History

Timeline

1988
  • Emerald Avenue UMC begins a summer outreach ministry with youth in Knoxville's Oakwood/Lincoln Park community.
  • Steve Diggs is hired as the summer intern to facilitate the ministry.
  • The outreach is successful-the church decides to continue it.
1989 - 1990
  • The ministry grows, focusing on serving youth after-school and during the summer. It continues as a program of Emerald Avenue UMC.
1991
  • To impact more urban young people and raise the necessary support, the ministry is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) organization in July 1991.
  • The ministry becomes known as Emerald Youth Foundation (EYF).
1992 - 1998
  • EYF continues to serve youth in Oakwood/Lincoln Park.
  • Locations in East Knoxville and Beaumont/Western Heights are added in 1996.
1999
  • EYF launches its new flagship program, JustLead.
  • JustLead is based on Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets.
2000 - 2003
  • JustLead continues impact youth in EYF's three locations.
2004 - 2005
  • EYF begins testing the replication of JustLead into other locations.
2006
  • EYF officially launches the JustLead Network, a group of 9 churches and faith-based organizations that offer JustLead to youth in neighborhoods across the city.
2007 - Present
  • The JustLead Network continues to expand, serving 1,000 children and youth annually.

 

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