Youth Development Initiatives
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YDI empowers older youth 14-22 years with the self-confidence and the life/job skills required to graduate high school prepared for the real world.
What Makes us unique is our Life Management Guidance Course curriculum. It is an innovative, PowerPoint-based educational tool that nurtures 21st Century learning skills. It is designed to keep ALL students on task no matter what their learning style – auditory, visual, or kinesthetic. It’s format also engages students in active learning, one of fifteen best practices cited by the National Dropout Prevention Center/Network (NDPC/N). In addition, YDI provides powerful training modules for mentor programs (Effective Mentoring Necessities: Using TIME Wisely To Form Strong Relationships With Mentees), teacher/youth worker in-service workshops (WIN’EM: “Gaining The Perspective & Practical Skills To Lead At-Risk Youth) and more!
09/11/2026
Today, we pause to remember the lives lost, the families forever changed, and the countless acts of courage, compassion, and service that followed September 11, 2001.
Twenty-five years later, we continue to honor those we lost and hold close the values that bring communities together — compassion, resilience, service, and care for one another.
Today, Youth Development Initiatives remembers.
We will never forget.
09/09/2026
💙 FUEL THE FUTURE
Small gifts. Full bellies. Bigger possibilities.
The generosity of Black Philanthropy Month and Give 8/28 reminded us that there are so many ways to invest in our community—and we're keeping that spirit going!
YDI provides meals and snacks to the high school students we serve, helping them stay fueled, focused, and ready to learn.
You can help Fuel the Future too:
🍎 Donate snacks
🍽️ Donate restaurant gift cards for student meals
💙 Make a financial gift
📣 Share this campaign with your network
Every contribution matters. $20, a box of snacks, or a restaurant gift card can make a difference.
Want to donate snacks or restaurant gift cards?
📧 Contact [email protected] for more information or to arrange a drop-off.
👉 Financial gifts: https://ydiinc.app.neoncrm.com/forms/general-donation-form?campaignId=1
09/01/2026
ART COLLECTORS. ART LOVERS. THIS ONE IS FOR YOU.
Did you see American Boy come to life at YDI’s Impact Soirée?
Charlotte artist John “Trey” Miles created this incredible piece LIVE during our celebration of 20 Years Strong — and now you have the opportunity to own a piece of that moment.
Limited-edition signed and framed prints are available for $500.
But this is more than a beautiful piece of art.
When you purchase American Boy, you’re helping support Youth Development Initiatives and our 20 in 26 Campaign, which is raising unrestricted funds to continue creating opportunities for Charlotte’s youth.
And yes — 50% of the print sale proceeds goes directly to YDI, with the remaining 50% supporting artist John “Trey” Miles.
Art with meaning. Art with purpose. Art that gives back.
📅 Print sales are open through September 4.
If you’re an art lover, collector, or simply someone who believes in investing in young people, don’t miss this opportunity.
👉 Own American Boy. Support YDI. Make an impact.
https://ydiinc.app.neoncrm.com/forms/american-boy-art-order-form-
08/28/2026
OWN A PIECE OF YDI'S 20 YEARS STRONG!
This Black Philanthropy Day, you have two ways to support YDI:
💙 MAKE A GIFT toward our 20 in 26 Campaign and help us build the next 20 years of impact.
🎨 PURCHASE A LIMITED-EDITION AMERICAN BOY PRINT by Charlotte artist John “Trey” Miles.
The original American Boy was created live at our 20th Anniversary Impact Soirée and auctioned for $2,000.
Now, signed and framed limited-edition prints are available for $500, with a portion of proceeds benefiting YDI.
👉 Donate:
https://www.give828.org/donate/Youth-Development-Initiatives-1
👉 Purchase American Boy:
https://ydiinc.app.neoncrm.com/forms/american-boy-art-order-form-
20 Years Strong. Let's invest in what's next!
20 YEARS STRONG!
Today, on Black Philanthropy Day, we're sharing something very special: The YDI Story.
For 20 years, Youth Development Initiatives has been helping underserved high school students prepare for success in school, work, and life.
Our story is filled with students, mentors, first jobs, career discoveries, opportunities, and people who believed in what young people could become.
Watch our story. See our impact.
And if our story moves you, help us continue the work for another 20 years.
👉 Donate to YDI: https://www.give828.org/donate/Youth-Development-Initiatives-1
20 Years Strong. And just getting started.
We are just 2 days away from Give 8/28!
As we celebrate Black Philanthropy Month and 20 Years Strong, we’re inviting our YDI community to give back, give forward, and invest in Charlotte’s youth.
YDI has spent nearly 20 years creating pathways to opportunity for underserved high school students through mentoring, workforce development, life skills, and career readiness.
We're continuing our 20 in 26 Campaign with a goal of raising $200,000 in unrestricted funding to help us build the next 20 years of impact. See & hear the impact of our summer workforce development program in the video below!
👉 Donate: https://www.give828.org/organization/Youth-Development-Initiatives-1
And if you want to learn more about YDI, come tour our Life Skills Training Center during Black Philanthropy Month!
