The recipient entity's physical address:
           3445 Toledano Street, New Orleans, LA 70125

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           3445 Toledano Street, New Orleans, LA 70125

Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Non-Profit Corporation

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          n/a

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  9914

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $75,000

What type of request is this?  General Appropriation

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           Board Chair - Dominique LeGree: 3208 Desoto Street, New Orleans, LA 70119
Board Secretary - Mary Chastain-Alford: 1728 4th St New Orleans, LA 70113
Board Treasurer - Cloreece Davis: 2202 Almonaster Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70117
Mack Terrance Sr. - Cultivating Youth Executive Director: 9321 Apricot Street, New Orleans, LA 70118
Mia Y. Terrance - Cultivating Youth Deputy Director: 9321 Apricot Street, New Orleans, LA 70118

Provide a summary of the project or program:
           Cultivating Youth is a 501c(3) that works to eliminate childhood trauma, restore healing, prevent violence, and
reduce obesity in New Orleans youth ages 8-18 through physical activity, mental health, education, and mentorship.

Cultivating Youth (CY) was founded on the premise of Executive Director, Mack Terrance Sr., lived-experiences growing up in Central City. While incarcerated, Mack recognized the root cause that led him to prison. Upon being released from prison, Mack was motivated to re-enter society and walk in his purpose; to be the mentor and trusted adult that he needed as an adolescent. He and his wife (Mia Y. Terrance), started doing youth outreach work in the community in 2016. They opened their first brick-and-mortar Motivation Team Athletic Academy (for profit) in 2019 and their organization, Cultivating Youth, received its 501c(3) status in 2021.

History
2019: First summer camp, mentoring and providing physical fitness to 25 youth.
- CY began partnering with the Mayor’s Summer Employment Program and Job 1 to hire teens and young adults
- CY began mental health services, providing weekly group therapy sessions
2022: CY began its after-school and mentoring program and currently serves a total of 60 youth.
2023: CY began providing mentoring, fitness, nutrition education, restoration, advocacy, and future planning at the
Juvenile Justice Intervention Center (Youth Study).
2024: CY began allowing 15 teens and 10 young adults to participate throughout the year in paid volunteer work
through Sodexo on behalf of the Caesar Superdome, Smoothie King Arena, and the Shrine on Airline.
2025: CY began providing individual therapy/counseling
- Purchased a passenger van to provide transportation to program participants.

How We Serve:
- After-School Enrichment: Enroll 20 - 40 youth ages 8-12, Monday - Thursday 3:30pm - 6:30pm
- Mentoring: 20 youth ages 13-18, twice a week check-in
- Mental Wellness: Arrange weekly independent counseling/therapy and restorative sessions for youth on-site.
- Summer Enrichment: Enroll 20 youth ages 8-12 years old, Monday - Friday 9am - 4pm
- Work-Study Fellow: Work with a max of 5 youth who are 13+
- Summer Work Force Development: Employee approximately 15 youth who are 16 - 24 years old.
- Incarcerated Youth Support: Mentoring, restorative healing and physical fitness for about 60 youths that are 8-17 years old at the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center.
- Family to Prison Pipeline: Provides relationship restoration and support to immediate family members of those incarcerated.

Cultivating Youth operates in the heart of New Orleans; in Central City/Hoffman Triangle inside of Motivation Team Athletic Academy (MTAA). MTAA is a full-service, athletic facility located at 3445 Toledano Street, New Orleans, LA 70125. We served youth ages 8 - 18 year old. We recruit and promote our programs within our community. Our community is composed of New Orleans families, 21% live in poverty, with African American families experiencing poverty at much higher rates (30%) than white families (8%). CY serves low-income families and makes services accessible to all families by offering our after-school and mentoring services at no cost and our
summer program at a discounted rate or provided scholarships if funding is available.

