BUILDING A STRONG FUTURE...
One Person At A Time One Person At A Time
Department of Youth Development & Social Initiatives
Strengthening the community, enriching education and creating partnerships in the city of Las Vegas.
Strong Start
Strong Schools
Strong Future Strong Community
The Department of Youth Development and Social Initiatives (YDSI) provides the full range of supports and services to ensure that all residents receive a strong start in life, cultivate the skills required to compete and can access support systems to help them thrive.
Serving and supporting the Las Vegas community from cradle to career.
Strong Start
Strong Start Early Learning Academies
In partnership with Acelero Learning, Strong Start Early Learning Academies provide free, high-quality early childhood education programs for children ages 0-5 with a focus on increasing access to care and supporting children to enter kindergarten ready to learn. Strong Start Academies offer a nurturing classroom environment for young children that promotes the physical, social-emotional and academic development of each child. Strong Start Academies are committed to providing children and families with access to safe and engaging early childhood education programs in their community. Strong Start Academies include five locations in the city of Las Vegas in partnership with a Head Start and Early Head Start provider: Strong Start Academy at Alta, Strong Start Academy at Lorenzi, Strong Start Academy at Stupak, Strong Start Academy at Wardelle and Strong Start Academy at Mirabelli.
Strong Start GO! Mobile Pre-K Academy
The city of Las Vegas Strong Start GO! Mobile Pre-K Academy provides families in underserved communities with a unique opportunity to attend a high-quality early learning program in their neighborhood. Standard RVs are transformed into mobile preschool classrooms complete with a restroom, learning centers and traditional preschool furniture and equipment. We bring pre-schools to communities. Strong Start GO! Mobile Pre-K Academies offer half-day preschool programs for children ages 3-5 and focus on the academic, socialemotional and physical development of each child in addition to providing families with opportunities to engage in their child’s learning. The Strong Start GO! Team is in the process of adding additional mobile pre-k programs, which will increase capacity.
For more information and program registration, please visit www.lasvegasnevada.gov/strongstart.
Strong Schools
ReInvent Schools Las Vegas (RSLV)
Launched in 2016, RSLV is a collaboration between the city of Las Vegas; the Clark County School District; University of Nevada, Las Vegas; local businesses and non-profit organizations to improve outcomes for the Las Vegas community. Using the full-service community schools model, the RSLV focus is to provide out-of-school learning opportunities, academic enrichment, student socialemotional support, improved family partnership and community engagement. RSLV provides highquality, evidence-based programs that strive to promote optimal student outcomes. AmeriCorps members provide services to address students’ chronic absenteeism, provide academic support and/ or social-emotional interventions, as well as physical activity and nutrition curriculum programming.
ReInvent After-school Program (RAP)
RAP is comprised of Clark County School District students in elementary grades K-5 at seven identified school sites. RAP, funded by the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant, offers students a broad array of support services and activities before-and-after school, at no cost to families. RAP is designed to reinforce and complement in-school curriculum through activities that promote student success. The seven RAP sites provide academic growth opportunities and enrichment activities, along with family engagement programming. The RAP students receive daily instruction in core subject areas as well as the opportunity to participate in enrichment activities. Daily activity examples include project-based learning, learning through literature and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) curriculum.
Safekey
Safekey is a before-and after-school youth enrichment program offered at Clark County School District elementary schools within the city of
Las Vegas. It is designed for children attending kindergarten through fifth grade. Safekey is a fee-based program offering enrichment activities for any interest–including physical fitness, nutrition education, Reader’s Theater, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) activities, homework time and a healthy afternoon snack. Safekey accepts thirdparty childcare subsidy assistance. For more information and program registration, please visit w ww.lasvegasnevada.gov/safekey.
Batteries Included (BI)
BI represents a unique collaboration between the city and the Clark County School District. Through after-school programs focused on leadership, community service, career planning and college preparation, high school students develop a deeper understanding of self and compassion for others as they grow into responsible global citizens. Similar in scope, the Batteries Included NextGen program empowers middle school students to achieve their academic goals and develop their social and emotional capabilities.
Strong Start Academy Elementary School (SSAES)
SSAES at the Tony Hsieh Education Center is a nonprofit charter school that opened in August 2022 offering kindergarten through second grade. The nonprofit was granted a charter by the Nevada State Public Charter School Authority and will ultimately offer kindergarten through fifth grade by 2025. The educational model of the school is a duallanguage immersion, bilingual education in English and Spanish. The communities that the school aims to serve are traditionally and significantly underserved populations with students attending 1-star and 2-star schools. For more information or to enroll, please visit www.clvstrongstartes.org.
Strong Future
Strong Future Youth Employment Program (SFYEP)
SFYEP is a workforce development program for young adults ages 16-24 that serves as a bridge between young people seeking employment and the business community seeking employees thus providing a robust workforce development pipeline for youth. The program trains, certifies and employs young adults. These young adults will have the support of instructors, job coaches and other wrap-around services through the process of completing their credential(s). The program will lead to meaningful employment with sustainable wages. The program provides a platform for equitable opportunities in career exploration and choice that improves quality of life. Additionally, SFYEP offers an earn-and-learn platform for young adults. The program also helps with clothing for interviews by way of the Career Closet located on the Historic Westside School Campus.
