About TROY Center

TROY Center provides mentorship, academic support, and meaningful relationships that create positive opportunities for growth and development.

What We Do

We provide mentorship, tutoring, and relationships to impressionable youth in our community.

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Our Mission

Our mission is to mentor Central Valley youth, breaking down barriers to opportunity while empowering them to reach their full potential and inspiring them to impact their communities positively.

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Our Vision

  • A man and four kids sitting on the floor in a library, greeting each other with fist bumps.

    PHASE 1

    SCHOOL PARTNERS

    TROY Center partners alongside schools and educational programs to expand the support and opportunities available to youth, helping them strengthen their skills and pursue their goals.

  • A group of children and their coach on a sunny day on a football field, with players listening to instructions.

    PHASE 2

    BUILDING THE TROY CENTER

    Our vision is to create a centralized space where youth can connect, learn, grow, and discover new possibilities. The Center will bring together mentorship, life skills, academic support, and Success Vehicles under one roof, creating greater access to the relationships and opportunities that help youth thrive.

  • Classroom scene with students seated at desks, laptops open, and two men at the front, one standing and speaking, the other seated. Whiteboard, classroom decorations, and a large screen are visible.

    PHASE 3

    OPENING A CHARTER SCHOOL

    TROY Center envisions a charter school that goes beyond traditional education by combining personalized learning, meaningful relationships, and real-world opportunities. The school will foster academic excellence, character development, and community engagement while empowering youth to explore their potential and shape their future.

Refer a Student

How We Address the Needs of our Youths

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a theory that explains how individuals’ physiological and psychological needs must be met in order for them to achieve self-actualization, or their full potential. The hierarchy is represented as a pyramid, with the most basic needs at the bottom and more complex needs at the top.

 

Utilizing the hierarchy as a framework ensures that programs address the diverse needs of the youth we serve.

  • Physiological & Safety Needs: At the TROY Center, basic needs like food and shelter are addressed either directly or through community referrals, ensuring a foundational safe and stable environment for students.

  • Love, Belonging & Mentorship: The center fosters a sense of community, offering students opportunities for relationship-building and connection via mentorship and community service.

  • Esteem & Self-Actualization: By emphasizing academic and personal achievements, the TROY Center propels students towards self-esteem boosts and paves the way for them to reach their fullest potential.

Troy: Our Legacy

In 2000, a close friend of TROY Center’s founder, Nicholas Butler, was tragically killed by gun violence. The loss became a defining moment in Nicholas’s life and deepened his commitment to working with youth. Having always been passionate about supporting youth, Nicholas began to recognize the urgent need for meaningful mentorship, guidance, and opportunities within the community.

His experience working in Juvenile Hall further exposed the gaps within existing systems and the barriers that often prevent meaningful, lasting change. Rather than accept those limitations, Nicholas envisioned a different approach centered on relationships, prevention, and opportunity.

In 2004, Nicholas stepped beyond the system to create TROY Center, an organization rooted in the belief that positive relationships and meaningful opportunities can shape the trajectory of a young person’s life. TROY Center was founded to bridge gaps between youth and the people, resources, and experiences that help them grow, thrive, and reach their full potential.

Meet The Team

  • Black man with a shaved head and goatee smiling outdoors, wearing a suit and tie, blurred building background.

    Nicholas Butler

    CHIEF VISIONARY OFFICER

  • Black and white photo of a woman smiling outdoors, with long wavy hair and hoop earrings.

    Ashlie Garcia

    CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

  • Black and white photo of a smiling woman with eye makeup, earrings, necklace, wearing a black top with a rounded neckline, outdoors with buildings and graffiti in the background.

    Jennifer Mtunga

    SECRETARY

  • A woman with long hair smiling wearing a black polo shirt with the Troy Center logo, in front of a geometric patterned wall.

    Sandra Vazquez

    LEAD MENTOR

  • Black and white portrait of a smiling man in a suit and tie, with short hair styled back, against a plain background.

    Joshua Allen

    TREASURER

Our Partners

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  • Logo of a truck with an arrow indicating transportation, alongside the words 'Global Disposall'.
  • PepsiCo logo featuring a stylized globe icon and the word 'PEPSICO' in bold gray letters
  • Burlington coat factory logo

Make an Impact on our Communities

Join forces with TROY Center to provide mentorship, resources, and opportunities.

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