MMYC staff.

LAYC/MMYC’s Reengagement Center in Montgomery County is made possible through a partnership with Montgomery County Collaboration Council and the National Center for Children and Families.