What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $25,000
          Professional Services. . . $0
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $0
          Operating Services. . . . $40,000
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $10,000

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          Not Applicable

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          Cultivating Youth (CY) public purpose is to address community barriers like violence and trauma through comprehensive youth development and enrichment. CY provides meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks), educational tools, cooking lessons, life skills, childcare, career exploration, academic support, therapeutic healing, and mentorship. Emphasizing mental health services, nutrition, and physical fitness, CY combats childhood obesity and overeating, often linked to trauma coping mechanisms, by exposing youth to different therapeutic methods. 20% of school-aged children are obese (National Survey of Children’s Health). CY’s enrichment and homework assistance component of our program directly assists with the academic support that families benefit from the most. Only 8% of New Orleans children enter kindergarten developmentally “very ready” physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively. Research continues to show the positive long-term impacts of high-quality early care and education, particularly for low-income children (Orleans Public Education Network). Through CY’s time spent mentoring at the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center (Youth Study), we have gained the trust of the incarcerated youth and can delve deeper into why most are committing crimes such as carjacking and robbery. Most crimes stem from the lack of financial stability, learned behavior from their environment, and lack of enrichment resources. CY’s violence prevention includes providing youth with enriching activities, employment opportunities, social skills, counseling, mindfulness and conflict resolution training. 1 in every 3 African American men will spend time in prison in their lives. Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate in the United States (Census Bureau 2010 & FBI Uniform Crime Reports 2010 & Justiceatlas.org). CY offers a supportive environment, exposing youth to new experiences and relatable mentors who inspire positive change

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          Our goals align with our mission by addressing the education, health, violence, and low-income disparities faced by youth in New Orleans with a multidisciplinary, comprehensive youth development approach. We developed a 40-hour week curriculum for the summer months to keep youth and teens active with enrichment activities. For working families, there is a higher chance that youth will not have full supervision during the summer, increasing their vulnerability. We not only create a safe space for them but also provide an economical relief by hiring them and/or allowing the younger teens to receive a stipend. A host of real-world issues impact middle school children and it is during this developmental period that high quality, youth-focused mentorship and programming are critical to a child developing into a self-reliant adult. Engaging youth at this formative stage can effectively instill positive habits, resilience, and a sense of belonging, setting the groundwork for a healthier, more successful adolescence and adulthood. Our after-school enrichment program focuses on the school-to-prison pipeline by providing daily homework assistance, workout or physical activity, mentoring, and hot meals. According to the Education Research
Alliance for New Orleans, "Since 2019, New Orleans students report valuing education less, exert-ing less self control, and attending school less often." Our mission is to prevent them from being caught in the school-to-prison pipeline.

New Orleans youth ages 8 - 18 years old and their families benefit from Cultivating Youth’s enrichment programs by keeping them engaged all year. We consistently serve 20-40 youth per fall, summer, and spring session within our community and we hire approximately 15 teen-to-young adult workers every summer. Students are from multiple New Orleans neighborhoods and attend a variety of schools. 75% are male; 15% are female. We primarily target New Orleans' older elementary to middle school-aged youth for our enrichment program because that is a pivotal time for youth. During these years, children undergo significant cognitive, emotional, and social growth. They develop critical thinking abilities, emotional regulation, and social skills, which are essential for their future success of staying away from gangs, drug dealings, violence, and criminal activity. This period is also when they begin to form their self-concept and establish patterns that can influence their long-term health and well-being.

Our program is expected to achieve measurable impacts in several key areas. Participants will experience improved nutrition, with at least 66% receiving hot meals during the summer, reducing hunger and enhancing overall health. Physical activity levels will increase by a minimum of 10 hours per week, promoting healthier lifestyles. Youth will demonstrate enhanced social and conflict resolution skills, contributing to a reduction in juvenile justice system involvement. Financial literacy and responsibility training will lead to better financial outcomes, potentially lifting households out of poverty. Academic support will boost reading literacy, comprehension, and grades, increasing confidence and self-esteem among participants. Overall, the program aims to foster resilience, healthier habits, and improved educational outcomes, contributing to long-term positive impacts on the community.

What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           12 months

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                 n/a
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                 n/a

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                 n/a

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                  n/a

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               n/a

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
               n/a

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
                n/a

          What is the nature of the relationship? 

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                 n/a

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               n/a


Contact Information
name:  Mia Y. Terrance 
                                       address:  3445 Toledano Street
                                       phone:  5045639403
                                       fax: 
                                       e-mail:  mia@cultivatingyouth.org
                                       relationship to entity:  Deputy Director