Henry Wilson has 35 years of professional experience serving disadvantaged, under-represented, at-risk populations including youth, the homeless, mentally ill, substance abusers, and the incarcerated. In all of his positions, (including the Port Chester Carver Center, the Mount Vernon Family YMCA, the Grace Church Community Center of White Plains, and the Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center) he has galvanized the community by encouraging involvement from families, law enforcement, schools, social services and more to help the clients he serves reach their full potential. He has displayed grace, compassion, fairness, and willingness in all of his roles. In June, he graduated with the Leadership Westchester Class of 2019.
Since 2012, Mr. Wilson has served as the Executive Director of the Youth Community Outreach Program (Y-COP) in Mount Vernon, NY. Y-COP is a licensed year-round child care and youth development organization providing after school, summer day camp, out of school, youth development basketball instruction, girls’ empowerment group, community service, and teen mentoring programs. All of Y- COP’s program offerings include academic enrichment, recreation, and social skill development. He strongly believes that no person’s circumstance should define their worth. Y-COP strives to provide quality, positive programs led by qualified, caring individuals in a safe and nurturing environment at an affordable rate for working parents. Y-COP does not charge parents the actual cost of programming and relies on donations, grants, partnerships with similar organizations, support from local businesses and fundraisers to offset costs.
It is Mr. Wilson’s mission to uplift his community by addressing their needs and ensuring children have the tools necessary to grow to become productive members of society. Y-COP’s summer camp offers experiences that take youth out of their typical “urban” setting, such as swim instruction, fishing, hiking trails, rock climbing and zip lining. After School Program youth attend college tours. A strong believer in giving back, Mr. Wilson emphasizes the importance of community service and volunteerism regardless of the age or grade. Y-COP children volunteer at the local soup kitchen, children’s day care centers, and senior adult residences. As children started aging out of the summer day camp program at age 13, and were too young for summer employment, many parents wanted their children to remain involved in Y- COP. As a result, he created the Counselor in Training (CIT) program. Y-COP’s CIT teens are being prepared for higher education and the workplace by being paired with senior counselors whom they shadow by helping to monitor their younger peers; keeping the youth’s program space clean; as well as assisting in planning, helping to prepare, and participating in academic enrichment and recreational activities.
Mr. Wilson has a passion for fitness and is seeking solutions to combat the childhood obesity epidemic. More than 45% of Mount Vernon’s households are led by single working parents and qualify for reduced or free lunch program. In addition, most children lack the proper exercise and nutritious meals they so desperately need to fully function. He applied for, and was granted, a sponsorship from the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Through this program, Y-COP provides children with healthy meals and snacks each evening, giving parents one less task to worry about after a long day at work. Also, youth partake in a healthy regimen of fun and play each day.
Mr. Wilson works within the community: by identifying mentors to inspire youth and to help them gain a better and realistic outlook for their future; by soliciting support from local businesses to offset registration fees and donate goods and services; as well as by collaborating with various social service agencies to meet the needs of the families Y-COP serves. He empowers the youth, the staff, and the parents in his mission to help build Mount Vernon into the thriving community he believes it can be. Mr. Wilson has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of youth and young adults throughout Westchester county, many of whom praise him for his influence. He acknowledges that much of his success with Y- COP would not have been possible without the unyielding support of the leadership of First United Methodist Church, where Y-COP is headquartered; his loyal and dedicated staff; his three awesome adult sons (Malcolm, Marcus and Ricky) who are his inspiration; and, last, but definitely not least, Monique L. Harding, the love of his life, who keeps him focused, grounded, and humble.