Metro Area Youth Services

11/03/2026

It’s easy to slip into cruise control this time of year—just counting down the days until the holidays or end of the semester and letting the everyday moments blur together.

MAYS gang is switching things up. Welcome to New Stuff November! 🍂✨

Our mission this month is simple: try, learn, or experience something new every day we’re at MAYS.

Some days will be small:
- Testing out a new board game
- Tasting snacks from different cultures
- Learning a new skill or dance

Other days might mean exploring a new exhibit at one of the awesome museums here in town or stepping way out of our usual routine.

Will all of them be a-MAYS-ing? Probably not.

They won’t all be life-changing (and we might not even love every single experience!), but that’s the point. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s about staying curious, stepping out of our comfort zones, and actually staying present instead of letting the days pass us by.

We’ll be sharing our November along the way—successes, funny fails, and everything in between.

Also, we’d love to hear any ideas or suggestions you have for us to try - let us know!

09/15/2026

What a special night on Saturday celebrating our CEO, Rodney Evans, as he hosted his 60th birthday party in our newly redone event space! It was so awesome to see so many people come together to celebrate him and the impact he has on all of our lives.

Rodney gives so much of his time back—not just through his work at MAYS, but in his personal life, too. He truly lives out our 5 pillars, bringing vision and passion in everything he does. As his business partners, we've been so blessed to have a front-row seat to his hard work every day for the past 19 years.

We know so many people who couldn't make it on Saturday were there in spirit, too. Rodney, your impact on this community is unmatched—thanks for everything you do and Happy 60th Birthday!

08/29/2026

08/28/2026

This end-of-summer trip to Branson was a powerful reminder of why we do what we do—and how unique each group really is.

This wasn't just a fun getaway to close out the summer. This trip was earned.

Throughout the entire summer, we challenged our youth to show up, bring the right attitude, and truly embody our 5 Pillars. We watched them push themselves, stay engaged, and put in the work every day. Based on their participation, growth, and commitment, 18 youth earned an invitation, and we were thrilled to take 12 of them on the road to Branson—opening the door to new experiences and opportunities they might not otherwise get, take, or choose for themselves.

When you invest so much into the process, seeing it come full circle is incredible. Watching these young people step out of their comfort zones, relax, bond, and build lifelong memories after earning their spot was the best way to wrap up the summer.

They set the standard, lived out the pillars, and made this experience unforgettable. So proud of this group!

Thanks again to the funder who made this possible!!

08/28/2026

After 10 Hood to the Woods trips, it's easy to think you've seen it all - the activities, the scenery, the impact. But HTTW XI reminded us that no two journeys are ever the same.

This year brought a lot of firsts and unexpected turns. For the first time, our group included young ladies! We also faced last-minute curveballs when a long-time outfitter couldn't accommodate us at the last minute and river water levels forced us to pivot away from our usual rafting trip.

When you've done things ten times, taking things for granted is a trap. We had to be intentional, adaptable, and present. It was important to us that this group got an experience every bit as incredible, transformative, and memorable as the first ones. Pivoting through those challenges was a powerful reminder that no matter how experienced we are, the outdoors (and our youth) can still surprise us, challenge us, and teach us.

Such an amazing experience 💚

08/27/2026

We are solidly in the new school year, which means the second part of the summer flew past just as quickly as the first!

In addition to MAYS’ ELEVENTH Hood to the Woods trip (!), our end of summer trip to Branson, and our recording studio project, we also stayed busy with team challenges and team building, gardening, trips to the Luminarium, art projects, and so many other things.

Congratulations to Desy and her Hot Mess Express team for winning the Summer Team Challenge - they did a great job working together through the summer! They won a team lunch at Osaka. The rest of the teams did a fantastic job as well - it was close all the way through the final challenge.

It was a full summer and as sad as we were to see it end, we are so excited to see what this school year brings!

08/27/2026

At MAYS Creative Labs, we believe our youth are worth it and some.

08/27/2026

At MAYS Creative Lab, we believe our youth are worth it and some. ❤️

08/08/2026

The champ blessed us in the studio today!

07/14/2026

It’s crazy that we are at the beginning of our ELEVENTH Hood to the Woods trip. The trip that was a simple idea so many years ago has impacted dozens of youth and become an integral part of what we do and who we are at MAYS. This trip, we have one of our participants from the very first trip along as staff and are doing some new things we are pretty excited about as well! It’s going to be a great week!!