YMWAHA truly is dedicated to helping our youth. I have watched them interact with our kids, and watching a child learn how to do something they previously thought was impossible, is the most magical thing in the world. Keep up the good work!
AFRICAMÉRICAS , I shared the written materials with my coworkers who were all in awe. There is an organization here in Nebraska that wants to do some international programming and I will be sharing it with them next week. That was a very dynamic show with powerful images and the catalog was great. That Afro-Cuban and African-Latino connection is one that really needs to be highlighted. You guys did a wonderful job!
D. B.
Nebraska ARTS COUNCIL
I recently had the pleasure of visiting Young Men and Womens Africian
Heritage Association during the Americas for the Arts Tours this past
June. I had to write to tell you it was the most welcoming place I visited
during my stay in Pittsburgh. In fact, it felt like visiting family from the
moment we were greeted at the door !! The table was filled with delicious
food, plenty of cold beverages and lots, and lots of warm friendly conversation.
Thank you to your staff for a delightful day and for your gracious hospitality.
Sincerely H.N.
Arts Erie.
Crossing Havana Exhitation
CROSSING HAVANA EXHIBITION MAY 6-11,2013 @YMWAHA ON THE NORTHSIDE,THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL EXHIBITION. THE PHOTOS IN PARTICULAR, PRESENT A UNIQUE VIEW OF RACE IN CUBA, PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE QUALITY & TRAUMIC BALANCE OF THE IMAGES, BUT ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THEY WERE TAKEN BY BLACK-CUBANS THEMSELVES. RARE !!
L. GLASCO
God works through YMWAHA in beautiful ways. Best of all, He's given YMWAHA and friendship to us,
that is the most beautiful blessing anyone could ask for. Thanks for all the helpful ways YMWAHA has
provided to us and the community
Jay & John B
Previous Stories
Last night during the weekly pick up of items from Panera Bread for distribution to low income families, I rushed the YMWAHA staff because I was excited to to give him a good report. I'm a 17 year old high school senior but all I kept saying was thank you, thank you, thank you so much. It took him a second to realize why I was thanking him.
A couple of months ago while waiting for the bread we struck up a conversation. The YMWAHA staff asked me what I was doing after graduation? I proudly indicated I had been accepted to Kent State University, of course he was elated for me. He asked how I planned to pay for college and I mentioned a mixture of loans, parents, work, etc. He immediately asked for my email address so he could send me information regarding available funding sources for scholarships, etc. A few months went by, that's when he showed up again at my job and I rushed over to tell him I had utilized one of the resources he'd sent and received $22,000 in scholarship for my tuition. A breakdown of the resources looks like this;
Kent State Tuition $26,000
My Scholarship $22,000
Out of pocket $4,000
The scholarship is renewed annually if I maintain a 3.0 or above; meaning over four years I will receive $88,000 in scholarship money to help cover the needed $104,000. My four year out-of-pocket costs will be $16,000, less than a full year's tuition.
My name is Cammie, this is my story and I want the world to know why YMWAHA is a great nonprofit!
YMWAHA planted a wonderful garden this year and shared their harvest with their neighbors. I work at the library just behind the garden and was treated to some great produce this summer. Thank you so much for all the hard work. I and the rest of the library staff really appreciate all you do, especially beautifying our shared back yards.
The Young Men and Women's African Heritage Association is the best thing happening to me. I was 11 years young when I found this association, or should I say when this association found me. I had absolutely no direction. I thought I had a clue but for some odd reason I kept misplacing it. This place, this haven has taught me in numerous ways not only how to get a clue, but how to draw a map. I am in charge of my life because of the music program that was offered to me. The Young Men and Women's African Heritage Association teaches discipline through skills you may already have. Discipline found through art. Patience and planning that is found in quilting. The job employment and training program is phenomenal. Those programs are few of many. The instructors and employees cared for me. I now care about myself. Programs like these are essential to the community not only for recreation but for growth. I am now 23 years young and will do my best to help others the way I was helped by The Young Men and Women's African Heritage Association.
Review from The Pittsburgh Foundation
YMWAHA was my very first job which I started my first year in high school. It is a very positive organization. It gave me an opportunity to experience a working environment along with responsibility. It is also an organization that empowers black people with an 'I can do anything I put my mind to' attitude.
YMWAHA is a wonderful resource in my neighborhood. The building opens on Thursdays with free bread and pastries for anyone who brings their own bag. On Tuesdays throughout the winter I stopped by with 2 of my 5-kids for the delicious free soup that believe it or not the Executive Director prepares!
It's been difficult for my family of 7 to manage during these lean economic times. My husband's income can only stretch so far but YMWAHA has been there with clothing, art classes for my school aged kids and the fact that the majority of their programs are free or the cost of a donation is the kind of agency that I have to talk about.