LOS ANGELES UNITED METHODIST URBAN FOUNDATION
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Mission Statement
The mission of the Urban Foundation’s Kid City program is to help low-income and youth of color to develop personally, academically, creatively, and professionally within a nurturing community. Kid City’s mission is to help low-income and youth of color to develop personally, academically, creatively, and professionally within a nurturing community. Through culturally relevant programming and services, we foster agency in youth and first-generation college students to navigate and overcome systemic barriers in their education and careers. Kid City’s college access and persistence, career readiness, and music programs are responsive to the holistic needs of youth and young adults and embrace the unique voices and experiences of each of them.
About This Cause
At Kid City we encourage teens and young adults to find their voice, share their stories, and become self-empowered leaders. Our small staff works with volunteers, mentors and families to provide programs in leadership development, music and arts, college access, and college completion in a welcoming and supportive environment. Most participants at Kid City are first-generation college or college-bound students living in neighborhoods around downtown Los Angeles including South Central and Pico Union. Kid City recognizes the problem of educational inequity and severe economic hardship among the communities we serve. We strive to provide ways for students to access opportunities, explore their intellectual curiosity, and discover their ability to advocate for themselves and their communities. We place a high value on lasting, genuine relationships; and radical hospitality that demonstrates respect for all individuals, including LGBTQ, dreamers, undocumented families, and differently abled. We practice careful, empathic listening and encourage students to be honest as they find their own voice and share their stories. -- We recognize the pervasiveness of educational inequity, severe economic hardship, and other injustices, and seek within our learning community to understand and alleviate some of those issues affecting the youth and communities we serve. -- We believe the communities we serve, though low in economic resources, are rich in resources and we are confident everyone involved has gifts to contribute and will do so generously. -- We believe in creating expectations tailored to individual students, and in the power of a community of “fictive kin” to encourage everyone to succeed. -- We are committed to Kid City as a transformative program that ultimately impacts extended families and communities, as it allows students to dream and become self-empowered leaders. Kid City programs include: College Access: Personal statement workshops, SAT study groups, college visits, mentoring, FAFSA help, and more has combined to help get nearly 200 students enrolled in college. College Persistence: With growing numbers of kids in college, Kid City is piloting a college persistence program that includes writing preparation, study skills workshops, support groups, online support, and connecting students to on-campus resources. Job training and career readiness: Kid City offers an extensive 18 hour job training that culminates in mock job interviews and results in a Work Readiness Certificate awarded by the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. Further training is available for students who wish to volunteer and intern with Kid City, the Urban Foundation, and other partner organizations. We have an annual career fair, and smaller career nights, and we try to match students with internship opportunities whenever possible. Leadership: Kids learn leadership in many ways at Kid City, including planning and producing an annual festival and fundraiser that takes place in the parking lot in August. Kids make arcade games, sell homemade pupusas and mangoladas, dunk their teachers and their friends, and perform with the Kid City band. Check out our Splash of LA 2016 photo gallery! Recently, Kid City students have taken the lead on statewide advocacy for educational equity in higher education, presenting their testimony to state and local legislators, university executives, and even the UC Regents. Music and other arts are a big part of academic enrichment programs at Kid City: Kid City offers music lessons to students at all levels, and has its very own band. Learn more about the music program! Contact almacatalan@kidcityhopeplace.org if you would like to book the band! Help us get ready for 2016 & check out our wish list! Kid City... make it your city too! Kid City is not just for kids. It’s a great place for mentors and volunteers to find joy and inspiration. Be a part of Kid City: join our mailing list, mentor a high school student in and through college, participate in our events as a guest-speaker on a career or college panel, and tell others about our work. You’ll find Kid City a wonderful experience, no matter how you decide to participate.