About

Our Mission

Community Youth Concepts’ mission is to engage and connect Iowa students through youth development programming and to provide coaching, training, and technical assistance in best practices to youth-serving non-profits.

Our Vision

Community Youth Concepts’ vision is an Iowa where all youth have access to high-quality opportunities that prepare them for success in school, work, and life.

Our Philosophy

Founded in 2008 by Amy Ostrander Croll and Lynette Marchant, Community Youth Concepts (CYC) is a mission driven organization based in Des Moines, Iowa.  By promoting the use of positive youth development principals and best practices, CYC provides volunteer service opportunities and career-based mentoring to Iowa youth in order to improve their future successes as students, professionals, and active community members.

Our Guiding Principals

  • We respond to and address the needs of youth and the community.
  • We operate according to best practices and share them with others through effective training and technical assistance models.
  • We include youth whenever possible in the decision-making process.
  • We assess all programs we provide on a regular and ongoing basis, incorporating a continuous improvement process based on sound data.
  • We are cognizant of our fiscal responsibilities and are good stewards of our funds.

We invite you in to see how CYC is different and encourage you to consider how you want to be part of our youth development movement.

Chrysalis Foundation
Des Moines Arts Festival
EAT Greater Des Moines
Food Bank of Iowa (USDA Nondiscrimination Compliant) This institution is an equal opportunity provider
Iowa Afterschool Alliance
Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service
Iowa Department of Health and Human Services
Medina Foundation
Mid-Iowa Health Foundation
Polk County Health Department
Prevent Child Abuse Iowa
United Way of Central Iowa

 

David P. Weikert Center for Youth Program Quality
Experiential Systems, Inc.
Forum for Youth Investment
Wyman Center, Inc.

21st Century Community Learning Center
Des Moines Public Schools
Drake College
Grandview University
Saydel Community Schools
University of Iowa Masters of Social Work Program
Urbandale Community School District
West Des Moines Community School District

I love the ability to engage in leadership opportunities while helping my community and making a difference in someone’s life!  I like that they offer so many different opportunities to become successful in life!

- CYC Student -

Annual Report

To learn more about Community Youth Concepts, including a breakdown of our financials and a complete list of our donors, please check out our most recent annual report.

Learn More