YPAEagles

Youngstown Preparatory Academy (YPA) is a K-8 Charter School opening in the fall of 2021 in Youngstown, OH.

YPA has been a dream in the making for the past fifteen years.  Growing up in the housing projects of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania I was provided with many barriers and challenges.  I was raised by a single mother.  I was the oldest of four children and did my part to support my mom and siblings.  As a family, we were doing the best that we could to get by. 

During my youth, I did not see the importance of education and was not able to see how it would change my life.  At some point in my family's history, someone quit school to work.  This was not done because education was not valued but rather, working in order to provide for the family became important.  As I entered high school, I was playing basketball and was good at it.  This kept me off the streets and disciplined in school.  Upon graduating high school, I received a basketball scholarship to Hilbert College in Buffalo, NY, and also to Mansfield University in PA.  

With over 20 years of experience serving students and communities, I continue to see the same issues plaguing urban areas.  YPA is my response to the need for high, quality education that incorporates an unyielding commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion within public school systems.

YPA will serve as a uniting force in the community, bringing together communities and involving them in the education of children while providing stability during this period of change and growth.  YPA will also serve as a strong draw for parents committed to involvement in the school's mission and seeking high academic achievement for their children. It is our intent to benefit all parties involved: the students would gain from a high-quality program with no need to be transported to other schools further away, and the community gains a high-quality educational program tailored to their needs and a multi-use facility that can host community-based activities.

This gofundme is started to assist with the start-up costs of opening a charter or community school.  The money obtained from this will:
1. Purchase uniforms for the students
2.  Purchase school supplies for students

Thank you!!!