Our Mission Fostered youth emerge from the foster care system vulnerable to substance abuse with little opportunity to obtain higher education and/or develop life skills. The Center for Urban Youth and Family Development empowers youth that are in and are transitioning out of the foster care system to overcome the struggles and challenges by providing them substance abuse prevention, life skills training, and workforce development programs. Drawing from the life experiences of our founder, Mr. Marsialle Arbuckle, we open the door to a positive and productive life through education, health, and life skills development. Our Vision We envision a community where foster children emerge from the system with equal opportunities in education, health, and career. Through our Step-Beyond Program, fostered youth gain valuable tools for approaching their futures with confidence, self-discipline, and a positive attitude. Fostered youth are instilled with the value of hard work and make healthy life decisions informed by spiritual, social, intellectual, and emotional awareness. We believe that character, scholarship, uplift, and perseverance, combined with friendship, love and truth, will lead to peace, happiness and prosperity. Through our three-pronged approach of working with foster youth, health care advocacy, and community activism; we envisage strong and healthy communities governed by good public policies, which are not only essential for youth transitioning from foster care to flourish, but for all youth transitioning into adulthood.