The Hayti Heritage Center is a nationally recognized historic edifice that houses the St. Joseph’s Foundation (SJHF) in the heart of the “Bull City.”

The St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation (SJHF) was incorporated in 1975 in an area of Durham, NC, which was formerly referred to as “Black Wall Street.” St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation was formed in 1975 with the intention of preserving and giving life to the embellished aged sanctuary of the former St. Joseph’s AME Church and adapting it for cultural and civic purposes to preserve and promote the understanding of African American contributions to the world development.

St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation carries out this mission by providing informative cultural and educational programs. There are many valuable organizations and after-school programs across the country with similar passions and visions as SJHF concerning today’s youth that afford safe havens for countless youth, in spite of their economic backgrounds, colors, races, genders or creeds. After school programming can represent either an opportunity to learn and grow, through quality after-school programs, or a time of risk to youth’s health and wellbeing.

After-school programs are defined as safe, structured activities that convene regularly in after school hours offering activities to help children discover new skills, in their pursuit to adult development. Numerous studies conducted indicated that after-school hours are the peak time for juvenile crime and risky behaviors such as sex, alcohol and drug use. Most specialists would agree that after-school programs offer a healthy and positive alternative, for most juveniles.

Such programs have proven to enhance a number of things including safety, academic achievements in addition to serving as a primary stress reliever for both the parents and kids. However, without structured, supervised activities in the after-school programs, youth are at greater risk of being victims of crime, or participating in precarious behaviors. Most good after school programs follow basic programs of study including education, technology, comprehension, mathematics, science and the arts closely.

Even though there are thousands of after school programs available throughout the United States, still there are at least eight million children and youth left alone and unsupervised each day. Statistics show that 9 out of 10 Americans believe that all youth should have access to after-school programs, however two-thirds of that very same percentile says it is difficult to find after school programs locally.

Parents remember that after-school programs can serve as important youth violence prevention and intervention strategies.