Strong Future Technology Training Center (SFTTC)
SFTTC at the Historic Westside School Campus is a training center that has opened the door for opportunities to engage youth and adults with the ability to gain skills in technologies that prepare them for in-demand tech careers. The center is a strong education-to-work pipeline that will add immeasurable value to the city’s economy. Through work-based training, participants will receive certifications or stackable credentials in the five technology areas: Coding, App Development, E-Sports, Video Game Production (including music technology and design) and Cybersecurity.
Strong Future Career Connections Center (SFCCC)
SFCCC is an integrated community services center empowering career seekers, businesses and the Las Vegas community to success through partnerships,
resources and training. Career seekers can receive employment services such as occupational skills training, career coaching and assessment and work supports. Businesses can receive assistance with business development and planning, licensing support, printing and broadband assistance. Community members can receive connections to assistance in the areas of housing, food, childcare, clothing, health and financial literacy. The center also serves as a connection point for several of the city of Las Vegas’s signature Youth Development and Social Initiatives Programs: the Strong Future Youth Employment Program, the Strong Future Adult Employment Program, Business of Success and Sustainability (B.O.S.S.) Program and Youth Entrepreneurial Success (Y.E.S.) Program.
Strong Future Adult Employment Program (SFAEP)
SFAEP provides targeted support and resources to adults seeking career opportunities.
With a commitment to livable wages and long term employment, the program provides workforce development services designed to empower career seekers through new skills, resources and employment opportunities. Our program services include occupational skills training, work supports, employment placement assistance and broadband support. Career seekers can also participate in an array of soft skills training on topics such as interviewing skills, resume writing, financial literacy, networking, personal branding, effective communication, professional writing, basic computer skills and entrepreneurship. Moreover, through partnerships with the Nevada System of Higher Education, the public workforce system, employers and others, the program connects adult career seekers to long-term livable wage employment throughout the valley.
Strong Community
Mayor’s Faith Initiative
Las Vegas valley houses of worship work with city leaders to help change the city through faith in action. These faith leaders collaborate with law enforcement, non-profits and residents to tackle some of our community’s most pressing challenges such as addressing homelessness, providing family supports, ending human trafficking and promoting mental health and substance abuse services.
Las Vegas My Brother’s Keeper (MBK)
The Las Vegas MBK Alliance increases access to opportunity and improves life outcomes for young men of color in our community through a unique cross-sector collaboration between the city of Las Vegas, Clark County Department of Juvenile Justice Services and the Clark County School District. The alliance operates three task forces- Educational Equity, Community Engagement and Law Enforcement, that influence policy and take collaborative action.
Little Free Libraries
The Little Free Library Initiative began as a part of the city’s commitment to academic achievement with an emphasis on youth literacy. With the support of our community partners, we have installed several Little Free Libraries within our community and will continue to add additional locations. Little Free Libraries play an essential role by providing 24/7 access to books and encouraging a love of reading in areas where books are scarce. In addition, this initiative also encourages community engagement by calling on community members to take a book or share a book with their neighbors.
Youth Neighborhood Association Partnership Program (YNAPP)
Through YNAPP, youth from ages 8 to 18 implement projects that meet a pressing need and have the potential to positively influence their neighbors’ lives. YNAPP offers grants of up to $2,000 to youth for the creation of projects using their own design. Recipients gain skills in public speaking, project management, budgeting, team work, resource acquisition and disbursement.
Harbor Juvenile Assessment Center
The Harbor Juvenile Assessment Center, administered by Clark County Juvenile Justice Services, provides a safe place for youth and families, addressing their immediate and ongoing needs. Several community
partners including the city of Las Vegas are housed under one roof, offering a variety of training, counseling and supportive services.
AmeriCorps VISTA and AmeriCorps State and National AmeriCorps is a federal agency that engages more than 250,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet critical community needs. The city of Las Vegas is a proud sponsor of two initiatives- AmeriCorps VISTA and AmeriCorps State and National. Serving with an AmeriCorps program puts participants in an environment that propels personal development, opens diverse career paths and promotes lifelong civic engagement.
Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) is an anti-poverty program designed to provide needed resources to public agencies to increase their capacity to lift communities out of poverty. The city of Las Vegas AmeriCorps VISTA program provides service opportunities for Americans 18 years or older in the areas of Neighborhood Revitalization, Veteran Services, Environmental Stewardship and Education.
AmeriCorps State and National, the largest of the AmeriCorps programs, seeks to prioritize the investment of national service resources in evidenceinformed interventions and practices to strengthen communities through direct and indirect service.
Community Revitalization
YDSI supports the city’s community revitalization efforts by providing targeted programs designed to meet the unique needs of each neighborhood across Las Vegas. YDSI works with other city departments to understand the opportunities and challenges of each distinctive community and supports collective efforts to invest in youth and families from birth, establishing infrastructure to ensure access to education and ultimately to employment.
LGBTQIA+
As a part of the city’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, YDSI works to ensure that there are inclusive opportunities for Las Vegas residents and allies of the LGBTQIA+ community. It is our goal to ensure that individuals of diverse backgrounds and experiences can lend their voices, which helps greatly improve our community as a whole. The city’s efforts provide inclusive programming and services, amplifying work that promotes positive and sustainable practices and support for visibility and acceptance for members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
The Department of Youth Development and Social Initiatives is committed to ensuring that all community members–from early learners to job seekers–can access programs and resources that prepare them for the future.
Learn more about YDSI’s innovative approach and the programs that empower all residents to prepare for the future–so that we all can thrive.
On The Web
www.lasvegasnevada.gov/YDSI
