Where young people grow, lead, and find their voice.
From first graders to young adults, we provide spaces where young people can learn, explore, lead, and dream big.
Youth mentoring youth — the people who guide our students today often started in these same programs.
Communities lifting each other up — every program is rooted in the neighborhoods our students come from.
Built by people who've lived the journey themselves — not designed from the outside looking in.
A pipeline from first grade through young adulthood
AceZone
Grades 1–8Youth In Charge
Grades 9–12YICx
Ages 19–30
A safe space to explore, create, and grow.
Year-round, after school and summer.
AceZone is where it all begins. Our after-school and summer programs blend academic skill development, social-emotional learning, leadership, enrichment, and wellness. Our team — many of whom grew up in these neighborhoods — works alongside students to discover their untapped potential together.
Areas of Focus
- Academic skill development
- Social-emotional growth
- Teamwork and leadership
- Enrichment through arts, STEM, and culture
- Wellness and healthy habits
Youth Walk Away With
- Confidence in their learning and abilities
- Tools to manage emotions, build empathy, solve problems
- Early leadership and teamwork experience
- Exposure to creativity, curiosity, and new interests
- Foundations for healthy, balanced living
Find your voice. Lead your community.
Founded 2011, by Somali youth — for youth.
By high school, students are ready to step into leadership — that's where YIC comes in. Founded as "Why I See," YIC began as a way to counter negative stereotypes and amplify African youth voices. Today it's a youth-driven, immigrant-led program where teens speak up, take action, and lead change in their schools and neighborhoods.
Areas of Focus
- College, career, and life readiness
- Civic engagement and leadership
- Social-emotional learning
- Workforce development (internships, entrepreneurship)
- Community organizing and facilitation
Youth Walk Away With
- Leadership and public speaking skills
- Civic awareness and social issue understanding
- Confidence in identity, voice, and self-expression
- Career readiness and internship/entrepreneurship experience
- Experience mentoring younger students
A space to create, grow, and close the wealth gap.
Launched 2024, for young adults.
Seeing a gap for young adults, we launched YICx to provide a space to learn, grow, and support one another. YICx helps participants turn ideas into thriving businesses — we guide them to register their business, build a plan, and work with them for a full year to launch successfully. Beyond business skills, we emphasize how their work can uplift the community, not just themselves.
Areas of Focus
- Entrepreneurship and business development
- Professional skills and career readiness
- Financial literacy and economic empowerment
- Mentorship and community impact
Participants Walk Away With
- Real-world experience launching and growing a business
- A full business plan and year-long support to execute it
- Mentorship, professional networks, community connections
Academics, leadership, enrichment, and civic engagement — together.
Across AceZone and YIC, our youth are actively involved in shaping curriculum, driving workshops, and planning programs that reflect their interests and community needs. Our Youth Department leads initiatives throughout the year that help youth build skills, amplify marginalized voices, and see firsthand how they can make a difference.
Kids start by exploring talents. Teens step into leadership. Young adults build businesses — and become mentors themselves.
Many of our staff started in these programs as students. They know the journey, the challenges, and the possibilities — that cycle of mentorship and community leadership is what keeps ACEDONE thriving, and why our youth know they're never alone on their path to success.
Support the next generation of Boston leaders.
Gifts of $1,000+ to ACEDONE qualify for a 50% Massachusetts CITC tax credit.