Live In Peace Inc

LIVE IN PEACE IS AN EAST PALO ALTO-BASED ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO ADVANCING THE CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF YOUTH IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. WE FULFILL THIS MISSION BY BUILDING A STRONG FAMILY ATMOSPHERE THAT SUPPORTS OUR YOUTH IN THE FOLLOWING THREE PROGRAM AREAS: THE LIP STUDIO (ARTS AND CULTURE), THE COLLEGE INITIATIVE (EDUCATION), AND THE STREET CODE ACADEMY (TECHNOLOGY AND ECONOMICS). IN EACH PROGRAM, WE HELP OUR STUDENTS DISCOVER, DEVELOP, AND DIRECT THEIR CREATIVE GENIUS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THEIR COMMUNITY AND THE BROADER WORLD.

COLLEGE INITIATIVEIN 2008, OUR FIRST COLLEGE STUDENT ENTERED ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY, 1 YEAR AFTER BEING (MIS)INFORMED THAT HE WOULD BE UNABLE TO ATTEND A 4-YEAR COLLEGE. HIS RESPONSE, AND OURS, LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR WHAT WOULD BECOME THE LIVE IN PEACE COLLEGE INITIATIVE. SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE SENT OVER 100 EAST PALO ALTO STUDENTS TO COLLEGES AROUND THE COUNTRY. OUR STUDENTS RECEIVE COLLEGE PREP SUPPORT AS WELL AS ONGOING ACADEMIC, FINANCIAL, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THEIR COLLEGE JOURNEY. THE FLEXIBLE NATURE OF OUR PROGRAM ALSO ALLOWS US TO RE-ENGAGE AND RE-ENROLL STUDENTS WHO MAY HAVE STEPPED OFF THEIR COLLEGE PATH FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER. THE RESULT SO FAR IS A COLLEGE GRADUATION RATE 6X HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE CONSIDERED "LOW-INCOME AND ARE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILIES TO GO TO COLLEGE.

STUDENTS WHO ACHIEVE GREATNESS (SWAG)LIVE IN PEACE WAS CHOSEN BY THE COUNTY OF SAN MATEO TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT A 3-YEAR PROGRAM THAT WOULD ACTIVELY RE-ENGAGE 80 OF SEQUOIA UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT'S MOST ACADEMICALLY DISENGAGED STUDENTS. THE SWAG PROGRAM IS NOW WORKING WITH OVER 60 STUDENTS, PROVIDING TUTORING, ONE-ON-ONE MENTORING, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND MORE. WITH 28 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES IN OUR FIRST YEAR, REPRESENTING A 100% GRADUATION RATE FOR OUR SENIORS, WE ARE NOW SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITIONING SWAG STUDENTS INTO OUR COLLEGE INITIATIVE, POSITIONING OUR YOUTH TO FOLLOW THEIR VISIONS TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

FIRST OF THE MONTH (COVID-19 PROGRAM)THOUSANDS OF NEIGHBORS IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE CURRENTLY UNEMPLOYED DUE TO COVID-19. MANY ARE ONE BILL AWAY FROM LOSING THEIR HOME OR NOT HAVING GROCERIES. WE ARE SUPPORTING 300+ ALREADY IDENTIFIED EAST PALO ALTO, MENLO PARK, REDWOOD CITY AND PALO ALTO FAMILIES OF COLOR, MOSTLY WORKING IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY, WITH RENT AND CASH ASSISTANCE. MANY POTENTIALLY FACE MONTHS OF JOBLESSNESS AS SHELTER IN PLACE CONTINUES. #FIRSTOFTHEMONTH IS A CAMPAIGN CREATED BY THREE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO ADDRESS THE MOST URGENT NEED IDENTIFIED BY OUR MOST VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS-RENT.

