BACKGROUND
The Midtown Youth Academy (the “organization”) was founded in 1977 by Eugene R. Hughes, a boxing trainer and drug abuse counselor, who was acutely aware of the conditions that often led youth of the District of the Columbia to become involved in drug addiction and crime. Through the organization, Mr. Hughes recruited volunteers to work with neighborhood youth to provide boxing lessons as a therapeutic recreational outlet and an after-school tutoring program in test preparation, arts and technology, entrepreneurship, and other skills.
Mr. Hughes and the organization’s board members have been working on revitalizing the academy and its programs for the past three years. While doing so, the members realized it was in the best interest of the organization to leave its long time home at 2206 14th Street NW and continue the journey at 5332 Georgia Avenue NW. For over 45 years, the organization has served as a safe haven for thousands of inner city youth and neighbors. It was the dream of Mr. Hughes and still is the organization’s goal, for Midtown Youth Academy to live long and continue to stand strong as “A Balance in the Community”.