History and Background
The Richard Allen Youth Council was founded in Memphis, Tennessee, during the 150th celebration of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
The African Methodist Episcopal Church, June 22-27, 1937, celebrated the Sesquicential Festival of Negro Methodism. It marked 150 years of progress by the AME Church since Richard Allen and his followers withdrew from St. George M.E. Church in Philadelphia, PA, in 1787. It was the beginning of a movement for self-help, self-movement, and self-direction in the religious life of people of African descent in America.This agency came from the vision of Dr. S. S. Morris, Sr., who committed to the idea of bringing existing youth organizations together in the format of a council. It was not the intent of the RAYC to replace any youth agency or organization. Each organization would keep its own identity.
The primary goal of the RAYC was to coordinate and unify the total program, which the local church offered its youth.