About Us
About Us
Expressions Youth Center is a reentry program that offers supporting services for youth transitioning out of foster care and juvenile detention facilities a safe, temporary residence as they reenter into society. We at Expression Youth Center are an innovative grassroots transitional housing program that helps with the needs of young adults in Houston and the surrounding area. Expressions offer preparatory programs for youths from the age of 18-25 years old with the resources and freedom to help prepare them to be self-sufficient in today’s living. We provide programs that promote overall physical and spiritual wellness through our skilled, diligent, and trustworthy instructors. We give each student the tools they need to prosper and succeed.
We at E.Y.C. offer a launching point for many teenagers and young adults by helping them move from homelessness or Juvenile detention facility to self- sufficiency. E.Y.C. transitional living, serve as a place for youth to have an independent life while slowly reentering back into society, using the resources and tools gained at Expression Youth Center.
Our Story
E.Y.C. was founded in Houston, Texas, as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization by Natika Weston, a single parent of 4 children whose children were constantly brought over-burdened and homeless classmates home for their mother to assist. She became even more inspired as a bus driver for Houston Metro Transit Authority, where she saw and experienced many young adults sleeping at bus stop shelters. That is when she realized that she had to help the teens with more than just giving money and food; she had to try to help build a bridge of transition from homeless to self-sufficient. Expression Youth Center was also help young adults in juvenile detention facilities. Natika, has help others who was placed in the juvenile justice system in their hometown and needed a home to transition to after being released back into the community. With the help and resources that Natika and other people provided to the young adult, he successfully transitioned back into society with job training and an apartment and accomplished some short-term goals, along with being free of burden and not becoming a burden to society again.
Mission Statement
E.Y.C. believes in the African Proverb “Each One, Teach One,” but here at E.Y.C., we believe in “Each One, Reach One, because our mission at E.Y.C. is to engage, empower, and support these youth in gaining the skills and experience needed to become self-sufficient adults. The E.Y.C. is a Resource Center where the youth can come to receive basic-needs services, plan their path to self-sufficiency with the help of qualified Counselors, and be connected with the support services provided by Expressions Youth Center.