Youth Matter, Inc. is an IRS approved 501(c)3 non-profit corporation founded in 1999.  It is also registered as a non-profit organization in California, Washington, DC, North Carolina, Louisiana, and Virginia - places where it has provided services.

We strive to find solutions to the lack of recreation through organizing after-school programs, finding resources for construction or renovation of buildings to create more recreational facilities.  We have provided services these types of services in Virginia and North Carolina.

Youth Matter, Inc. has been successful in coordinating many first-time community-related projects.

From our non-profit organizational side, we have created the following programs/projects for the youth:

• TROOPS TO YOUTH® – An athletic and educational program where military service men and women, along with concerned citizens, mentor youth with a focus on reducing obesity and promoting education and a healthy lifestyle.
• Circle of Love – A tween girls mentoring program that promotes self-esteem building and teaches life skills.
• Just Dyvine – An adolescent girls program, initially providing dance as their main activity.
• Youth Ambassadors — An initiative for girls of all ages, elementary to college, sharing YMI mission, and sharing a platform of their choice. Extended to boys.
• One Family at a Time Project - Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Katrina Relief Effort in assisting youth and families
• One Soldier at a Time Project - Care packages sent to USA armed forces
  troops
• YMI College Chapters - College students volunteer & create activities
  to support the mission - First affiliate chapter formed at Virginia Wesleyan
  College, Norfolk, VA
• TTY Gentlemen’s Club – Boys mentoring program.  [Under-development]
• The Sapphires – A cheering program for girls age 5 to 15.
• MLK Youth Oratorical Competition – An educational & history related project for elementary, middle, high and college students, with President’s Volunteer Service Awards presentations.
• Marching Jaguars - An award-winning after-school band program, ages 7 to 18; teaching youth music, dance, team building skills, and life skills.
• H.R. Long Scholarship Program – Established to provide summer camp scholarships to disadvantaged youth.
• It's a Matter of Reading – Book drive to donate books to homeless shelters and crisis nurseries. 

From our CDC side, we have been involved in helping neighborhoods:

• Nehemiah Vision – Combined of 16 neighborhoods in Portsmouth, VA – we provided business development and resources to residents.
• Vision Centre1 – Partnered with Mount Sinai Church in Portsmouth, VA in development of multi-purpose facility with a basketball court and open space for meetings and events.
• YMI Partnerships — Currently establishing partnerships with colleges, private foundations, businesses, and neighborhoods in creating joint efforts in creating jobs, business entities, and mentoring.
• Annual "Community Service and Health Fair" for National Youth Service Day - Annual "Community Festival" - an annual one day event showcasing community organizations with a need to recruit volunteers. Youth volunteers are also recruited to assist in this annual event. We have been the recipient of two grants through Youth Service America for National Youth Service Day.
• 2001 First Annual Community Festival" - an effort to bring together 20 communities in Portsmouth, VA - a day of education, fun and fellowship. Twenty-five community organizations participated to share information with the residents of 20 communities, as well as recruit volunteers. Youth entertainment is provided, as well as arts and crafts.

Youth Matter's Team:

Youth Matter, Inc.'s team is mainly comprised of a volunteer staff that includes Youth Program Facilitators.

Youth Matter, Inc. has partnered with a team of facilitators that have a strong background in training, planning and implementing comprehensive programs for high-risk urban youth. They have worked as Life Skills Trainers, Youth Services Program Coordinators, Prevention Training Specialists, Social Workers, In-Home Services Counselors, Substance Abuse Prevention Specialists, Coordinator of Volunteer Services, Conflict Mediators, and Youth Services Program Coordinators. Recruiting and training volunteers is done to assist with the implementation of youth programming.

Additional information:

Youth Matter Inc. has been an approved United Way / CFC organization (Combined
Federal Campaign) where federal employees can designate Youth Matter Inc. as
their charity of choice to make donations via payroll deductions.