2B Successful Youth Brochure

2B Successful Youth Assist To Bridge Academic Achievement Gap and Development for Teens and Young Adults

 2B Successful Youth and the Fairfield Suisun Unified School District provides opportunities to design a best-practice academic enrichment after school program.  Our service population is comprised of low-income general and special education students, their families and surrounding communities.  2B Successful Youth is a grass-roots organization that relies on volunteers and community donations to sustain programming.

 2B Successful Youth Incorporate History

Cynthia M. Phillips,  Founder and Director of “2B Successful Youth,” a non-profit educational and enrichment after school program. The goal is to acquire resources and put into action services that will enhance the ability of our youth to move into their future with confidence in their identity, what they can accomplish, to become self-sufficient, and to become an asset to their family and their community.  The Program primarily emphasizes Education and Health. 

It was more than 35 years ago while working as a Deputy Clerk at George Carroll Superior Court in Richmond, CA; I was able to see the collation of illiteracy, poverty and crime.  Later as a Deputy Sheriff, it was not uncommon to arrest repeat offenders because of illiteracy, poverty and crime.  My participation in the “Never Alone Juvenile Hall Ministry” and as a “Solano County Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Commissioner”.

 It was evident that underachievement in school and dropping out were major factors leading to poverty and crime.  Now, I want to work to improve the education process so underrepresented children will have the opportunity to choose a path to success, graduate and be successful at a post-secondary institution of higher learning, without the elements of crime being a major distraction.

ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY

2B Successful Youth, Academic Enrichment Program held its first youth meeting in November 2006 at the Cottage Square Apartment’s Community Center, 1189 Tabor Avenue, Fairfield, CA.  This low-income community has been named South PACE by the City of Fairfield.      

 Cottage Square Apartment resident Traci Penny arranged a meeting with property owner Ken Shaw and Cynthia Phillips regarding holding youth meetings in the community center.  The meeting was held and owners Sidney and Ken Shaw granted gratuitous meeting space in their community center.  Aiesha Aponte, Property Manager, volunteered to open and close the facility for the youths evening meetings. 

The volunteer team consisted of Cynthia Phillips, Aiesha Aponte (Property Manager), Traci Penny (parent), Crystal Moses (parent), Barbara Nelson (tenant), Linda Lands (tenant), Harold Hill Jr. (MSW Social Worker) and Michael Phillips (college intern). The majority of the youth participants and their families were residents of the South Pace Community which includes Cottage Square Apartments and the surrounding community.  By 2007,   the focus of the meetings had transitioned from simple gatherings to sessions that included homework, math, and reading assistance for the youth.  

On March 3, 2009, 2B Successful Youth was awarded its Article of Incorporation for charitable purposes. The specific purpose of 2B Successful Youth is to acquire resources to be able to put into action the kinds of services that will facilitate the ability of our youth to move into their future with a strong confidence in who they are, what they can accomplish while preparing them to be self-sufficient and an asset to their family and community.  The programs emphasize Education and Health. 

 October 8, 2010 was the last date for 2B Successful Youth at 1189 Tabor Avenue, Fairfield, CA. The program closed with a celebration for the students and community.

2BSuccessful Youth now has several satelite site locations to provide enrichment and support.