IYO was founded in 1970 as the Brick Towers Youth Association by
James Wallace, a community relations specialist with the Newark
Fire Department and a member of the Newark Special Police.
Beginning with 13 adolescents and parents, plus a dream of what
could be (but not a dime to fund it), James and Carolyn Wallace
started a Movement. They had faith then that the community would
support a true grassroots effort to provide a spiritual foundation for
motivating Newark’s youth to seek a better future. “The Community-
in-Action” is how one foundation executive has described the IYO
phenomenon. The popularity of a grassroots program that
preached self-discipline, and instilled self-identity, grew month by
month. Thus, IYO quickly outgrew its first three headquarters- a)
the basement of the Brick Towers Apartment Building Complex, b) 2
small rooms located in the historic Red Cross building at Spruce
Street, and c) a small three story brownstone apartment building
across the street from Arts High School. All were located on High
Street (now the Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard). Using some of
their own money, supplemented by community donations, Jim and
Carolyn found a home for their dream. In 1977, IYO was able to
acquire the five contiguous buildings that now comprise the agency’
s main complex. The “Miracle on South 12th Street” became a
reality with volunteer help from neighborhood residents and the
hard work from various participants, including those in the Newark
Summer Youth Employment & Training Program. Neighborhood
youth were trained in basic construction and handyman skills, and
thus began the CREST (Creative Re-use of Existing Structure
Training) Program, and forerunner to the Crest Development
Corporation. Additionally, there were invaluable equipment
donations from such corporations as: (Prudential, Mutual Benefit,
Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G). Mr. Wallace began to
transform the gutted, debris-laden, abandoned buildings into a
community center for youth and their families. By late 1978, IYO
was reborn in the new premises. (Subsequently, IYO has expanded
to more buildings).
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