Harlem Youth Opportunities Unlimited facts for kids
Harlem Youth Opportunities Unlimited, often called HARYOU, was an American group started in 1962. It was founded by psychologists Kenneth Clark and Mamie Phipps Clark. The director was Cyril deGrasse Tyson, who is the father of famous space scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson. Cyril deGrasse Tyson also helped start the 100 Black Men of America. HARYOU worked to create more chances for young Black people in Harlem to get good education and jobs. It also taught Harlem residents how to work with government groups to get their needs met.
What Was HARYOU?
HARYOU was an organization focused on helping young people in Harlem. It aimed to improve their lives through better education and job opportunities. The group also taught people how to communicate with government agencies. This helped residents ask for what they needed from their local and national leaders.
Early Success and Support
HARYOU quickly became well-known across the country after it started in 1962. In 1964, the government under President Johnson gave HARYOU a lot of money. This money, $110 million, was for making big changes in education. HARYOU's plans included bringing in education experts to improve Harlem schools. They also wanted to offer special programs for young children before school. After-school help for students who needed extra support was also part of their plan. They created job programs too, especially for young people who had left school early.
Helping the Community
In the summer of 1964, Harlem faced some community challenges. After these events, HARYOU wrote a report. This report explained why the problems happened and suggested ways to fix them. HARYOU, along with other groups, received money from the government for something called Project Uplift. This project was designed to help prevent similar community problems from happening again. It focused on improving conditions and opportunities for people in Harlem.
Merging for More Impact
Later, HARYOU joined forces with another group called Associated Community Teams (ACT). This merger happened with the support of Congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr.. A congressman is a person elected to represent their community in the United States Congress. The new, combined organization was then known as HARYOU-ACT.
