Mayor's Time is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the well being of metropolitan Detroit youth through advocacy for increase investment and participation in quality after-school programs.  Studies have shown that by increasing participation in after-school programs to 50 percent, our cities will become healthier places in which to raise kids. By providing resources that parents and children need to connect them with programs in their neighborhoods, and by eliminating or reducing barriers that often impede a child's participation in after-school programs, Mayor's Time is aiming to:

1.         Inform and educate the community about the importance of after-school programs;
2.         Build and maintain partnerships with after-school program providers and organizations; and
3.         Help expand existing after-school programs and create new opportunities for programming where needed.

Mayor's Time will increase participation in after-school programs to 50 percent.

Since 1996, Mayor's Time (formerly The Youth Connection) has been leading the charge in building partnerships and collaborative relationships with program providers, schools, foundations and the corporate community. Along the way, we have learned some important lessons. First, our major challenge is to be a catalyst for change - to convince leadership that we cannot do business as usual when the business is our children. This challenge requires dialogue, patience, and persistence to appreciate all points of view in our vision. Because of the significant gains we have made in this effort and the significant challenges we are facing to realize the goal of 50 percent participation in after-school programs, the organizational structure of The Youth Connection changed. The Youth Connection became a new 501(c)(3) organization named Mayor's Time. Mayor's Time will continue to lead the effort toward increased participation in after-school programs in Detroit.

"Our goal is to leverage resources and create partnerships around prevention,” says Grenaé D. Dudley, Ph.D., Executive Director of Mayor's Time. “We seek to enhance the quantity and quality of accessible after-school programs, as research shows that most youth violence, substance abuse and early sexual activity take place between the unstructured, after-school hours of 3 - 8 p.m.”