👉 Schedule a tour by contacting our team at [email protected]
PLUS…WE HAVE A HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT TOMORROW!
Stay tuned as we celebrate Give 8/28 and 20 Years Strong!
7 DAYS AGO… WE WERE CELEBRATING 20 YEARS STRONG!
One week ago today, we gathered at The Pearl Innovation District for an unforgettable evening celebrating 20 years of Youth Development Initiatives and the young people whose lives have been impacted by this work.
Now, we’re sharing the full video recap of the YDI Impact Soirée—capturing the stories, energy, voices, and moments that made the night so special. 🎥The Finding Your Inspiration Foundation
As we continue celebrating Black Philanthropy Month, we’re reminded that philanthropy is about more than a single night. It’s about investing in our communities, creating opportunity, and ensuring the next generation has the tools to thrive.
A heartfelt thank you to our Board of Directors and Advisory Board for your leadership, advocacy, generosity, and commitment to YDI.
And to our sponsors, volunteers, panelists, attendees, partners, auction donors, and the entire YDI community—thank you for helping us celebrate 20 Years Strong.
We’re not done yet.
Our 20 in 26 Campaign is still underway, and there is still time to make a meaningful contribution toward our $20,000 goal.
Your gift helps YDI continue creating pathways to opportunity for underserved high school students as we build toward the next 20 years of impact.
👉 Watch the recap. Be inspired. Then invest in what’s next.
Donate: https://ydiinc.app.neoncrm.com/campaigns/ydi-impact-soiree-2026
And if you want to see the work firsthand, come tour YDI during Black Philanthropy Month and learn more about how we are preparing Charlotte’s youth for success in school, work, and life.
20 Years Strong!
Still building.
Still believing.
Still investing in Charlotte’s future. 💙
20 YEARS STRONG! 💙
We are still celebrating an incredible night at the YDI Impact Soirée!
Thank you to our sponsors, attendees, volunteers, Board & Advisory Board, partners, and the entire YDI community for helping us celebrate 20 years of impact.
A special thank-you to The Pearl CLT for providing such an incredible setting for this milestone evening. Celebrating YDI's future on the historic grounds of Brooklyn—where Charlotte's history and innovation come together—made the night even more meaningful.
And to our incredible Impact Panel—thank you for sharing your voices and perspectives:
💙 Jacotron Potts
💙 Michelle Horton
💙 Lieutenant Kamil Waters
💙 Greg Asciutto
💙 Robert Hooper
Thank you to Thomas Anthony for the music, & Miles for the incredible live art, and everyone who donated auction items, bid, and helped make the live auction a success!
We are also incredibly grateful to Andrew Smith & the Finding Inspiration Foundation for capturing the YDI Impact Soirée through visual storytelling.
Couldn't attend? There's still time to be part of 20 Years Strong.
We are working toward our $20,000 fundraising goal for YDI's 20 in 26 Campaign, and every contribution makes a difference.
👉 Donate: https://ydiinc.app.neoncrm.com/campaigns/ydi-impact-soiree-2026
And during Black Philanthropy Month, come see the work for yourself! Tour YDI, meet our team, and learn how we are creating pathways to opportunity for Charlotte's youth.
👉 Schedule a tour by emailing our team at [email protected]
Here are a few moments from a truly GRAND 20th anniversary celebration. 📸 Andrew Smith
20 Years Strong. And just getting started!
06/11/2026
Growth doesn't happen by accident—it happens through learning, partnership, and continuous improvement.
Youth Development Initiatives is grateful to have participated in the Agility Corps Pilot Program, an initiative created to help nonprofits build stronger, more sustainable organizations.
Through this experience, our team received valuable support around board governance and organizational productivity, helping position YDI for continued growth and impact as we serve Charlotte youth.
A heartfelt thank you to our consultants, Betty Doster and Mary Galivian, for sharing their expertise and helping us strengthen our organization for the future.
We also extend our appreciation to For The Carolinas, Charlotte Executive Leadership Council, SHARE CharlotteEngage4Growth, and the Agility Corps partners for investing in nonprofits like YDI.
When nonprofits become stronger, communities become stronger—and that means more opportunities for the young people we serve.
💙 Thank you for helping us continue to grow and thrive.
06/02/2026
What a wonderful day at YDI!
We were pleased to welcome members of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education Members . Charlitta Crowder Hatch London Witherspoon and CMS Deputy Superintendents W. Balknight D. Vaught to our Life Skills Training Center for a Lunch & Learn with YDI Founder & CEO Darryl L. Bego and our staff.
CMS guests toured our facility, learned about our programs, and saw firsthand how YDI is helping students develop the academic, career, workforce, and life skills needed to thrive.
As we celebrate 20 years of impact in Charlotte, we are grateful for leaders who take the time to learn about the needs of our young people and the partnerships that help them succeed.
Thank you, Board of Education for spending time with us. Together, we can continue creating pathways to opportunity for Charlotte's youth.
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