Youth Opportunities Development
Title: Clairton Cooks
Student Interns:
Michael Ceglarz
University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
Beth Pangia
University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Academic Preceptor:
Nina Markovic, MS, PhD
University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine
Community Preceptor:
Aliyah Anderson
Youth Opportunities Development
Tre McKeithen
Youth Opportunities Development
Brandon Ziats
Youth Opportunities Development
Community Site:
Youth Opportunities Development (YOD) is a nonprofit organization aimed at “ensuring peaceful, prosperous communities through the mentoring, education, and empowerment of youth.” Serving middle and high school boys in the Clairton community, YOD offers in-school, after-school, and summer enrichment programs that emphasize academic support, behavioral development, community engagement, and fun/enrichment. The after-school program runs from 3 to 7:30 PM, and involves tutoring, homework time, interactive learning sessions, dinner, and some recreational activities. The summer programming runs from 11 AM to 4 PM and provides interactive group learning sessions, lunch, and recreational activities. Research shows that youth involved in programs such as YOD have experienced improved school attendance, academic performance, and social/behavioral outcomes.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps interns partnered with YOD to support youth health and wellness through a nutrition project tailored for staff, to help make a broader impact. The interns saw an opportunity to introduce balanced meals and snacks into the diets of youth members actively involved in sports and other recreational activities. As part of this project, they introduced a cookbook filled with easy, affordable, youth-friendly recipes that can be made with program participants to engage the youth. The cookbook also included pictures, prep times, nutritional information, and adaptable variations of the recipes for differing palates. The project aimed to equip staff with tools to foster healthy eating behaviors, positive relationships, and further life skills among youth members. The BTG team’s educational sessions mirrored YOD’s goals, introducing topics such as the importance of healthy eating, adequate protein consumption, hydration, and oral health.
Reflections
“My time at YOD in Clairton has been both transformative and eye-opening. I was able to witness just how influential mentorship and consistency can be in improving the livelihoods of youth members. I am especially inspired by the staff members here, who are able to create such a safe, structured, and joyful environment for the youth of this community. It’s clear how much the kids trust and look up to them. Working on the cookbook project was my favorite part, as it showed me how public health can be both practical and personal. It helped me realize how public health isn’t just about systems and policies, but everyday things like relationships and care as well. I am entirely grateful for this experience and my chance to contribute to such meaningful work.”
Michael Ceglarz
“My time at YOD has been an incredibly meaningful experience that I’ll always cherish. Building relationships with the kids was especially rewarding, and I gained a deeper understanding of the challenges facing the Clairton community, such as environmental pollution and food insecurity. I also had the privilege of working alongside passionate individuals committed to creating positive change. Having Brandon as a mentor was truly inspiring — his dedication to the community motivated me to think more deeply about service and leadership. One of the highlights of my internship was contributing to the cookbook project, which emphasized the importance of accessible nutrition education for youth. The recipes we created offered simple, healthy options to help student athletes improve performance and make informed choices despite limited food access. I’m incredibly grateful to have been part of such meaningful work. The kids at YOD have left a lasting impact on me, and I’ll carry this experience with me moving forward.”
Beth Pangia