The Center for Urban Youth & Family Development

08/24/2026

🎨 Where Art & Advocacy Meet! 🎤

CUYFD was glad to attend Detroit Youth’s World of Art: Where Art and Advocacy Meet, hosted by Making It Count Community Development Corporation.

The evening brought together creativity, prevention, and meaningful conversations centered on creating healthier, safer environments for Detroit youth. A youth panel gave young people the opportunity to share their perspectives on safe spaces, prevention, and how organizations and community leaders can better serve and support youth. Their voices are essential to building solutions that truly meet their needs. 💙

The event also featured live music from a band, comedy, remarks from Detroit District 7 Police Commissioner Victoria Camille, and powerful prevention PSAs created by Making It Count Inc. and Detroit Police Department Youth Cadets.

We appreciate opportunities like this that bring youth, families, prevention partners, law enforcement, and community leaders together around a shared goal: listening to our young people and helping them thrive.

Thank you to Making It Count and all of the partners who helped create a space where youth voices, art, advocacy, and prevention could come together! 🙌🏾

08/24/2026

🎨 Where Art & Advocacy Meet! 🎤

CUYFD was glad to attend Detroit Youth’s World of Art: Where Art and Advocacy Meet, hosted by Making It Count Community Development Corporation.

The evening brought together creativity, prevention, and meaningful conversations centered on creating healthier, safer environments for Detroit youth. A youth panel gave young people the opportunity to share their perspectives on safe spaces, prevention, and how organizations and community leaders can better serve and support youth. Their voices are essential to building solutions that truly meet their needs. 💙

The event also featured live music from a band, comedy, remarks from Detroit District 7 Police Commissioner Victoria Camille, and powerful prevention PSAs created by Making It Count Inc. and Detroit Police Department Youth Cadets.

We appreciate opportunities like this that bring youth, families, prevention partners, law enforcement, and community leaders together around a shared goal: listening to our young people and helping them thrive.

Thank you to Making It Count and all of the partners who helped create a space where youth voices, art, advocacy, and prevention could come together! 🙌🏾

08/23/2026

Nobody starts va**ng because they read the ingredients.

They start because a friend had one. Because it smelled like mango. Because everybody was doing it and saying no felt harder than saying yes.

Our young people made this PSA. Watch it. Then send it to someone who needs it.

08/23/2026

This past Friday, CUYFD was proud to join the NCADD-GDA Community Street Festival 5.0 in Inkster! 💜🙌🏾

We had a great time connecting with youth, families, and community members at our vendor table while sharing prevention resources and information. One of the highlights was our Fatal Vision Goggle Cart experience, which gave participants an interactive look at how impairment can affect coordination, judgment, and the ability to safely navigate everyday situations. 🥽🚦

Thank you to everyone who stopped by, participated, asked questions, and learned with us. Experiences like these help us turn prevention education into something our community can see, feel, and remember.

And a special thank you to NCADD-GDA, the City of Inkster, and all of the community partners who helped make the festival possible!

Together, we’re empowering young people to make healthy, informed choices. 💪🏾💙

08/22/2026

08/21/2026

Va**ng isn’t harmless. What may seem like a quick hit can expose young people to ni****ne, harmful chemicals, and a risk of addiction.

At CUYFD, we’re helping young people make informed choices and protecting the next generation from to***co and ni****ne addiction. Check out our latest anti-va**ng PSA and help us spread the message: your lungs deserve better.

08/19/2026

Detroit is bringing powerful community leadership to the Common Ground National Conference.

Workshop presenters Marseille Arbuckle, Jr., Clara Mitchell, Dr. Calvin Mann, Stacey Johnson, and Dr. Andre Johnson will share practical strategies rooted in prevention, recovery, youth development, family support, and community resilience.

Join us September 24–25 in Lewisville, Texas, and learn from leaders doing the work in communities every day.

Register at: https://rb.gy/sj0rzx

08/19/2026

Registration is officially CLOSED. 🔒

Detroit, y’all showed OUT. The response was tremendous and we are genuinely floored by how many young people raised their hand for this.

What happens next: we’re reviewing every registration and reaching out over the next week or two to set up a quick call. Spots are limited, so not everyone who registered will get one this round. If you signed up — watch your phone and your email.

To everybody who shared, tagged a friend, or told a young person about this: thank you. That’s what made this happen.

Didn’t get a chance to register? Not selected this time? Stay tuned. We run programming all year and there’s more coming — follow us so you catch the next one first.

And if you’re a young person who wants to be part of what we do year-round, our Youth Advisory Council is how you plug in. Email [email protected] and tell us you’re interested. 💜

Future Ready Detroit kicks off September 5 at Hartford Memorial. 🚀

08/18/2026

Her words, not ours. This is what a summer at the Center for Urban Youth and Family Development can do. 👇🏾

“This summer, I had the opportunity to be a part of the Center for Urban Youth and Family Development program, and it truly made a big impact on my life. I volunteered three days a week and was able to connect with other youth who were going through situations similar to mine. Being surrounded by people who understood me helped me feel less alone and more supported.

During this time, I also had to face some personal challenges. I was caught va**ng, which really upset my parent. That experience was difficult, but it opened my eyes to the real consequences of my choices. Va**ng is not harmless—it can lead to serious health issues like cancer, lung damage (including ‘popcorn lung’), and even death. It especially affects young people, and I’ve learned that peer pressure is never worth risking your health or your future.

Through the program, I learned that it’s okay to be different and to make better choices for myself. The Center for Urban Youth and Family Development helped me grow in many ways—it built my confidence, improved my physical strength, and taught me discipline and responsibility.

I also had the chance to experience new opportunities, like visiting Channel 7 News, helping out at the Hartford Food Pantry, and training at a boxing gym. Each of these experiences taught me something valuable and helped me grow as a person.

Overall, I truly enjoyed my time in the program. It gave me a second chance to learn, grow, and become a better version of myself. I’m grateful for everything I experienced and the lessons I will carry with me moving forward.”

Every young person deserves a second chance and people in their corner. That’s the work. 💯