River City Youth Foundation RCYF

RCYF serves the youth and families of 78744, Austin, Texas, helping improve the safety, health and prosperity of our youth and families in Dove Springs.

The area where River City Youth Foundation now stands used to be a haven for drugs, gang activity and violence. The agency seeks to address those issues brought on by a lack of education and poverty through seven core areas of service. Through community outreach and events, the foundation has mobilized the neighborhood to help combat street crime.

The staff considers the children ‘at promise,’ not at risk. Each child has the potential to be a leader. With educational support and strong role models, children can embrace the promise of their lives and exceed beyond expectations.

RYCF also celebrates fathers and mothers as role models. Through community-building events like the Father’s Day Parade, the neighborhood beams with pride in support of their children. Evidence of community pride can also been seen through home, street and neighborhood improvements.

The Dove Springs neighborhood is located on the southeast side of Austin, wedged between I-35 and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. With approximately 36,000 residents, the area has the largest Hispanic population in Austin and is considered one of the three epicenters for Hispanic growth, according to the City of Austin Demographer’s office.

The foundation began as a grassroots organization working directly with clients in the city’s housing projects.

“A couple decades ago, we were operating out of recreation centers, churches any venue we could find to do our tutoring, our programs for the children,” said Gonzalez.

In 1998, a two-acre plot of land was donated by David and Gayanne Vandam. Page Southerland Page used the land to build the youth center still on the grounds today. Click here to see photos of our Success Center.

“We have a tremendous amount of stability in the Dove Springs community because we’re here on this beautiful park land, providing an opportunity to engage the community in a consistent way,” Gonzalez said.

A very large part of who we are at RCYF is our Community Development and involvement initiatives. We are deeply embedded in the community we serve, not just via the youth and families that come into our facility, but by how we reach out beyond our walls to be evangelists for our mission to the entire neighborhood. The Neighborhood Youth Corps, for example, gives kids a chance to work hands-on at making their neighborhood a safer, more beautiful, and cultural place to live. Because of these activities we are known as the safe haven and voice of peace in the neighborhood.
RECENT EVENTS:
Father’s Parade & Fiesta

UPCOMING: THANKSGIVING CIRCLE AND CELEBRATION, MONDAY EVENING BEFORE THANKSGIVING DAY
AND MERRY MEMORIES, SECOND SAT. IN DECEMBER, SERVING OVER 700 FAMILIES THAT DAY

GIFT BASKET GIVE-AWAYS: DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING AND CLOSE TO THE DECEMBER HOLIDAYS

In response to the urgent need for mentors among our youth in Dove Springs, RCYF has created a Best Practices mentoring program that matches qualified adults with RCYF youth and their families. The goals of the program are to provide positive role models to at-risk youth, improve/maintain grades, and improve/maintain attitude/behavior. Click here to apply to become a mentor today (.pdf file)

River City Youth Foundation’s Computer Learning Lab/Centro de Tecnologia is a national CTC providing ongoing technology training program for youth.