About Us

Our Mission

The mission of Great Oak Youth Development Center is to provide a foundation for achievement and success among male youth within targeted communities by directly providing educational assistance, mentoring, leadership and life skills training, and cultural awareness activities.




Our Great Oak Staff
Our Clients
Great Oak (GO) provides services to students of ages 6 to 18. Students must be referred by educators, parents, or appropriate community officials. All students must have parental or legal guardian consent. All students are required to submit a statement of "Education Intent" describing their educational and life skills goals. Operating capacity determines the number of students GO can accommodate. Therefore, referrals will be accepted based on a first come, first serve basis. GO maintains a waiting list as needed. Applications may be requested in person, via email, telephone, or USPS.

Our Challenge
Great Oak is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We provide education assistance, mentoring, leadership and life skills training as well as cultural awareness programs for inner-city youth. Our program is based on a concept of developing foundations for youth upon which we increase their odds of achievement and success.

From educational achievement, job skills, life skills, cultural awareness, to leadership and social responsibility, the socioeconomic gap where our black youth are concerned, should give every American cause for alarm. The deficit is even more pronounced and disturbing for America's black male youth. An important key to closing the gap is to address the lack of achievement among America's black youth. Addressing areas such as academics, life skills, core values, and cultural awareness are critical to building the foundation needed to close the socioeconomic gap and insure achievement of greater prosperity.