BIKE SHOP (2524)THE LIVE IN PEACE BIKE SHOP WAS BUILT ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT MOST YOUNG PEOPLE THRIVE IN PROJECT-BASED LEARNING, EVEN WHEN THEY ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL IN TRADITIONAL ACADEMIC SETTINGS.WE DESIGNED THE BIKE SHOP TO REMIND YOUNG PEOPLE OF THEIR INCREDIBLY CREATIVE, AND INTUITIVELY INTELLIGENT SELVES, WHILE WE MEET THE BICYCLE AND TRANSPORTATION NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.IN A UNIQUE CHAIN OF EVENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS AND FACEBOOK HAVE COME TOGETHER TO HELP BUILD AND INVIGORATE THE BIKE SHOP AND ITS PROGRAMS. IN LESS THAN A YEAR, WE HAVE A FULLY EQUIPPED BIKE SHOP WITH BOTH STAFF AND EQUIPMENT; WE HAVE GIVEN OUT OVER 150 BIKES TO OUR COMMUNITY; AND ARE TRAINING THREE YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE CERTIFIED BIKE MECHANICS.GAP-YEAR PROJECTFOR SOME OF OUR STUDENTS, THE PATH AFTER HIGH SCHOOL IS NOT IMMEDIATELY CLEAR. THEY MAY NOT FEEL READY TO SUCCEED IN A COLLEGE SETTING, OR MAY BE EXPLORING TRADE SCHOOLS AND OTHER ALTERNATIVES TO THE TRADITIONAL COLLEGE ROUTE (WHICH WE RECOGNIZE IS NOT RIGHT FOR EVERYONE).FOR THESE STUDENTS WE HAVE CREATED THE GAP-YEAR PROJECT, A 2-YEAR PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS TO MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER. STUDENTS WILL ALSO BENEFIT FROM WORKING TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY THEIR VISION AND GOALS, CREATE NEW NORMS, ATTAIN FINANCIAL STABILITY, ALL WITH FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND LIFELONG FRIENDS ON THE SAME JOURNEY. THROUGHOUT THE FIRST YEAR, STUDENTS EXPERIENCE EXPLORATORY AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO HELP THEM THINK THROUGH THEIR BEST PATH FORWARD. THESE INCLUDE: WEEKLY DINNERS WITH EXPERTS IN A VARIETY OF FIELDS; WORKSHOPS ON MENTAL HEALTH, FINANCES, FAMILY PLANNING, EVEN GETTING A DRIVER'S LICENSE; AND SITE VISITS TO COLLEGES, TRADE SCHOOLS, AND LOCAL BUSINESSES AND COMPANIES. STUDENTS MAP OUT THEIR SHORT- AND LONG-TERM GOALS, ENROLL IN CLASSES, COLLEGES, OR TRADE SCHOOLS OF THEIR CHOICE, AND BEGIN THEIR JOURNEY TOWARDS THEIR CAREER, WHILE RECEIVING LIFE COACHING, COUNSELING, AND TUTORING.REDTONEREDTONE RECORDS IS COMMITTED TO CULTURAL PRESERVATION, RACIAL JUSTICE, COMMUNITY, AND CARE FOR THE PLANET. WE USE MUSIC TO CAST OUR VISION FOR A WORLD DEFINED BY THESE ELEMENTS.COMMUNITYOUR ORGANIZATION OPERATES IN THE SAME SPIRIT OF THE VILLAGE THAT BIRTHED THE CITY OF EAST PALO ALTO AND SUCCESS IN OUR PROGRAMS IS OWED MOST SIGNIFICANTLY TO THIS FAMILY SPIRIT THAT GUIDES AND SHAPES OUR WORK. WE ARE A FAMILY WHO LOVES THIS CITY AND WILL DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO SUPPORT THE PRESERVATION OF ITS PEOPLE AND CULTURES. ASIDE FROM THE COVID SUPPORT WE PROVIDE TO THE COMMUNITY, WE HAVE ALSO BEEN ONE TO FILL IN THE GAPS FOR THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND ITS MEMBERS. THIS INCLUDES BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO VARIOUS FESTIVALS AND COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS, BACK TO SCHOOL PROGRAMS, GROCERY AND MEAL DELIVERY TO SENIOR, A CHRISTMAS TOY GIVEAWAY, AMONG OTHERS.THE "POSSIBILITIES AT POPLAR" IS A FOURPLEX THAT IS DESIGNED FOR CURRENT STUDENTS AND RECENT GRADUATES OF TRADES AND/OR COLLEGE. WE WORK WITH STUDENTS WITH LIFE COACHES, AND FINANCIAL COACHING SO STUDENTS MOVE WITH CLARITY AND POWER.