Celebrate our 50th ANNIVERSARY with us!

The winning song in our 50th Anniversary Survey is  Rise Up - Andra Day

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 50 FACES for 50 YEARS ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The WPYB celebrates those who have made the White Plains Youth Bureau what it is today.

Please meet some of our 50th Anniversary Celebrants:

Maurice Johnson

My time at the White Plains Youth Bureau was a definite integral part of my life. I was part of a program that exposed me to various things through field trips and college tours that showed me that life is much different outside of my home circumstances. I started with the Reach for Success program, and then ended up in the Great Potential program with Sheila Foley. I’ve also obtained my summer jobs through the Youth Bureau where I was able to learn my strengths and weaknesses. I felt like I was able to be myself and not be impacted by judgment so much.
         Being involved with the WPYB led me to so many things that have been applicable to my life today. I’ve met key influential people, made and cultivated some lifelong friendships, developed skill sets that have been very useful and, most importantly, I was able to lay the foundation to what is now my current line of work as a fitness professional and motivational speaker. As a 17-year veteran in the fitness industry, I have been invited to teach my class, as well as speak for at schools and present at community events and fitness conferences. The Youth Bureau gave me access to life-applicable skills. They came up with real-life scenarios to teach us the ramifications of making poor decisions; they celebrated our hidden talents by giving us opportunities to showcase them on occasion. They kept it real with us and gave us the “pond” for us to drink from. The Youth Bureau is an organization I have been proud of belonging to. Elevation starts with the youth and the WPYB have been cultivating it for the past 50 years. Being involved with the WPYB led me to so many things that have been applicable to my life today. I’ve met key influential people, made and cultivated some lifelong friendships, developed skill sets that have been very useful and, most importantly, I was able to lay the foundation to what is now my current line of work as a fitness professional and motivational speaker. As a 17-year veteran in the fitness industry, I have been invited to teach my class, as well as speak for at schools and present at community events and fitness conferences.
         The Youth Bureau gave me access to life-applicable skills. They came up with real-life scenarios to teach us the ramifications of making poor decisions; they celebrated our hidden talents by giving us opportunities to showcase them on occasion. They kept it real with us and gave us the “pond” for us to drink from. The Youth Bureau is an organization I have been proud of belonging to. Elevation starts with the youth and the WPYB have been cultivating it for the past 50 years. 

Maria A. Lampley

I was born in the Bronx, NY and attended the White Plains public school system.  During my middle and high school years, I participated in numerous scholastic activities, clubs and track and field.
         During my middle school years and teenage development, I began to go off course of positivity-resulting in my grades slipping and I struggled to get along with my parents and their rules.  My father tried various approaches and was able to introduce me to the White Plains Youth Bureau which I am eternally grateful to for the new family and friends I gained from the positive structure of this group.  I worked very closely with Mr. Frank Williams and Sheila Foley-who to this day have been mentors to me, and I feel I have forged life long bonds with these two who always believed in me.
         During the course of my life I faced many hardships.  I became a teenage mom to two daughters but I did have help from peer and mentor groups I participated in.  I was able to complete high school early in 1997 and went on to college and eventually earned an Associate’s Degree in Computer Applications Management. My two daughters grew up and attended the White Plains public school system and when they became of age, I couldn’t wait to introduce them to Ms. Foley. Both of my girls participated in various Youth Bureau and I can’t wait for my son to follow in our footsteps as well.
         In 2004 I entered the New York City Police Academy and today I have 15½ years under my belt. I thank the Youth Bureau for standing by my side all these years!  You may never truly know how much of a positive influence you had in my life! 

Jessica McKenzie

There’s little more rewarding than when a former Youth Bureau kid “comes home” to give back. When alumna Jessica McKenzie ran into Executive Director Frank Williams at a recent event, she wasn’t sure at first that she recognized him – it had been 13 years since she’d last seem him as a high schooler enrolled in the Youth Bureaus Youth Employment program. The summer before her senior year of high school, the Youth Bureau helped Jessica get a job at the White Plains YMCA, and she says it was the springboard that launched her professional career. Today, she is the Director of Internal and Executive Communications at PepsiCo Beverages North America.
         “The Youth Bureau empowered me not to feel disadvantaged by my circumstances,” Jessica said. “That first job helped me establish a good work ethic, exposed me to local community leaders, and taught me to value and nurture long-term relationships.” 
         Now, Jessica is committed to helping the Youth Bureau provide that same spark for other young people, and recently spearheaded a full-day mentoring event entitled Pathways to Leadership Program: Turning Your Passion into Purpose. Sixty youth met with professionals, learned interview techniques, and had the opportunity to be a marketer for the day by creating their own taglines for a PepsiCo product. “It was definitely a full circle moment, and I’m so grateful to give back to the organization that gave me my start in the workforce,” said Jessica. 

You can read even more about our 50 fabulous people by clicking below: