When people walk into the new Hilltop Youth Empowerment Center on Sullivant Avenue, brightly colored walls, lots of light and a large meeting space greet them. 

A little further in, past a waiting room, is a five-aisle free market crowded with food and personal hygiene items. There are boxes of fresh cucumbers in one aisle, containers of macaroni and cheese lined up in another and freezers — one stacked to the brim with potato salad — lining the walls. 

It's a sharp contrast to the center's old location down the street, which was fronted by a thrift store with just a small space for food in the back. It lacked any gathering space and had little room for food products.

Both spaces are projects of MY Project USA, a nonprofit Muslim social service organization that helps youth and families, but the differences are obvious.

The new facility offers the food market, a gathering space for community meetings, a full kitchen, laundry room, reading area, conference room and much more.

The market opened on Sept. 10 at 3275 Sullivant Ave. near Westgate Park and, beyond offering food, it's intended to be a haven for local at-risk youths, especially those who live in the nearby Wedgewood Village Apartments complex. 

Estimated to be home to nearly 2,000 children, the complex suffered seven homicides in 2017. Abid aims to help children living there avoid human trafficking, gangs and other dangers.

Gulled Osman, 14, used to be one of the kids at risk.

But two years ago he started playing with the Hilltop Tigers soccer program, run through MY Project USA even before the new center opened. The coaches have helped him with his homework and his grades went up; this summer he started working at the new center to clean up outside and do odd jobs for Abid.

To Osman, the center already feels like another home.

"I like being able to come here and just chill with my friends," he said. "It's like having your own home. You can just come here and have fun."

And, for the Tigers, it's also a place to store their soccer gear, wash jerseys and change before and after games — something they had to do outside before the center opened. 

Please click here to read full article by The Columbus Dispatch's Reporter Danae King. 

"Seven Years of Resilience" Fall Banquet

Celebrations & Fundraiser To Support Our Amazing Youths, Leaders & Community

Early Bird Sale Ends ON October 15th, 2021.

Student Ticket: $40/Seat, Adult Ticket: $65/seat, Book A Table - Save $15/Seat Table of 8: $480/Table 

Please Join Us for an Inspirational Evening with Elected Officials, Interfaith and Community Leaders and our Youth Leaders as we gather to Support and Celebrate Columbus Youth and Families.

In the last seven years, MY Project USA has become a mainstream, largest Muslim Social Services & Civic Engagement Organization in Ohio. We are working hand in hand with our interfaith and social justice partners to bring prosperity and hope to the under-served communities in Columbus. At our annual banquet, we will celebrate our accomplishments. We will also re-energize our base and will raise money to continue and grow our work to the next level. Please join us and bring your family and friends with you. 

MY Project USA Prepares To Support Afghan Refugees

Short-term and Long-Term Needs Will Be Addressed

Asking for Monitorial and Material Donations

MY Project USA is preparing to welcome and support 350 Afghan Refugees in Columbus. We are working closely with the local refugee settlement agencies, Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS) and US Together, in assisting the new arrivals with culturally appropriate clothing, household items and other accessories, mental health support, job trainings, etc.

The fundraiser will help us purchase any services or items needed to support any family that they might be missing in addition to the welcome kits provided to them by settlement agencies. This fundraiser will also help us pay their rents, transportation, utilities, ESL classes and any other employment support to help them find a job, etc., that they might need after the grace period covered by the government. Community donations help us provide support that is not covered otherwise.

We have formed an Afghan Refugees Welcome Committee to take care of all urgent and long term needs of the new refugees. We are expecting arrivals as early as this week to the next 6 months. This fundraiser will provide funds to this committee to address all needs of our new arrivals without any delay.

We are also collecting clothes and other household items. Please check out our Support Drive Sign Up if you are interested 

Please donate generously and invite others as well.

Credit card donations on Facebook are free of charge, therefore we would love you to donate here on Facebook.

OTHER WAYS TO DONATE: You can also choose any of the following method to send your zakat or other donations to our way.

ONLINE: MYProjectUSA.org

MAIL: Write Your Check to “MY Project USA” & Mail it to PO Box 1311, Hilliard, OH 43026

Visit Us At Hilltop Youth Empowerment Center at 3275, Sullivant Ave., Columbus 43204

More Info: Refugees@MYProjectUSA.org - 614-905-0977

Hilltop Tigers Soccer  Club Organizes The Ohio champions cup To Raise Money For Youth

The Ohio champions cup is a fundraising soccer tournament for the Hilltop Tigers Soccer Club. The Tournament is being held in Columbus on October 16 & 17.  The goal is to raise money to protect and empower our youth in the Hilltop and surrounding areas through the game of soccer.

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.