BACKGROUND
In 1977, seeing the conditions that led many young people in the District of Columbia toward drug addiction and crime, boxing trainer and counselor Eugene R. Hughes established the Midtown Youth Academy (MYA). He created a program that combined the discipline of boxing with educational support, including after-school tutoring in subjects like technology, arts, and entrepreneurship. Mr. Hughes enlisted the help of dedicated volunteers to provide these transformative lessons, offering neighborhood youth a constructive, recreational outlet.
For more than 45 years, the academy was a beacon of hope and a safe haven from its home at 2206 14th Street NW. The organization's board, after a three-year revitalization initiative, concluded that relocating was in MYA's best interest. As a result, the academy moved to its current location at 5332 Georgia Avenue NW to continue its important work. Guided by the dream of its founder, the Midtown Youth Academy stands strong to continue its legacy as "A Balance in the Community".