In the heart of Miami's Liberty City, the Multi-Ethnic Youth Group Association (MEYGA) Learning Center is expanding its role beyond that of just an after-school haven. At its core, it has become a vital institution to the families it helps, offering not only education but fundamental life assistance. Samantha Quarterman, the founder and principal who herself was raised in Liberty City, has turned MEYGA into a beacon of hope, offering schooling for children and extending support to their families with needs like rent and food vouchers.

"This is a mission from the very beginning, I felt like this is something that I was chosen for," Quarterman said, in an interview obtained by CBS News Miami. Her initiative first took form as a simplistic mentoring effort, now MEYGA stands in the bustle of Northwest 62nd Street, and a second venue for older kids nestles in Liberty Square. Quarterman’s commitment resonates with many, especially as it becomes more than just a service, but a place where the struggle is understood, and empowerment begins.

MEYGA's impact is palpable among those it serves. "So MEYGA will bring his work to him and make sure he gets his things done," Samantha Kenley, whose kids are enrolled at MEYGA, told Erie News Now. Parents marvel at the change in their children, who have found a nurturing environment conducive to growth and learning, a stark contrast to previous struggles within the public school system.

MEYGA has extended its generous arm not only to the local community, but also to those new to the United States. "They do not discriminate against us for being immigrants from another country," stated Fani Pullido, a parent interviewed by Erie News Now. It’s a testament to the center's ethos of inclusion, celebrating diversity among its ranks. Parents, like Raquial Ransom and Milton Smith, have found in MEYGA a support system, a sense of community, and sometimes just as importantly, a place that treats their children with the same regard they would.