Human Services

The ACC Youth Program

Promoting Healthy Life Choices in a Safe Environment

THE ACC YOUTH PROGRAM

We’ve designed our youth program to nurture and empower several hundred young people in the Seven Mile Area. Our facility is a safe haven for educational activities, enrichment, and recreation. The ACC youth mission is to promote responsible behavior in order to gear young people to make better choices, thrive, and improve their overall quality of life.

The ACC After School Program offers at-risk youth ages 9-17 with support and essential life skills to improve academic status, reduce risk taking behaviors and improve confidence and self-image. Our services include academic assistance, tutoring, computer skills training, service learning projects, physical education and recreation, mentoring, substance abuse prevention, and conflict resolution. We’re attentive to academic progress and areas of struggle in order to design the proper path forward for each young person within our program. These measuring tools are the ACC difference.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

The Recreational Program provides year round services daily and during the summer season. Our program attracts and engages at risk youth providing them with a safe place to be during their free time.

  • CUSTOMIZED GENDER AND AGE APPROPRIATE SESSIONS
  • ACCESS TO PARTICIPATE REGARDLESS OF SKILL LEVEL
  • CUSTOMIZED SESSIONS FOR ADVANCED AND HIGH LEVEL GROUPS
  • BASKETBALL CAMPS
  • TRAVEL BASKETBALL TEAM FOR HIGH PERFORMERS & PARTICIPATION IN STATE-WIDE COMPETITIONS
  • ACC FATHERHOOD MENTORING PROGRAM FOR AT-RISK MALES AGES 9-19
  • ONE ON ONE MENTORING
  • SOCIAL ENRICHMENT WORKSHOPS
  • MOTIVATIONAL PRESENTATIONS & SPEAKERS
  • WEEKLY FIELD TRIPS & COMMUNITY SERVICE

Virgil Philips

MEET THE DIRECTOR

Mr. Phillips is a well-known community leader who has devoted his life to working with inner city youth to ensure they live happy, healthy and successful lives. When becoming a father at the young age of 19, Virgil quickly realized that he had to be a strong male and father figure to his son. Seeing other kids and families facing loss due to violence and drugs he knew he had to be the change for not only his son but the other young boys and men in the community. Around the time his son was turning 5, approximately 40 years ago, after building small court and hoop on his property, Virgil began leading basketball practices in his backyard. He welcomed his son’s friends to come and play, eat and learn. His guidance and leadership quickly attracted the attention of other friends and families and grew to be too large for his own home. Virgil then worked with a local church, St. Rita’s Catholic Church, who was able to provide a gym and safe place. The program eventually out grew the church and the program became known as R.E.A.C.H. Legends. In 2002, Virgil met Dr. Haifa Fakhouri, at the time was in the process of developing plans for the community revitalization project on W. 7 Mile in Detroit. They quickly bonded over their shared mission to create positive change and impact, especially among youth.  In 2003, ACC opened it Youth Center and Virgil became ACC’s Youth Program Director. 20 years later ACC’s youth program provides services to over 300 at risk youth from across Detroit and surrounding areas.

Those that know Virgil know he believes in exposing kids to new experiences, showing them a better life is possible. It is both ACC and Virgil’s believe that you have to empower people to make change, you have to change the narrative and focus on the positive to encourage children while keeping them accountable. Be an example and show young people what it means and looks like to be a leader. Basketball serves as the catalyst to bring people together from all ages and backgrounds.