June 1, 2026
Celebrating 20 Years of Service, Hope, Healing & Community Impact
June 3, 2006 – June 3, 2026. AAYHF brings two impact-filled events to our community as we celebrate a historic milestone and prepare for the official launch of our 2nd satellite location and food pantry.
AAYHF Brings Two Impact-Filled Events to Our Community
Greetings from Michael Lofton,
I hope this message finds you well.
With deep gratitude, humility, and excitement, I personally invite you to join us as we celebrate a historic milestone: 20 Years of Service to Central Texas Communities.
For two decades, the African American Youth Harvest Foundation (AAYHF), Harvest Trauma Recovery Center (HTRC), and Beloved Community Center have stood beside children, youth, families, seniors, and individuals during some of life’s most difficult moments and greatest triumphs. Together with our partners, supporters, funders, volunteers, elected officials, and friends, we have built more than programs; we have built hope, healing, opportunity, and community.
20th Anniversary Celebration
This celebration is more than an anniversary; it is a reflection of what is possible when communities come together with purpose.
RSVP RequestedOfficial Launch of Our 2nd Satellite Location & Food Pantry
This new location represents the next chapter in bringing food access, case management, workforce services, trauma recovery, mentoring, mental health support, and family resources closer to the communities that need them most.
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Because of Your Support
Over the past 20 years, AAYHF has:
- Served thousands of youth, adults, and families annually across Central Texas.
- Built a one-of-a-kind “Cradle to Contributor” model focused on whole-family support and long-term success.
- Created a network of more than 30 co-located community partners providing wraparound services under one model.
- Helped connect and enroll more than 638 families into critical benefits and support systems since 2018.
- Expanded services now reaching approximately 10,000–15,000 individuals annually through direct services and partnerships.
- Operated food distribution efforts serving more than 1,000 individuals and families monthly.
- Created pathways in mentoring, workforce development, education, trauma recovery, housing support, mental health, reentry services, and family stabilization.
- Built a model where families can access multiple services within 24–48 hours during times of crisis.
Community-Centered Solutions Save Lives
Earlier this year, our impact gained national attention when Martin Luther King III visited our programs, toured our facilities, met with youth and families, and publicly endorsed our Beloved Community model.
As we celebrate our past, we must also prepare for the future. Our vision is bold. Over the coming years, AAYHF plans to explore ways to replicate this one-of-a-kind model across Texas, expanding access to trauma recovery services, food security, youth development programs, workforce pathways, mentoring, and whole-family supports into additional communities that desperately need these services.
Vision requires investment. You helped build this movement. We need your continued partnership to help expand it.
Support the Next ChapterOfficial Launch Celebration Highlights
This celebration will include:
- Community fellowship and networking
- Food and refreshments
- Program updates and future vision sharing
- Youth, family, and community testimonials
- Tours of the Ranch and programs
- Horses and outdoor activities
- Recognition of partners and supporters
- Sponsorship opportunities and ways to get involved
You are receiving this invitation because you have played an important role in helping us touch thousands of lives over the past 20 years. This is not simply our celebration. This is your celebration, too.
Please RSVP and let us know if you can attend. If your schedule permits, we would also be honored if you would share a few words during the celebration.
A Day of Impact and Inspiration: AAYHF Hosts 2nd Annual Transformative Youth Justice Summer Celebration
The African American Youth Harvest Foundation was truly honored to host the 2nd Annual Transformative Youth Justice Summer Celebration and Resource Fair, presented in partnership with Judge Denise Hernández, the Transformative Youth Justice Program, and Tomorrow’s Promise Foundation.
Youth, families, and community members from across the region came together for a day centered on connection, empowerment, and celebration. The atmosphere was filled with purpose as attendees explored meaningful resources provided by an incredible lineup of community partners.
From AAYHF and Tomorrow’s Promise Foundation to Travis County Reentry Services, Life Anew, the Austin Area Urban League, The College of Health Care Professionals, and many more, each vendor contributed to a space overflowing with opportunity, guidance, and encouragement.
Activity stations brought the ranch to life with volleyball, cornhole, Connect Four, and a bounce house. Youth also enjoyed horseback riding and ATV rides, creating memories that will stay with them long after the summer sun fades.
We extend a special thank-you to the barbers who generously offered free haircuts, giving our young people a boost of confidence and care. Guests gathered over a delicious BBQ lunch, sharing stories, laughter, and community around the table.
Before heading home, families received food items and essential resources to support their households beyond the event, because at AAYHF, we remain committed to meeting both immediate needs and long-term goals.
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AAYHF and Texas Empowerment Academy Celebrate Student Success with an Unforgettable Day at Blake Manor Ranch
The African American Youth Harvest Foundation was proud to welcome students from Texas Empowerment Academy for a joyful end-of-year celebration at Blake Manor Ranch, a day designed to honor their hard work, encourage connection, and give them space to simply enjoy being kids.
From the moment students arrived, the ranch buzzed with excitement. They explored the outdoors through hands-on, high-energy activities that blended adventure with learning. Students rode ATVs across open trails, experienced horseback riding, and learned about horse care and behavior.
With the warm weather on their side, the pool quickly became a favorite spot to splash, unwind, and share laughs with friends. Midday, everyone gathered for a delicious BBQ lunch, creating a moment of community as students, staff, and volunteers came together to relax, recharge, and celebrate the close of another school year.
Days like this remind us just how powerful it is when young people are given the space to connect, grow, and simply enjoy being themselves. We’re grateful to Texas Empowerment Academy for partnering with us and to every staff member and volunteer who helped make this celebration meaningful.
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Urban University Summer Camp 2026 Is Officially Underway!
The energy is building, and we are thrilled to officially kick off another incredible season of Urban University Summer Camp 2026. We are filled with excitement as we welcome a new group of young scholars ready for a summer of learning, leadership, and fun.
Throughout the program, students will engage in academic support in literacy and math, STEM and technology learning such as coding and robotics, creative arts, leadership development, and educational field trips.
We extend our sincere gratitude to our generous sponsors, H-E-B and Glimmer of Hope, whose support helps make this impactful program possible.
Click Here to Donate
We Need Your Support: Help Keep Our Food Pantries Strong
At the African American Youth Harvest Foundation, meeting the immediate needs of our families is at the heart of our mission, and our two food pantries play a vital role in that commitment.
Each week, we serve community members who rely on these resources to keep healthy meals on the table, especially during times of rising costs and ongoing hardship.
Our pantries depend on community generosity to stay stocked with fresh produce, non-perishable items, household essentials, and hygiene products. Every contribution, whether it’s funding or volunteer time, directly impacts a family in need.
Donate Today
AAYHF in the News: Mr. Lofton Highlights Our Expansion on FOX 7 Austin
We’re excited to share that Mr. Michael Lofton was recently featured on FOX 7 Austin to discuss an important milestone for our organization: our expansion into Manor, Texas.
During the interview, Mr. Lofton spoke about AAYHF’s ongoing commitment to supporting families across Central Texas and highlighted the opening of our satellite resource center in Manor. This expansion will allow us to reach even more families with critical services, including a new food pantry launching this month.
We’re grateful to FOX 7 Austin for helping shine a light on the work happening every day at AAYHF and for amplifying the importance of accessible, community-centered support.
Watch the FOX 7 InterviewMake Your Investment Today
This is a pivotal moment for AAYHF, Austin, and communities nationwide seeking genuine, replicable solutions rooted in dignity and healing.
Together, we can ensure that the Beloved Community is not only remembered but also made into a reality.
We invite you to stand with us and make your donation today.
Click Here to Donate