The Youth Impact Program (YIP) strives to provide innovative STEM educational access, academic instruction, and strong mentoring relationships to at-risk youth across the country, using football as an incentive to encourage personal growth.

Creating a nexus of local, city, and state leaders and university staff, students and alumni, along with the National Football League (NFL), to pursue a solution to the national problem confronting our at-risk, inner city youth the YIP specifically targets the extremely high-risk group of inner city 10 to 14-year-old minority boys. They are at a critical age when academic progress and character development are threatened due to their living environment. Impact builds a foundation for accomplishment and incorporates post-program follow-up that promotes success in these aspects and in life.

Working with a major inner city NCAA university's athletic, academic, and community outreach departments, the Youth Impact Program brings together certified local middle school teachers from the inner city and university students to function as program mentors, coaches, and teachers who are consistently present with participants throughout the eight-hour day.

After seven successful years with different universities in California, Texas, Florida, Louisiana, and New York, the program has solidified its value for:

• Teaching conflict resolution, anger-management, and the character values needed to succeed in the inner city community and reject gang participation and criminal activities;
• Addressing low academic performance by educating with a football-themed curriculum, creative teaching methods, a low teacher-to-student ratio, and the support of university-led research and curriculum development;
• Exposing participants to the importance and attainability of education as a student athlete;
• Establishing much-needed mentor relationships with at-risk youth that are local, consistent, and long-term;
• Providing daily, reliable meals when most young boys living in inner city communities do not receive consistent, nutritious food;
• Training and developing inner city teachers and university students in fostering relationships and mentoring;
• Utilizing NCAA Division 1 professors and coaches, university student athletes and alumni, and current and former NFL players from the inner city to enhance the program's results.