Programs Overview

The ICE initiative was launched in 2022 with a focus on civic engagement curriculum for middle and high school students consisting of three pillars: 1) Voter Advocacy, 2) Social Impact and 3) Global Citizenship.

OYC Miami will support “ICE” youth leaders in building a student-led, trusting, strong, and positive team culture while enabling them in creating and understanding the “ICE” culture and understanding the value of being a part of “ICE”.

One of OYC Miami’s fundamental beliefs is that every child has a gift and a talent. OYC provides enrichment programming in areas such as visual art, the performing arts ,and other cultural exposure opportunities.

Additionally, OYC Miami believes that exposure is the catalyst for youth development and is a key element for students reaching their full potential. OYC Miami offers field trip opportunities that include theatrical plays, musicals, sports events, movies, nature trips, leadership trips, service-learning trips, and other outings to broaden their perspectives; as well as provide students opportunities that that they are not typically exposed to.

The STEAM Initiatives aim to bridge exposure and career development gaps for youth, families and adults in our community.

Offerings include but are not limited to Robotics, Genetic Studies, Project-Based Learning, Computer Science. Nature Studies, Engineering, Digital Arts and Design, Drone Technology, Culinary, Aviation Studies, 3D Printing, etc.

The STEAM programming allows students to utilize elements of thinking and doing simultaneously. Family STEAM Nights are also offered to engage caregivers in STEAM learning with their students.

During the Summer Program, OYC Miami students engage in full day programming inclusive of academic support, character-building activities, community service, fitness/recreation, visual and performing arts, STEM enrichment, health and wellness activities, college and career readiness activities, and a variety of field trips to venues youth would not otherwise have the opportunity to experience.

Honey Shine Inc. was founded in 2002 by Tracy Wilson Mourning and began as a volunteer-led mentoring program that aimed to expose girls from under-resourced communities to healthy lifestyles and to encourage the balancing of mind, body, and soul.

As the need in the community increased, along with an increasing number of girls, Honey Shine formalized into a 501c3 to provide direct services to girls through afterschool programming, “Aspire to Shine” workshops, and summer programming.

Camp Honey Shine is a signature component of the Honey Shine mentoring program experience offering girls in grades K-12 with a high-quality, 6-week summer program through full-day programming Monday through Friday. Camp Honey Shine is designed to enrich the lives of our Honey Bugs through the S.E.L.F. enrichment model (i.e., STEAM, Empowerment, Literacy, and Fitness).

Band of Brothers (B.O.B.) is an initiative that was envisioned as several staff at OYC realized the need for mentorship specific to males served through OYC programming.

In 2020, an OYC student lost his life to gun violence and staff reflected on the challenges associated with the how the power of negative influences on the “street” can outweigh positive influences on youth even when surrounded by consistent, positive role models.

The B.O.B. vision is to expose young men to numerous resources and opportunities that will aid in their educational and social development and empower them to become positive contributing citizens (PCC).