"Our goal is to have this organization serve as a parachute for kids who fall through the cracks."
- Doris J. Harris, Executive Director

Executive Director's Welcome Message

Welcome to the Louis E. Harris Center for Youth Development, Inc. website. Our organization was founded based on a dream Lou and I had sometime ago. We were concerned about Philadelphia's youth and young adults needing programs and services to assist them in gaining knowledge and skills to complete high school and not drop out. We also wanted a place where youth and young adults could be mentored and nurtured by caring and responsible adults.

Unfortunately, Lou passed away January 5, 2003 due to extreme complications from bladder cancer, he was 55 years old. His spirit and love for his children, grandchildren and the community's youth and young adults will never be forgotten by those who knew him. It is an honor to have started this organization and carry on his legacy.

It is my hope that you will surf our website to see all that we do and want to do. We are always in need of volunteers and donations to enhance the programs and services we offer for youth and young adults. Many thanks go to Commerce Bank and the Verizon Foundation for their contributions of furniture and a grant, respectively. While we are still developing and adding to our office space, I invite you to stop by and see what we are becoming - one of the best youth organization's serving Philadelphia's youth and young adults.

At the end of the day, our young people will be the ones who will shape the future of the city of Philadelphia; Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States of America and the rest of the world. I believe it is our responsibility as adults to provide a path and guide for them to navigate the world into which they will live. History will judge us for knowing and not doing - I hope you will be the ones our youth have been waiting for.

Our board of directors, volunteers, staff and myself thank you for visiting our website and should you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to contact me via email (doris@lehyouthcenter.org) or phone (267-285-0070) at your convenience.

Sincerely Yours,

Doris J. Harris, Executive Director
Louis E. Harris Center for Youth Development. Inc.
a Philadelphia based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization