Founders

Dwight Young

Stephanie Young

Our Founders

What started as after school activities and mentoring at west side middle and high schools formally launched as BLOC in 1998. The emphasis was serving students who’d ‘fallen between the cracks.’ These students weren’t involved in positive after school pursuits, struggled with school, lacked strong role models and were at high risk of dropout or involvement in juvenile crime. BLOC began offering alternatives to help resist risky behavior that could lead to juvenile delinquency by offering meaningful relationships with safe adults and activities like recreational sports, games and academic support. Before long, founders Dwight and Stephanie Young added family support services and counseling, being an extra liaison with probation for court-involved youth and assisting them in having opportunities to meet their probation requirements. In 2004, BLOC expanded programs into Price Hill due to the depth of needs that were underserved or unserved. Our model for success includes staff trained in urban culture and committed to living where they serve, to be personally invested and also be available at times of crisis or high need. In recent years, BLOC has responded to more under-met needs by creating addiction recovery programs and supports for women and men coming out of incarceration. We have also built small businesses in Price Hill to train these hard-to-employ teens and adults. BLOC’s programs are engaging avenues that enrich, educate and strengthen urban students and adults.

BLOC Ministries works one-to-one to break cycles of poverty and hopelessness. Our mission is “building relationships with our neighbors and sharing hope in brokenness.” Our focus is providing vulnerable students, adults and families with safe, positive connections through mentoring, safe peer relations and through programs that increase patterns and skills for holistic health and life success.