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Latin American Youth Center outlines food, housing and AmeriCorps programs for PG County youth
Summary
Jonathan Zavala of the Latin American Youth Center told the Forest Heights council that the Riverdale/Prince George's County site offers monthly food banks, diaper distributions, after‑school and AmeriCorps internship programs, and a host‑family placement program for homeless youth aged 12–17.
Jonathan Zavala, outreach worker for the Riverdale site of the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC/Maryland Multicultural Youth Center), gave a brief presentation to the Forest Heights mayor and council on April 15 describing services the nonprofit makes available to young people and families in Prince George’s County and the broader DC metro area.
LAYC programs described Zavala said the Riverdale site provides a monthly food bank on the fourth Friday of each month (12:00–1:30 p.m.) open to anyone who can come to the site, plus a diaper distribution on the third Friday (10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.). He described education programs run through AmeriCorps for students at Buck Lodge Middle School, William White Middle School and High Point High School, and said the AmeriCorps placement includes a paid internship and an education award (ranging from $3,000 to $6,000, based on hours and status).
Housing and host‑family program Zavala said his housing team works with homeless youth ages 12–24 and described a "Wholesomes" host‑family placement program for minors 12–17 who cannot access traditional shelters without parental consent. He said families in the host‑family program are background‑checked by LAYC and DHS and that the placement is temporary (up to 21 days) with reunification as the goal.
Outreach and materials Zavala said LAYC performs in‑person street outreach, school visits, tabling and presentations, and that the Riverdale site has two outreach workers. He left flyers and referral forms for the town and volunteered to provide digital resources for council distribution.
Why this matters: The presentation highlights services available to youth and families in Prince George’s County — food, diapers, education programs, and a temporary host‑family option for homeless minors — and signals potential referral pathways for Forest Heights residents.
Representative quote: "This program does not...take away custody of the youth from the parents. This is strictly a temporary placement, and the end goal is always reunification." — Jonathan Zavala, Latin American Youth Center
Ending: Council thanked Zavala and suggested opportunities for outreach in Forest Heights; staff will accept flyers and referral forms for distribution to residents.
