We can’t believe we have already reached the end of our after-school program! We ended the 10-month, free After-School program, with just under 500 registered members! On Friday, May 29th, everyone at the MYC celebrated the year with a massive party! Over 130 members enjoyed a bounce house, face paint, photo booth, games, popsicles, raffles, youth superlatives and our senior staff send off! Even though we are sad to see our members go for the summer, it is time to prepare for Summer Camp! We really value your input so please take a couple minutes to complete this quick survey here about our programs, along with space to offer suggestions and an inquiry about volunteer opportunities. If you have any questions, please email Program Coordinator, Joanna Abrantes, at jabrantes@milfordma.gov.
Our Life Skills program continues in its 4th year in honor of our former board member Ron Taylor. The Life Skills program is meant to teach our youth skills that can carry them into their adult years. This year, we had woodworking, CPR, the Attorney General’s Office, Prudential with financial guidance for teens, LEGO Creator Workshop, and more. These life skill programs have been informative, helpful, and successful. Some health and fitness programs, in collaboration with UMass Memorial Health with Milford Regional Medical Center, were FitFun with Carly, basketball skills run by Coach Aaron Anniballi with We All Hoop, and our weight room along with PT staff Victor Canino.
Youth also enjoyed soccer, volleyball, pickleball, dodgeball and our game room. This year we brought back our Volleyball Tournament, 3v3 Queen of the Court Tournament and our staple March Madness Tournament. We also introduced two new tournaments, Ping Pong and the MYC Cup Soccer Tournament! The MYC staff also led arts and craft programs. Part time staff led the Putting Golf Challenge and learned the basics of stance and patience! Milford TV came in and taught the kids how to use the equipment, interview skills, and filmed improv skits complete with green screen and editing. They also worked on a new Rules video for the 2026-2027 after-school program. Phyllis and members of Green Leaf Gardening led monthly projects and are helping to maintain our indoor garden tower and plants! Brian Bell has been consistent in his weekly boxing program teaching the kids more each year. Vicky has taught the kids the sewing basics all while making amazing projects! Dr. Gilmore has been teaching fishing skills weekly in the warmer months. New in 2026, we introduced a program called Mindful Movement, run by a new volunteer.
The Cornerstone Intergenerational program continued with their staff and residents joining the MYC youth monthly craft. Because the MYC was able to purchase our van, we were also able to visit them at Cornerstone every other month to play Bingo with the residents, which the youth and Seniors loved! This program allowed the seniors and the youth to spend time together with MYC staff. Our popular cooking program continued with volunteer, Pam who came in monthly with the help of others and made a meal from scratch with the kids. The kids were able to prep, cook and eat it together.
The MYC Youth Council, a leadership and community service-based group, was created to encourage MYC members to help make a difference in the community through facilitating several youth community events as well as taking part in volunteer opportunities such as the craft fair at the high school, the Santa Parade, the Halloween event, the Thanksgiving event and more! They also participated in the Veterans Day Parade where 2 of our Youth Council members read the names of veterans that were being honored at the celebration portion of the event. This year they collected winter socks and undergarments for a charitable cause and held a collection of gently used blankets and sheets for the primates at Southwick Zoo. Together they also put their permanent handprints on a painted trash can which will forever be in Ron’s Workshop and together, many Youth Council members, youth and staff worked together and helped to clean the neighborhood around the Center on Milford Beautification Day. There are so many benefits to being a member of the MYC Youth Council; leadership, volunteering and contributing to the community, just to name a few.
The Social Emotional program is run monthly and is designed to help our youth learn about and manage their emotions and interactions with others and build the core social and emotional competencies including self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, social awareness, and relationship skills need to succeed in school and thrive in life. This program is made possible by a $6,400 Community Grant from the Greater Milford Community Health Network (CHNA-6).
S.T.E.A.M is a monthly program which gives the opportunity to do a hands-on activity involving science, technology, engineering, art, and math all while using the curriculum funded by a grant from the Milford Cultural Council! This year, they built bridges using only popsicle sticks and glue to see whose could sustain the most weight. They made candles and so much more.
The kids also got the opportunity to “Escape the MYC” in our own escape room, Case File Hollow Hurst, Halloween edition! It has been an immense pleasure for the MYC staff to have coordinated and completed original programs and some with additives along with brand-new programs!
This year we had many returning volunteers and the pleasure of meeting new volunteers. The Milford Youth Center values, respects and admires our volunteers. The following is a list of volunteers who have run a specific program or helped in the after-school program. We’d like to thank Phyllis Foley, Earl Wilson, Judy Tusino, Frances Stone, Gail Jussuame, Patsy Timmons, Dr. Gilmore, Chrissy Ferrucci, John and Darlene Dulude, Dorothy Burley, James Brevigleiri, Brian Bell, William Farrell, Pamela Hunter, Pamela Goldman, Mike Gillis, Vicki Parabicoli, Patricia Lee, Kristin Pliakas, Teddi Webber, Val Tessicini, Lauren Woodbury, Meagan Butler, Catie Delaney, Lucia Miller, Brent Dewitt, Vinay Mannam, Michelle Morais, Ron Auger, Aaron Anniballi, Jose Abrantes, Allie Stienstra, Rebecca Saber, Emily Gay, and everyone or any business that helped, or donated during our Thanksgiving, Halloween and Fundraising events. Together, our amazing 119 volunteers have given over 240 hours to the youth at the Milford Youth Center. We are humbled by your generosity. We cannot wait to collaborate with you all again in the fall!
Among the after-school programs, there are specific leaders who have come to the Youth Center to provide a lesson in their expertise. Among these outside service members there are Attorney General’s Office, Cornerstone of Milford, and Milford TV.
We also want to extend a big thank you to our part-time staff; David, Diane, Arthur, Jack, Julya, Rishab, Jazzy, Anthony, Gus, Brody, Maddie, Guy, Antoniyo, Chloee, Miguel, Addison, Ava, Sarah, Demetrius, Lorella, Victor, Cam, Diego, Yamileth, Fola, Nara and Manny. You are all valued as individuals, in your work ethic, your love for children and for the Youth Center. Your hard work and dedication are what helps us to make the after-school program possible. For that, we thank you. To our graduating senior staff, Jack, Anthony, Sarah, Yamileth, Nara, Brody, Chloee, Fola, Diego, Gus 
and rental staff Sonny, congratulations, we wish you all health and happiness and a great adventure ahead. We look forward to working with you this summer and awaiting your college vacations for your return!