Mary and Frances Youth Center
Mary and Frances Youth Center, 120 South Linden Street, Box 843062, Box 843062, VA 23284-3062
About
Mary and Frances Youth Center offers summer camp and after-school programming that includes tennis, pickleball, multi-sports, and STEM in Sports. The program’s cornerstone Lobs and Lessons program combines tennis instruction with life skills and academic engagement. Youth can also take part in leadership training and workforce development training.
• Schedule: Full-day programming June 1 - July 17.
• Price: Scholarships available.
Mary and Frances Youth Center was founded in 2007 on Virginia Commonwealth University's Monroe Park Campus in Richmond, Virginia. The center’s mission is to foster the positive development and education of youth through innovative, sports-based programs that strengthen life skills, expand awareness and access to higher education opportunities, and empower adults to support positive youth development. The program serves as a hub for youth programming, partnership, and leadership development, with youth programming focused on personal growth, creative expression, and leadership development.
The leadership team includes Misti R. Mueller, Ed.D., Executive Director; Vaughn Whitney Garland, Ph.D., Associate Director of Education and Outreach; and Sharron McDaniel, Program Coordinator, who holds degrees in Social Work and African American Studies. Staff credentials include Misti R. Mueller, Ed.D.; Vaughn Whitney Garland, Ph.D., M.F.A.; and Sharron McDaniel, with degrees in Social Work and African American Studies.
Mary and Frances Youth Center works alongside local schools, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies to expand support to youth-centered resources and services. Its community partnerships include MFYC Seed Grants that support community-driven programs that empower youth and build long-term collaboration, as well as capacity building through initiatives like the Richmond Youth Development Network. The center plays a significant role in the region's Youth Program Quality Intervention and participates in the Richmond YPQI Youth Program Quality Initiative, a continuous improvement framework helping Richmond-area programs deliver higher quality experiences for young people. RichmondYDN is established as a regional professional development network, and the center also offers an Advance Certificate in Youth Development and engages in research and evaluation promoting data-informed practices to improve outcomes for youth.
Last updated July 17, 2026.
• Schedule: Full-day programming June 1 - July 17.
• Price: Scholarships available.
Mary and Frances Youth Center was founded in 2007 on Virginia Commonwealth University's Monroe Park Campus in Richmond, Virginia. The center’s mission is to foster the positive development and education of youth through innovative, sports-based programs that strengthen life skills, expand awareness and access to higher education opportunities, and empower adults to support positive youth development. The program serves as a hub for youth programming, partnership, and leadership development, with youth programming focused on personal growth, creative expression, and leadership development.
The leadership team includes Misti R. Mueller, Ed.D., Executive Director; Vaughn Whitney Garland, Ph.D., Associate Director of Education and Outreach; and Sharron McDaniel, Program Coordinator, who holds degrees in Social Work and African American Studies. Staff credentials include Misti R. Mueller, Ed.D.; Vaughn Whitney Garland, Ph.D., M.F.A.; and Sharron McDaniel, with degrees in Social Work and African American Studies.
Mary and Frances Youth Center works alongside local schools, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies to expand support to youth-centered resources and services. Its community partnerships include MFYC Seed Grants that support community-driven programs that empower youth and build long-term collaboration, as well as capacity building through initiatives like the Richmond Youth Development Network. The center plays a significant role in the region's Youth Program Quality Intervention and participates in the Richmond YPQI Youth Program Quality Initiative, a continuous improvement framework helping Richmond-area programs deliver higher quality experiences for young people. RichmondYDN is established as a regional professional development network, and the center also offers an Advance Certificate in Youth Development and engages in research and evaluation promoting data-informed practices to improve outcomes for youth.
Last updated July 17, 2026.
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