About Us
Our history
Love Your Community & Youth Association known as (LYCYA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization incorporated in 2022 in Washington County, Alabama under the direction of Dr. Latunja Caster and Dr. Marcus Caster. In 2005, Dr. Marcus Caster founded Starz Youth Sports, a basketball league for the youth in Clarke, Washington, and Northern Mobile Counties. The founders of Starz Youth Sports League saw the need for a community-based sports league and mentorship programs that would teach young people the values of discipline and teamwork, as well as provide them with an outlet to stay active. They also recognized that youth sports leagues could play an important role in bringing together members of their community who might not otherwise interact with one another.
In 2018, Dr. Latunja Caster started the W.E. One Project, an outreach program to focus on supporting healthy habits spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally while creating a thriving family environment for all communities by providing resources and products to relieve stress and anxiety through gardening and training. Hence, the Casters believed being active could be used as a tool to help children build character and develop leadership skills. With this goal in mind, Dr. Marcus and Dr. Latunja Caster founded Love Your Community & Youth Association in 2022—a nonprofit organization dedicated to building communities by providing support resources and events to engage community involvement and reduce crime and obesity in rural areas. LYCYA is dedicated to help provide educational and technical training, therapeutic recreation, youth sport leagues, mentoring, life coaching, community gardens and market place events throughout rural counties located in Alabama.
Today we are thriving thanks to our dedicated volunteers who give their time freely so that more children in our communities can enjoy the benefits of outreach programs like ours!
Our staff & volunteers
The amazing and diverse staff at LYCYA is dedicated to improving the lives of every member in our community, and strengthening the growth of our youth. All of our volunteer workers are committed to following our mission and vision at LYCYA.
Our mission
Our mission is to empower, educate, and sow into youth and their families through recreation, sports, life skills, tech, and entertainment that enhances their God-given talent and purpose.
Our Vision
To motivate, train, and inspire our youth by using their talents and gifts to better themselves in the community around them.