Breyana didn’t need to be convinced that enrichment matters.
Like most parents, she wanted her daughters to have access to opportunities beyond the classroom to try new things, build confidence, and be part of something bigger.
What stood in the way wasn’t motivation. It was access.
For Breyana and her daughters, Shayla and Aleira, that meant navigating the real barriers many families face: cost, transportation, and simply knowing what opportunities exist.
ThroughCity Youth Matrix, that changed.
Breyana has been part of City Youth Matrix for three years.
During that time, her daughter Shayla has participated in gymnastics through one of CYM’s 51 enrichment partners, Synergy Sportz, not just attending, but competing at a high level.
Alongside that, Breyana has participated in CYM’s family empowerment program, attending workshops and community dinners designed to support parents as partners.
As Breyana shares:
“The City Youth Matrix workshops, dinners, and enrichment programs teach my children life skills not just for now, but for their future. I wouldn’t have been able to put Shayla in gymnastics without CYM.”
Shayla says she loves the activities and the friendships she’s built and credits the experience with helping her develop leadership and coping skills.
This is what access looks like when it’s consistent.
City Youth Matrix exists to connect youth to enrichment so they can reach their full potential.
Today, we serve 159 youth in Frederick County, primarily from ALICE households, families who are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed.
These are families who are working hard, doing everything right, and still facing structural barriers to opportunity.
Over the past seven years, one barrier has consistently risen to the top: cost.
Youth enrichment is not a small expense.
In 2025 alone, enrichment across athletics, arts, STEM, and camps represented a $113 billion industry. To put that in perspective, that is more than double the combined revenue of the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL.
And yet, for many families, participation remains out of reach.
The Aspen Institute reports that the average family spent nearly $1,500 per year per child on sports alone, often much more for families with multiple children.
At that level, enrichment becomes a choice, not an expectation.
City Youth Matrix addresses this directly by covering approximately 95% of program costs, with families contributing a small monthly amount of $10–$20.
This isn’t about eliminating responsibility. It’s about making access possible.
Through this model, CYM has directed more than $400,000 back into the local economy, partnering with 51 enrichment providers across Frederick County.
Cost is only part of the equation. The second barrier is what we call family empowerment.
Not all parents grew up with access to enrichment opportunities. Some are new to the area. Others may not be aware of what programs exist or how to navigate them.
Without that context, opportunity remains invisible. Our model addresses this by:
We also maintain clear expectations. Families are asked to participate in workshops and attend community events throughout the year. Because partnership matters.
In our most recent parent survey:
These systems are designed to be welcoming but also intentional.
At City Youth Matrix, we operate from a simple belief: Enrichment is not extra. It is essential.
Decades of research show that out-of-school programs play a critical role in:
When access is consistent, outcomes follow.
City Youth Matrix was built to solve a specific problem: how to remove barriers that prevent children from accessing existing opportunities.
By addressing both cost and family empowerment, we have created a model that works not just for individual youth, but for entire families.
We are now entering a season of growth.
Our goal is to serve over 600 youth locally by 2030, while preparing to expand this model into other communities.
Because this is not a local problem. It’s a national one.
That work is happening now. And we invite you to be part of it.
If you’re interested in supporting this work, volunteering, or learning more about eligibility, we’d love to connect. Please contact us.
City Youth Matrix is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving families in Frederick, Maryland. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. City Youth Matrix achieves 100% post-secondary education continuation among participating youth through consistent access to enrichment, transportation support, and long-term family partnership.
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