Welcome to Urban Youth Development
Urban Youth Development was initially founded in 2011, as Jeaneen West & Associates, LLC. Urban Youth Development is a youth services technical assistance provider supporting community-based organizations across the nation dedicated to inspiring success in the lives of youth and young adults. Our foundation focused on career development and life skills programs management and has evolved into a menu of youth services.
We have subject matter experts ready to assist you in growing your organization, expanding your programming or strengthening your teams’ skills. Our founder Jeaneen West has over 28 years of experience working with urban youth programs and a professional team of experts ready to help you!
Mission
Urban Youth Development champions the training and development of youth across underserved communities to yield strong, vibrant, diverse and self-sufficient future leaders of tomorrow. By providing organizations focused on community-based programs with the tools they need, we provide our young adults a pathway to the success they deserve.
Vision
We will be a leader in youth services in the United States. We will be the technical assistance provider of choice for our customers delivering results through impact and proven outcomes to transform the lives of youth and young adults.
Mrs. West has been steadfast in her unwavering commitment to uplifting underserved youth. Her passion is rooted from growing up in Los Angeles, CA and benefiting from community youth programming. She went on to graduate from Fisk University in Nashville, TN with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Management.
Mrs. West began her journey, not only as a volunteer working directly in youth programs, but went on to start the Alliance for Youth Empowerment a 501c3. For seven years the Alliance provided 2500 underserved teens in South Florida career exploration, personal development training and college prep resources. Additionally, Mrs. West has worked in sales and marketing for SIEMENS a technology leader and with leading non-profit organizations overseeing and implementing federal, State and local community-based programs.
By 2011, Mrs. West decided to couple her executive business experience with her passion for serving underserved youth and start a Technical Assistance Consulting Services business to assist organizations focused on community-based programs -Jeaneen West & Associates, LLC. (JWA)
Over the past ten years, Mrs. West has provided innovative, tailored and strategic services for organizations across South Florida and the United States, partners include; SPady Cultural Heritage Museum in Delray Beach, Department of Labor/YouthBuild USA, Milagro Center in Delray Beach, Urban League of Broward County, Urban League of Palm Beach, the former Tomorrow’s Promise Community School, City of Hallandale Beach, City of Delray Beach, and KOP Mentoring Network in Delray Beach.
As a Technical Assistance Consultant on behalf of her partners, Mrs. West has contributed to grant funding and program creation with funders such as; United Way of Palm Beach County, The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, Impact 100 Palm Beach County, Children’s Services Council Palm Beach County, 4 Girls Foundation, Best Buy Foundation, and Palm Beach County Youth Services Department.
In 2021, JWA became Urban Youth Development with a targeted focus on being architects for organizations focused on community-based programs providing needed expertise to help youth and young adults create a pathway to success. Mrs. West partners with organizations not only in South Florida but across the United States bringing her unique and diverse approach as a thought-partner to help organizations reach their maximum potential.
Mrs. West has been recognized for her dedication to program ideation and development for helping underserved youth and young adults. Her work has been recognized on segments of WSVN, she has been featured in the Sun-Sentinel, recognized as a “Rising Leader” by The Women’s Foundation of Florida in 2017 and a recipient of the City of Delray Beach Leadership Delray. In her spare time, Jeaneen continues to volunteer in her community and enjoys spending quality time with her amazing two sons and wonderful husband.
Our Partners
Urban Youth Development, led by Jeaneen West, has enabled my organization to position itself in the appropriate niche that supports disadvantaged youth in my community, the majority of whom are black. Jeaneen West is the best thought-partner you can have in program development. Her experience will be invaluable in program management, recruiting appropriate stakeholders and identifying resources that will support your program.
Charlene Farrington, Executive Director, Spady Cultural Heritage Museum
Courtnee Biscardi VP of Programs
Broward County Urban League
“Jeaneen has an incredible understanding of the corevalues and mission of the Urban League and is able to translate that understanding into tangible buy-in for which employers want to alignthemselves.”
“Jeaneen provides outstanding workshops and is really in tune with the industry changes which brings real world knowledge and expertise to the classroom. She represents the Urban League of Broward County well.”
Vernon,
Broward County Minority Builders
“Jeaneen, your professionalism, knowledge, and commitment to putting our community back to work came across like rockets.Your insight into the job market and its latest trends will serve as a lift off in our campaign to put our community back to work…”
KOP Mentoring,
CEO C, Ron Allen
“I’ve worked with a lot of trainers and facilitators and Jeaneen is by far one of the best. She has a knack for working with young people and getting the best out of them. Her sessions are highly motivating and her advice can be put into practice immediately and show results.”
Charlene Farrington
Executive Director, Spady Cultural Heritage Museum
“… Urban Youth Development, led by Jeaneen West, has enabled my organization to position itself in the appropriate niche that supports disadvantaged youth in my community, the majority of whom are black. Jeaneen West is the best thought-partner you can have in program development. Her experience will be invaluable in program management, recruiting appropriate stakeholders and identifying resources that will support your program.”
Barbara J. Stark,
President & CEO, Milagro Center
“Ms. West has both strengthened our existing youth programs by building structure and accountability, and has been vital to the development of new youth-oriented programs meeting emerging needs for Milagro Center’s middle school and high school youth.
Ms. West develops intelligent strategic ideas which translate into innovative programs that have positive impacts on our youth and reportable outcomes that consistently exceed the expectations of our stakeholders and funders.”
Courtnee Biscardi VP of Programs,
Broward County Urban League
“Jeaneen has an incredible understanding of the core values and mission of the Urban League and is able to translate that understanding into tangible buy-in for which employers want to align themselves.”
“Jeaneen provides outstanding workshops and is really in tune with the industry changes which brings real world knowledge and expertise to the classroom. She represents the Urban League of Broward County well.”
Marjorie W. former Principal,
Tomorrow’s Promise Community School
“Ms. West is able to tailor her services to meet the specific needs of my clients. She is able to match individual client needs with resources in the community creating a positive experience for everyone involved. She demonstrates strong ability to build community partnerships. Jeaneen’s integrity ensures that you will achieve the goals you set; her passion and compassion allow her to work with a diverse group of people very effectively.”
Dr. Miya Stewart, M.D.
Stewart & Associates, Inc.
“thanking you genuinely for your team and your unwavering support shown for the Hallandale Opportunity Project (HOP)…you have been passionate about the program but more importantly you have demonstrated compassion for those that the program seeks to empower, residents of the City of Hallandale Beach.”