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Create Your Dreams (CYD) is a long-term youth development program dedicated to nurturing the talents and dreams of children living in underserved areas of Atlanta. We provide the resources, relationships, and opportunities necessary to break the cycle of generational poverty. Unlike traditional short-term interventions, CYD utilizes a “ Fourteen-Year Promise ” approach, supporting the same young people from elementary school through post-secondary completion and early adulthood.
CYD’s purpose is for every child to graduate high school, earn a post-secondary degree, and become a self-sufficient adult who gives back to their community. Our goals center around academic achievement, social and emotional growth to ensure students have the foundational education necessary to support our purpose.
We are proud of the success of our students who have completed our program over the past three decades:
35% of our alumni who earned their bachelor’s, earned their master’s degree
The needs we address are the root causes of generational poverty . We recognize that a student cannot focus on literacy or algebra if their basic needs – housing, nutrition, and healthcare are in jeopardy. In our target community, the average family income is just $13,500, and the area remains one of the most under-resourced in Atlanta. By providing a stable “safety net” alongside high-quality academics, we allow children to move from a mindset of survival to a mindset of achievement.

Westside Stride Block Party

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Kim Dennis

Shireen West

Yasheena Zachary

Nannette Parris

Tykeria Tisinger

Marlo Herring

TatiYana Knight

🎉CYD will be representing at Atlanta’s biggest block party!!! Streets are closed to traffic, but open to FUN this Sunday, Nov. 8, from noon to 6 p.m. on Howell Mill Rd. Enjoy live music, DJs, local eats, shopping and family fun. Admission is FREE and it’s supposed to be a beautiful day, so no excuses not to come find us in Zone D! What to Expect: 🎶 Live bands and DJs along the route 🛍️ Artist & Makers Market with local vendors 🌮 Eats from neighborhood restaurants and food trucks 🎈 Bounce houses, petting zoo and family activities 🤗 Lots of fun! 🔗 westsidestride.org #WestsideStride #OneBigBlockParty #UpperWestsideATL #AtlantaStreetsAlive #AtlantaEvents

We are hosting three evenings filled with community, good food and gratitude! Hope you can join us for one of these nights from 5:30-7pm 🍂🦃🍁

Did you know that when a child joins CYD in the second grade, we make a 14-year promise to them and their family? That’s a commitment to support each student from elementary school all the way through college - providing year-round, wraparound support, mentorship, and programming every step of the way. Some call it extreme mentoring. Others call it a second home. We call it a promise 💝 And guess what??? CYD needs YOU! Please will you support the organization that shows up for students year after year, helping them navigate challenges, discover their potential, and build a future they can believe in? Please consider making a donation to CYD. Every dollar makes a difference and helps us reach our year-end goals, and, most importantly, helps us keep our 14-year promise to the students and families we serve. Their stories. Our future 💕 #TheirStoriesOurFuture #FirstGen #ExtremeMentoring #SecondHome #CYDisMagic

Create Your Dreams (CYD) is a long-term, youth development program dedicated to nurturing the talents and dreams of students living in underserved areas of Atlanta. We provide the resources, opportunitie and relationships children need to reach their full potential. Established in 1994 as a nonprofit in Atlanta, GA. To learn more visit our website at www.createyourdreams.org #youthdevelopment #extremementoring #firstgen

From elementary school through college - that’s a fourteen year commitment we make to families. We provide the resources, relationships and opportunities that children need to reach their full potential. Give today to keep CYD strong for our students 💛 #firstgen #extremementoring #welovecyd

We could show you plenty of action shots from CYD, but we think photos of folks sleeping at CYD tell a deeper story - one of safety, belonging, and love. #wegotyou #youthdevelopment

The mission of Create Your Dreams has remained steadfast since we opened our doors over thirty years ago in 1994 💛 Create Your Dreams is a long-term, youth development program dedicated to nurturing the talents and dreams of students living in underserved areas of Atlanta. Together, we’re breaking the cycle of generational poverty, one child at a time. Support our mission today by making a tax-deductible gift to CYD. Link in bio! #extremementoring #firstgen

Did you know CYD makes a fourteen year promise to families when their children join CYD in the second grade? That’s a commitment to support a child from elementary school through college. Some consider us extreme mentoring, others consider us a second home 💛 Please consider donating to CYD to ensure our students can continue to receive year-round wraparound support and programming - we can’t do it without you! Every dollar counts 🤗 #TheirStoriesOurFuture #firstgen #extremementoring #secondhome #CYDisMagic

Marcus Jones, one of our first students, speaks from his heart about the program that helped shape his life - Create Your Dreams! Please consider making a donation, we can’t do this work without You! Every dollar matters ❤️ Since we opened our doors over 30 years ago on the Westside of Atlanta, in the Bankhead community - 100% of students who completed our program graduated high school, 98% enrolled in college, and currently 80% have either earned their degree or are still enrolled. #firstgen #extremementoring #welovecyd

CYD’s Chess Club for middle school students was led by the students of WSLI (Westside Student Leadership Institute). Thank you to all the young people who came out to play! #chessnotcheckers #chessmoves

What’s better than having four of your graduates lead a campus tour at their college for younger students?! Not much! 👩🏾‍🎓🎓👨🏽‍🎓 Special thank you to Eva, Evan, Michael and Kaniya for making this magic happen!

What’s in CYD’s food pantry??? Our two sparkly Clark Atlanta University interns made these videos to showcase the current stock.

Meet some of our new students (and one returning kiddo!) jumping into their first day at CYD Summer Camp!

Meet Ajone’ and Zamariah - two of our recent college graduates! These two began their CYD journey when they were in the 3rd grade and today they are preparing for law school and a job in NYC! #firstgen #ilovecyd #secondfamily

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