History

In the spring of 1994, several individuals from the community came together to address the need for summer employment opportunities for youth in the Lubbock area. During those meetings, the need to create a program to help young people who could not find summer jobs and also needed to develop employment skills, discipline, and self-confidence became evident. Youth Corps was founded to fulfill this need and to serve other important purposes. These purposes include:

  • Teaching leadership skills
  • Developing a sense of community by having youth participate in community projects
  • Increasing self-confidence and self-esteem

Youth Corps has tracked its results since the inception of the program and these results have been rewarding. To date, over 1,000 students have graduated from Youth Corps and continue to impact their siblings, their peers, their schools, and their communities. Of the youth who returned a survey and are Youth Corps graduates, 100% stated that they would recommend Youth Corps to other students, 96% said the program helped them with self-discipline, 89% learned the importance of leadership and team work, 72% improved their self-esteem and 85% improved their time management skills. 96% felt their chance in “succeeding in life” had improved through the Youth Corps training, and 98% felt that the community service projects “were beneficial for me and for the community.” 98% of the cadets felt the regimented discipline and physical demands of Youth Corps were extremely beneficial in instilling confidence, self-reliance, and a sense of great accomplishment. As one cadet responded: “If it had not been tough, I guarantee you, I wouldn’t have learned anything.”

The program, while maintaining its original mission of providing employment opportunities, outgrew this narrow definition as it began attracting high achieving youth who needed the “polish” and structure to compete in today’s workplace. Subsequently, it was recognized by the Texas Attorney General as an outstanding youth program for all young adults – inclusive of all economic, social, and racial backgrounds. It is truly a microcosm of the society in which we live.

Youth Corps (formerly 4th Corps) was originally a two-week camp only and was under the 501 (c) 3 umbrella of Broadway Festivals, Inc.; today it is a four-part year-long program under its own 501 (c) 3 designation as Youth Corps, Inc. The original founders of the program in 1994, David Langston, Bill Sowder, and Judge Mackey Hancock, are still supporters of the new corporation.

In the sixteen years of the program, Youth Corps has continued to grow both in numbers of participants and in programs. Each year the Board of Directors and staff reevaluate the program and update it with current information and add additional educational and activity-based workshops.

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