Multicultural Young Life refers to the programs and people dedicated to reaching adolescents from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds — ranging from the inner city to small, rural communities — and who have a history of being socially or economically disadvantaged.
Multicultural Club
These clubs are designed to meet the varying spiritual, physical and emotional needs of the kids we serve. For example:
- Club isn’t held in homes, but in community centers or churches.
- Transportation is often provided both to and from club.
- Sometimes these kids don’t have the opportunity to eat a meal before club, so dinner is provided.
- Part of club is the before- and/or after-club activities — like playing basketball. So club usually lasts longer than an hour.
- Multicultural club music is relevant to the kids it serves.
Multicultural Camping
Multicultural Young Life takes thousands of kids each summer to Young Life camp. In fact, 21.4 percent of all Young Life campers are kids of color. In addition, Young Life's Multicultural ministry has been creative in developing new types of camping opportunities, including sports camps and weekend camps.
Funding for Multicultural Ministry
Young Life in the suburbs is funded mainly by contributions from parents and other adults in the community. However, Multicultural areas don't always have the resources needed for the ministry to thrive. Staff must have access to multiple resources. Many camp scholarships are provided each year through the annual Multicultural Campership Campaign and local fund-raising efforts.
Multicultural Ministry Facts and Figures
- In 2006, there were 673 Multicultural Young Life ministries across the country.
- Multicultural Young Life is one of the largest urban youth ministries in the United States.
- We're in approximately 170 cities across the nation.
- 7,851 kids of color went to camp this summer.
- Young Life has 177 full-time and 73 part-time staff working in Multicultural ministry.
To Learn More
If you are interested, there are several ways you can get involved with our outreach to kids of color and kids from under-resourced communities. Feel free to contact the Multicultural office to learn more.