Y-COP: A Legacy of Guiding Youth

The Youth Community Outreach Program (Y-COP) was first founded in 1990 by Allen Ayers, a Detective with the Mount Vernon, NY Police Department. His goal was to foster a positive relationship with youth in the community and the police by offering positive after school activities in an effort to build trust between the two. Y-COP operated primarily as a drop-in center at a local church offering basketball, cheerleading, job skill workshops, peer-to-peer mediation, college preparation and more. Today, Y-COP is one of the most sought-after childcare and youth development organizations in Westchester County providing approximately nine impactful programs and several community-wide initiatives, serving more than 400 youth, five – 17 years old annually and their families.

This documentary, Y-COP: A Legacy of Guiding Youth, details Y-COP’s beginnings in the 1990s and its transformation in 2011 after more than a seven-year absence.

“For those unfamiliar with Y-COP’s history, and where it is now, this film will enlighten, encourage, and activate its viewers, said Y-COP Executive Director, Henry Wilson. “I am grateful and humbled to see where Y-COP started and where it is now. I am especially excited about the impact this video will have on our campaign to acquire a facility to operate not only our programs, but also space for services including healthcare, early childhood development, youth with special needs, and more.

About the Filmmaker:

Jeff Watkins is a media producer and entrepreneur dedicated to bringing underrepresented stories to global screens. A U.S. Naval Academy graduate and former Naval Officer, Watkins transitioned from a career in finance to building creative ecosystems that prioritize cultural impact. Created and produced the celebrity docu-series My Hero (featuring Idris Elba and Gina Rodriguez), which was acquired by Time Warner in one of the largest digital series acquisition deals of its era. He’s currently producing and directing upcoming theatrically released projects that include Restaveks, an international feature on child trafficking, and Four Square Miles to Glory, a basketball documentary narrated by Denzel Washington. In 2025, he founded Overflow, a community-centric streaming platform designed to ensure culturally significant films find and keep their audiences through a reimagined distribution model. Jeff Watkins is a native of Mount Vernon, NY. He serves on the boards of The Picture House Film Center and Mount Saint Michael Academy, bridging his military and finance background with a commitment to creative equity.