MIDTOWN YOUTH ACADEMY

The Midtown Youth Academy (MYA) was founded in 1977 by Eugene R. Hughes, a boxing trainer and drug abuse counselor, who was acutely aware of the conditions that often led youth of the District of Columbia to become involved in drug addiction and crime. Through MYA, Mr. Hughes recruited volunteers to work with neighborhood youth to provide boxing lessons as a therapeutic recreational outlet and an after-school tutoring program in test preparation, technology, arts, entrepreneurship, and other skills.

Mr. Hughes and MYA board members had been working on revitalizing the academy and its

programs for the past three years. While doing so, the members realized it was in the best

interest of the organization to leave its longtime home at 2206 14th St NW and continue the journey at 5332 Georgia Ave NW, a neighborhood where many underserved and often misled youth still reside.

For over 45 years, MYA has served as a safe haven for thousands of youth and neighbors. We aim to keep it that way through providing extensive measures to ensure safety for all who enter its doors. It was the dream of the late Mr. Hughes and still is the goal for MYA to live long and continue to stand strong as "A Balance in the Community".