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Our Story

Voyage was formed in 2008 as The Blue Ribbon Commission on the Prevention of Youth Violence (BRC), an initiative under the United Way of the Cape Fear Area as a response to the prevalent violence among youth in the Northside of downtown Wilmington. The BRC played a significant role in reopening D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy in 2012, a public K-8 year-round school that was previously shut down due to low enrollment and low performance. After reopening Virgo, the BRC moved our headquarters within the school and opened a Parent Room. For the past 4 years, the BRC has served a vital role at D.C. Virgo acting as a liaison between the school and the community working to meet the significant needs of the student population.

In 2013 the BRC began operating as its own independent non-profit with the mission of “Building a community where youth are safe, healthy, educated, and successful…Now!” We began expanding efforts to serve a much larger number of youth and families. 

 

In the summer of 2015, the BRC partnered with the City of Wilmington, to expand our operations to the Hemenway Center, a centralized community center within the Youth Enrichment Zone that has provided an opportunity to increase and enhance the services offered to the community. In addition to offering a meeting space for the VOYAGE Youth Leadership Council and Community Council, the Hemenway Center is also used as a resource center for community members to come and find information on available services and programs offered by our community partners. 

In 2020, The Blue Ribbon Commission on the Prevention of Youth Violence rebranded and changed its name to Voyage. While we still hold the mission of connecting youth with pathways to success, we have re-strategized the actions taken to achieve our goals by taking on a public health, community-based approach at empowering our youth. Our new name is a reflection of the great work done over the past year and our continued "voyage" to success.

Voyage was formed in 2008 as The Blue Ribbon Commission on the Prevention of Youth Violence (BRC), an initiative under the United Way of the Cape Fear Area as a response to the prevalent violence among youth in the Northside of downtown Wilmington. The BRC played a significant role in reopening D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy in 2012, a public K-8 year-round school that was previously shut down due to low enrollment and low performance. After reopening Virgo, the BRC moved our headquarters within the school and opened a Parent Room. For the past 4 years, the BRC has served a vital role at D.C. Virgo acting as a liaison between the school and the community working to meet the significant needs of the student population.

In 2013 the BRC began operating as its own independent non-profit with the mission of “Building a community where youth are safe, healthy, educated, and successful…Now!” We began expanding efforts to serve a much larger number of youth and families. 

 

In the summer of 2015, the BRC partnered with the City of Wilmington, to expand our operations to the Hemenway Center, a centralized community center within the Youth Enrichment Zone that has provided an opportunity to increase and enhance the services offered to the community. In addition to offering a meeting space for the VOYAGE Youth Leadership Council and Community Council, the Hemenway Center is also used as a resource center for community members to come and find information on available services and programs offered by our community partners. 

In 2020, The Blue Ribbon Commission on the Prevention of Youth Violence rebranded and changed its name to Voyage. While we still hold the mission of connecting youth with pathways to success, we have re-strategized the actions taken to achieve our goals by taking on a public health, community-based approach at empowering our youth. Our new name is a reflection of the great work done over the past year and our continued "voyage" to success.

Voyage was formed in 2008 as The Blue Ribbon Commission on the Prevention of Youth Violence (BRC), an initiative under the United Way of the Cape Fear Area as a response to the prevalent violence among youth in the Northside of downtown Wilmington. The BRC played a significant role in reopening D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy in 2012, a public K-8 year-round school that was previously shut down due to low enrollment and low performance. After reopening Virgo, the BRC moved our headquarters within the school and opened a Parent Room. For the past 4 years, the BRC has served a vital role at D.C. Virgo acting as a liaison between the school and the community working to meet the significant needs of the student population.

In 2013 the BRC began operating as its own independent non-profit with the mission of “Building a community where youth are safe, healthy, educated, and successful…Now!” We began expanding efforts to serve a much larger number of youth and families. 

 

In the summer of 2015, the BRC partnered with the City of Wilmington, to expand our operations to the Hemenway Center, a centralized community center within the Youth Enrichment Zone that has provided an opportunity to increase and enhance the services offered to the community. In addition to offering a meeting space for the VOYAGE Youth Leadership Council and Community Council, the Hemenway Center is also used as a resource center for community members to come and find information on available services and programs offered by our community partners. 

In 2020, The Blue Ribbon Commission on the Prevention of Youth Violence rebranded and changed its name to Voyage. While we still hold the mission of connecting youth with pathways to success, we have re-strategized the actions taken to achieve our goals by taking on a public health, community-based approach at empowering our youth. Our new name is a reflection of the great work done over the past year and our continued "voyage" to success.

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