Finally, We Have A Proper Place To Protect & Empower Our Youth

A Place For Food, Health, Education & Economic Empowerment

A New Day For Hilltop's Immigrant & Refugee Youths & Families!

THIS IS HOW WE PROTECT & EMPOWER OUR YOUTH!!!

Dear Family,

I am beyond humbled and super proud this week as we have our Grand Opening Ceremony of the Hilltop Youth Empowerment Center this Friday.

For the past six years, we have been saving our youth from gangs, drugs, violence and trafficking without having a proper place to host our programs, to keep them inside during cold evenings and on hot days away from streets  and trouble. We are appreciative of our partners for providing us with rooms in their facilities whenever they could, but most days we had no place. We met in laundry rooms, parking lots, soccer fields, building lawns, in our old store and online. We still were able to reduce violence and keeping hundreds of children away from gangs. We were able to cut off the pipeline to gangs and violence. Most young people in our community now have a healthy choice of soccer and education to feel cool than being in a gang and selling/consuming drugs.

In the last five years, in the middle of a food desert on Sullivant Ave., we have also been able to pass more than 4 millions meals and snacks through our MY Family Pantry. A job that was solely done by our young volunteers who managed to run this pantry while creating an infrastructure and a solid base of team over the years. Now that pantry has turned into a full scope Mid-Ohio Market in the partnership of Mid-Ohio Food Collectives (Mid-Ohio Food Bank). This is truly a step of extra-ordinary level to uplift all of our families on the westside. 

Last year we served 40,000 clients while dealing with a global pandemic, three break-ins and being under constructions. We took 350 youth under our wings for through Hilltop Tigers, Under MY Wing, MY Reading Warriors, MY Pathways and MY Tailored Image. I can't imagine how many we will be serving through a fulltime Food Market, a Cafeteria and a Youth/Community Development Center and a Community Garden in the partnership of so many amazing partners and neighbors. 

Possibilities are Unlimited. We are doing everything in our power to protect and empower our youth. We are setting skies as new limits for our Youth. They are very talented. We know they will rise and shine and will raise their community high up along with them. 

After God, I have my faith in our potential. I have given it all I got. I am seeing Allah's blessings in our work every single day. This is my investment in Allah's bank. This is where I am investing to send my gifts to my deceased parents every single day. This is a holy mission and I am glad to have you with me on this ride. 

Family, 

Thank you for your support, your prayers, your contributions, your donations. Because of you, MY Project USA is the largest Muslim Social Services Organization in Ohio. Because of you, we are the most affective organization in addressing gangs, violence and drugs issues facing our children in Hilltop area. 

Thank you for what you have done so far. Thank you for your continued support and presence.

In Solidarity with Youth & Families, 

Zerqa Abid,

Founder & Executive Director, 

MY Project USA

Wedgewood Strong - Back To School Event - 150 Youth Served

School Bags & Supplies, Food & Vaccinations Passed In Partnership of Molina Healthcare

On August 28th, our annual Wedgewood Strong Event was very successful. Teams from across MY Project USA including MY Reading Warriors, MY Family Pantry, Hilltop Tigers and more came together to ensure our youth would start off the school year confident and prepared.

The Pantry team worked to give out over 150 backpacks and bags filled with calculators, notebooks, pens, and other school supplies to students of all ages. Reading Warriors also gave out both a wide variety of books and food to our attending families.

We must also give our gratitude to Molina Healthcare for partnering with us to provide COVID-19 vaccines to Wedgewood families and sponsoring our event as well.

In these trying times, access to proper healthcare is absolutely crucial not only for individuals, but Wedgewood as a whole. Our young soccer players have also put in the hours to help roll out such an amazing event. They are now not only champions, but also pillars in their community. We could not be more proud of the work all of our many volunteers and staff have done. Visit our photo album to see it all for yourself!

Strategic Partnership of MY Project USA & Mid-Ohio Food Collective Is A Victory For The Community

Our Remarkable MY Family Pantry Team Continues To Shine

Our weekly food market operations have continued as well, to great success. Within the last two Saturdays of August, we have given out a variety of produce and goods to 189 families with more being served throughout the week.

As our youth center continues to evolve, so do we. Our client registration process has been further upgraded to now use barcode-labeled ID cards and scanners, ensuring that service can be conducted faster than ever before.

Our drive-in system has also been phased out to instead become an in-person market experience. While our clients are now free to choose what specific items they wish to take with them, our volunteers are always stationed to help with loading, directing, and any other assistance during the day. The mission stays the same, but the methods can always change!

Community Development:

MY Professional Mentoring Initiative - Be A Mentor or A Mentee

MY Project USA has always strived relentlessly to provide the best development opportunities to their community. Maintaining that momentum, MY Project USA is proud to provide Professional Mentoring opportunities to underserved highschool students and adults.

This is an extension and supplement to the Mentoring program provided by the “Under My Wing” initiative. We are super excited about this program’s prospect.

The focus of this initiative is to ensure that underserved high school students and adults are prepared for post-secondary education, trade schools, or entry-level professional success.

Our aim is to develop professional skills such as communication skills, career development soft-skills, goal setting, self-efficacy for personal and professional development; and academic development skills such as college application process and knowledge about career fields.

This program aims to develop healthy decision-making in young people by providing them with professional adult mentors who can listen, guide, and provide meaningful opportunities.

If you are a youth interested in participating in this program as a Mentee then please complete Mentee Application. If you are a college student and would like to help a high school student going to college, please complete College Mentor Application. If you are interested in being a Professional Mentor then please complete Professional Mentor Application. We will reach out to you individually as we start screening the applicants.