More Than a Moment: MYDC Then, Now, and What Comes Next
From the very beginning, Manchester Youth Development Center (MYDC) has been about more than programs… it has been about presence. About showing up for young people when it mattered most, and continuing to do so as times, needs, and generations changed.
Founded in 1968, MYDC emerged during a period of profound social unrest and uncertainty. In the wake of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, many communities across the country were grappling with fear, grief, and instability. On Pittsburgh’s Northside, MYDC opened its doors as a safe, consistent place for young people offering structure, care, and possibility when families needed it most.
At the heart of that early work were James J. Robinson aka Rev and Betty Hord Robinson aka Gram, whose leadership and commitment helped shape MYDC’s foundation. James J. Robinson brought vision, advocacy, and steady leadership, helping anchor the organization in community responsibility and long-term impact. Betty Hord Robinson’s dedication to children and families ensured that MYDC was not only a place of safety, but a place of dignity, care, and opportunity. Together, their contributions helped establish MYDC as a trusted institution—one rooted in service, equity, and belief in young people.
Growing With the Community
As the needs of families evolved, MYDC evolved with them.
In the 1970s, MYDC formalized its afterschool programming, deepening its commitment to structured learning, mentorship, and positive youth development. These programs provided consistency beyond the school day and helped young people stay engaged, supported, and connected.
Recognizing the importance of early intervention, MYDC launched the Training Wheels Childcare Center in 1979, expanding its reach to the youngest learners. This step reflected a growing understanding that strong outcomes begin early; and that supporting families means supporting children from the very start.
By the late 1990s, MYDC played a role in the establishment of the Manchester Academic Charter School, reinforcing the belief that education and community are inseparable. Today, MYDC continues to share space with the school, maximizing resources and strengthening the ecosystem of support for Northside youth.
MYDC Today: Still Rooted.
Today, MYDC remains deeply connected to the community it serves. Many staff members live on the Northside. Some are parents. Some are alumni who once benefited from MYDC programs themselves. These connections create trust, continuity, and authenticity; qualities that can’t be replicated without real roots.
Our work continues to focus on holistic youth development, supporting academic growth, social-emotional learning, leadership, and family engagement. The names of programs may evolve, but the values remain constant: consistency, care, and belief in young people’s potential.
Programs Then and Now
What began decades ago as a safe place to gather has grown into a network of intentional, impact-driven programs:
- MYDC Afterschool Program (Grades K–5)
A core offering that provides academic support, enrichment, and relationship-building during critical afterschool hours. - Camp CHOICE: Future Leaders Summer Program (Rising 1st–8th Grade)
A full-day summer experience that blends learning, leadership, exploration, and fun—keeping young people engaged and growing all year long. - Training Wheels Childcare Center (Ages 3–5)
A Pre-K Counts early learning program that has been building strong foundations for decades, preparing children academically and socially for kindergarten and beyond. - Design House
Looking toward the future, Design House represents MYDC’s continued commitment to innovation and opportunity. This initiative introduces young people to design thinking, entrepreneurship, and real-world problem-solving—connecting creativity, career exploration, and community impact in meaningful ways.
Carrying the Legacy Forward
MYDC’s story is one of resilience, adaptation, and deep community commitment. What began as a response to crisis has become a multi-generational institution; one that continues to nurture young people in mind, heart, and spirit.
As we reflect on more than half a century of service, we do so with gratitude for the leaders who laid the foundation, especially James J. Robinson and Betty Hord Robinson, and with responsibility to the young people who will shape what comes next.
The mission remains the same: to protect, support, empower, and walk alongside youth as they grow into confident, capable, and community-minded adults.
MYDC has always been here for the long haul.
And the future we’re building is just getting started.
50 Years of Impact: MYDC Then & Now
Since the very beginning of its story, MYDC has been a safe haven for young people. Founded as a community recreation center during a time of tension and change, it has evolved into a comprehensive center for children’s well-being: a place that nurtures academic, social, and emotional growth.
MYDC Through the Years
- 1968: A Vision Forged
In 1968, the same year Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, Manchester Youth Development Center (MYDC) opened its doors in Pittsburgh’s Northside. It emerged amid national grief and societal upheaval, offering parents peace of mind by providing a safe alternative to street life for local youth.
- 1975: After-School Programming Takes Shape
Seven years after its inception, MYDC formally incorporated its after-school program and curriculum, deepening its commitment to structured learning and mentorship.
- 1993: Affordable Early Childhood Care
In 1993, MYDC launched Training Wheels, bringing affordable preschool education to families and marking a pivotal expansion into early childhood development.
- 1999: Education Through Partnership
The Center helped establish the Manchester Academic Charter School, forging a powerful partnership that shares campus space and benefits educational programming.
Today: Fresh Faces, Same Values
More than 60% of MYDC’s staff now live in Pittsburgh’s Northside, and many are alumni or parents of former participants. These ties anchor MYDC in community, authenticity, and commitment. We continue to promote holistic development in order to help raise engaged, resilient youth. This includes academic support, mentoring, family mobilization, and leadership-building programs.
Programs Then & Now
- After-School Program: From its roots in the early 1970s to today’s K–6 enrichment and homework support, this core offering reflects MYDC’s academic focus.
- Summer Camp (Camp CHOICE/Future Leaders): This is more than just a recreational summer camp. Camp CHOICE has evolved to include immersive leadership and learning initiatives for rising 1st–7th graders, keeping young minds active all year round.
- Training Wheels Childcare: Since 1993, this preschool program has been building cognitive and social foundations. It’s a launchpad for long-term academic success.
Reflecting Proudly on MYDC’s Legacy
From its start during a tumultuous moment in US history to the multi-generational hub it is today, MYDC is all about resilience and community dedication. From a safe space in a time of need, it has evolved into a comprehensive resource that nurtures Pittsburgh’s youth in mind, heart, and spirit. As we celebrate over half a century of service, our guiding principles remain the same: to empower every young person with the tools and support they need to go far, achieve everything they want to achieve, and do real good in their community.