If you’ve spent time on Pittsburgh’s Northside, you know the neighborhood has a rhythm. A memory. A way of holding both history and possibility at the same time. At the heart of that story is the Manchester Youth Development Center (MYDC).
Founded in 1968, MYDC has never been just a building. It’s been a second home, a safe place to land, and a steady presence for generations of young people and families. Born during a time of deep racial tension and change, MYDC began with a small group of community members who believed that kids on the Northside deserved opportunity, care, and consistency right where they were.
Fifty-eight years later, that belief still guides everything we do.
Over the decades, MYDC has grown alongside the community. We expanded our afterschool offerings in partnership with local schools, creating spaces where young people could learn, build relationships, and stay engaged beyond the school day. In 1979, we launched the Training Wheels Childcare Center, recognizing that strong support in the earliest years makes a lasting difference. And in the late 1990s, MYDC played a role in supporting the launch of the Manchester Academic Charter School, reinforcing what we’ve always known: education and community are inseparable.
Today, we continue to share space with the school—and we make every square foot count.
The people who make MYDC what it is aren’t strangers to this work or this place. Many of our staff live on the Northside. Some are parents. Some once walked through these same doors as MYDC kids themselves. They bring lived experience, care, and deep commitment to the young people they serve every day.
What We’re About (And What We’re Not)
We’re not just here to keep kids busy. We’re not babysitters, hallway monitors, or a place to pass the time (though yes, snacks are always involved).
What we are is a place where young people feel safe, known, and supported—and where they’re encouraged to imagine something bigger for themselves. We believe in whole-child development, which simply means helping kids grow socially, emotionally, and academically, all at once.
That work comes to life through programs like:
- MYDC Afterschool Program (Grades K–5): A structured, nurturing space where students explore, create, get academic support, and build relationships after the school day ends.
- Camp CHOICE (Rising 1st–8th Grade): A full-day summer program that blends learning, leadership, field trips, and fun… keeping young people engaged and growing all summer long.
- Training Wheels Childcare Center (Ages 3–5): A high-quality, Pre-K Counts early learning program that gives children a strong start while partnering closely with families.
We’ve learned over time that when families feel supported, kids do better. That’s why we prioritize communication, shared goal-setting, and celebrating growth—big and small.
Why We Stay
We stay because this is where change actually happens. Not in headlines or grand gestures, but in quieter moments:
A child reading out loud with confidence.
A parent trusting someone with their toddler for the first time.
A young person choosing to lead, to try again, to believe in themselves.
We’re not here to “save” the Northside. The Northside doesn’t need saving. It needs investment, consistency, and people who believe deeply in its young people.
That’s what MYDC has been doing for 58 years… and what we’re committed to doing for generations to come.
If you’ve been with us for a long time, thank you.
If you’re new here, welcome.
We’re still here. This is still home.
And the future we’re building starts with the next child who walks through our doors.
Come see what we’re building together.