Prioritizing the advancement of children born and STUCK in poverty who we embrace as Equity-Deprived Youth (EDY).
Whether we identify these youth as Disadvantaged Youth, Disconnected Youth or Disenfranchised Youth, the one thing they all have in common is this:
All D’s youth have been Deprived of a life-cycle of equity and advantage, breakthrough opportunities, resources, targeted investments, and the systemic and structural support they need to live the life they have envisioned for themselves and their families, as they transition from youth into adulthood.
Our mission and goal is to meet the unmet needs of the 36,641 Equity-Deprived Youth who reside in the eight poorest zip codes in Charlotte, goes to the heart of our passion, purpose, mission, and goal.
All of these youth live with or come from families that live below the poverty line in eight zip codes: 28204, 28202, 28206, 28208, 28203, 28205, 28213, and 28217.
One of three reasons why we are intervening to serve these youth is because the status-quo establishment in Charlotte no longer offer or represent the healthiest way forward: Nearly all of their efforts have resulted in little or no progress made.
Nearly all all of their efforts have left these youth chained to disadvantage, deprivation, and neglect at almost every facet of their social determinant of health development.
The second reason why we are intervening to serve these youth is because of Charlotte’s decade old record of making little or no progress.
Today, it is not only a record of failure that is a growing problem. This failure is silently killing our youth and harming the reputation of the City of Charlotte for everyday citizens who are proud to call Charlotte home.
The third reason why we are intervening to serve these youth is because the status-quo establishment no longer provides the most reliable solution for Freeing Equity-Deprived Youth STUCK in poverty.
