A Passport to Opportunity
“I’ll rise up, and I’ll do it a thousand times again for you.” These are the lyrics – from Andra Day’s Rise Up – that describe the White Plains Youth Bureau (WPYB) for many of its former participants. The song, which was voted as the Bureau’s 50th anniversary anthem, is indicative of the dedication that WPYB and its attendees have for one another. The Bureau fulfills its mission of helping its youth to grow into successful adults, and those adults then often give back to that same community.
From a single desk at City Hall, the WPYB has grown into a dynamic city agency that serves 2,000 kids each day, from White Plains public schools, housing authority centers and more, with over 60 programs throughout the year. Many of these former WPYB attendees credit the Bureau for inspiring and preparing them for their professional careers.
A call for 50 stories about participants whose lives have been impacted by WPYB’s programs instead yielded 104 personal anecdotes. There was Dante Hudson, Chief Programs Officer at White Plains YMCA, whose passion for working with children was ignited during the camp counselor job he got through WPYB. Then there was Delphine T. Burton, who credits WPYB’s programs as the foundation that helped shape her path toward founding her own nonprofit. The Bureau also helped Jessica McKenzie get a job, which she calls the “springboard that launched (her) professional career.” Now Director of Internal and Executive Communications at PepsiCo Beverages North America, McKenzie spearheaded “Pathway to Leadership,” a full-day mentoring workshop for the Bureau’s current youth.
“The Youth Bureau is like a passport, opening up opportunities and experiences to youths in White Plains,” explains Friends of WPYB board member Vincere N. Japal. Participants demonstrate increased SAT scores, greater leadership skills, employment retention and increased confidence in theatrical and creative expression.
WPYB celebrates its 50 years with a concert at White Plains Performing Arts Center on March 7, with performances from Broadway performer Alton Fitzgerald White, ballet dancer Ingrid Silva and more. Its gala on October 15 will raise funds for its youth. For more info, visit whiteplainsyouthbureau.org. A version of this article first appeared in the March issue of ArtsNews, ArtsWestchester’s monthly publication. ArtsNews is distributed throughout Westchester County. A digital copy is also available at artsw.org/artsnews.
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