The YMCA gives teens the opportunity to develop leadership skills through programs such as Minority Achievers, Service Learning Projects, Rites of Passage, Youth Action Council and United Way Teens’ Way.


Minority Achievers serves teens ages 13 through 18. The program offers ACT/SAT preparation courses as well as a career interest survey, college application and financial aid information, college tours and job shadowing opportunities. For more information, contact Raythan Smith at the W.L. Hutcherson Family YMCA: (918) 728-3954


Contact the YMCA Service Learning Center at (918) 728-3942 or info@ymcatulsa.org—to find out what cool service-learning opportunities are available at the Y.


Through the Rites of Passage/Youth Action Council program, the W.L. Hutcherson Family YMCA has committed to assisting children with their rites of passage into adulthood. Designed for children ages 11-18, this program offers a teen summer camp, service-learning projects, life skills seminars, and special volunteer opportunities with Tulsa Talks and various other Tulsa community boards and committees. For more information, contact Raythan Smith at (918) 728-3954.


The UWTW program is a student-led, cooperative program designed to help youth achieve life and leadership skills through philanthropic efforts. Governed by a core group of high school students making up the members of the Youth Action Council, the UWTW is a collaborative effort between the Tulsa Area United Way, the YMCA of Greater Tulsa, and Williams. Members of Teens’ Way work together to address the critical issues facing youth in their community by raising funds and awareness of existing community efforts to address community problems. For more information or to join, contact Taylor Kilburn at the Westside YMCA: (918) 728-3928.