Community Youth Center of San Francisco (CYC)

Founded in 1970, CYC was born out of a need to address the problems of juvenile delinquency and gang violence in Chinatown at that time by providing young men with alternatives and access to legitimate means to help them achieve their aspirations and independence. Over the years, CYC gained a reputation as the premier organization for Asian youth services with programs that respond to the ever-changing and evolving complex challenges specifically faced by Asian youth. These programs address issues of family conflict over acculturation, difficulties in school, economic hardship, and other barriers.

While CYC continued to serve Asian youth and the Chinatown community, their vision expanded beyond those perimeters over the years. Today, CYC operates out of three offices in the Tenderloin, Bayview, and Richmond districts with presence at 45 different sites across San Francisco that include elementary, middle and high schools. CYC annually impacts a diverse population of over 8,000 youth; many of whom are primarily low income and at-risk Asian Pacific American, Latino, and African American. CYC’s services now include academic and college counseling, job placement and employment training, substance abuse and violence prevention education, crisis intervention and mediation, leadership development, and technology and computer training.