Thrive In Joy Nick Fagnano Foundation

THRIVE IN JOY'S ON-CAMPUS C11 STRENGTH OF CHARACTER PROGRAM IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES. THROUGH THE STUDENT-LED CLUB THRIVE IN JOY, C11 ENCOURAGES TEENS TO EXPLORE AND APPLY THEIR CHARACTER STRENGTHS, IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE VALUES IN ACTION SURVEY AND CLUB ACTIVITIES, TO CREATE ENTREPRENEURIAL SOCIAL IMPACT PROJECTS THAT ADDRESS URGENT NEEDS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. ADDITIONALLY, WE ORGANIZE VOLUNTEER TRIPS TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC THREE TIMES A YEAR, AIMING TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. THESE TRIPS ARE TAILORED TO DIFFERENT GROUPS: COLLEGE STUDENTS FROM USC IN MARCH, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN JUNE, AND A TRIP IN OCTOBER OPEN TO ALL VOLUNTEERS.

THRIVE IN JOY CARRIES OUT ITS C11 STRENGTH OF CHARACTER PROGRAM IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY AT HIGH SCHOOLS WITHIN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES AND EAST AND SOUTH LA. THESE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE DEFINED AS CONCENTRATED POVERTY NEIGHBORHOODS (CPNS) AND ARE CLUSTERED IN A CORRIDOR EXTENDING FROM DOWNTOWN-ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOODS TO SOUTH LOS ANGELES. THRIVE IN JOY'S C11 PROGRAM IS OFFERED THROUGH CLUB THRIVE IN JOY, AN ON-CAMPUS, STUDENT-LED CLUB WHICH SUPPORTS LOW-INCOME STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND THE SURROUNDING UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES OF COLOR BY PROVIDING EXPERIENCES THAT CULTIVATE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS' CHARACTER STRENGTHS AND EMPOWER THEM TO TAKE ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTION TO PRODUCE SOCIAL IMPACT PROJECTS THAT ADDRESS PRESSING NEEDS IN THEIR SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY. CLUB THRIVE IN JOY IS OFFERED EITHER AFTER SCHOOL OR AS AN ELECTIVE PROGRAM DURING SCHOOL HOURS. THE DEMOGRAPHICS AT THESE SCHOOLS ARE SUCH THAT 86% OF STUDENTS ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED,97.5% ARE HISPANIC, 1.0% ARE BLACK, 1% ARE TWO OR MORE RACES AND .5% ARE ASIAN. ACCORDING TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, LA COUNTY HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATIONS OF LOW-INCOME STUDENTS IN CALIFORNIA, WITH CLOSE TO 900,000 LIVING AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LINE. OF THE 1 MILLION LOW-INCOME AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND LATINO STUDENTS ATTENDING PUBLIC OR CHARTER SCHOOLS IN LA COUNTY, ONLY 2 OUT OF 10 ARE ENROLLED IN A HIGH-QUALITY SCHOOL WITH PROGRAMS THAT RECOGNIZE THE WHOLE CHILD, AND PROVIDE SUPPORT SYSTEMS THROUGHOUT THEIR HIGH SCHOOL JOURNEY. FURTHERMORE, ENROLLMENT RATES FOR COLLEGE AMONG THESE STUDENTS ARE BELOW AVERAGE. WE SERVE THESE STUDENTS WITH A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO CHANGING THESE STATISTICS. IN 2023 WE SERVED STUDENTS IN THREE MAIN SCHOOL LOCATIONS: USC HYBRID HIGH IN SOUTH L.A., ESPERANZA HIGH IN EAST L.A., AND ALLIANCE DR. OLGA MOHAN HIGH SCHOOL IN DOWNTOWN L.A. ADDITIONALLY, WE DELIVER C11 STRENGTH OF CHARACTER WORKSHOPS TO AT-RISK TEENS ENROLLED IN FOSTER CARE PROGRAMS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS SERVING LOW-INCOME YOUTH OF COLOR. INTEREST IN OUR C11 PROGRAM ALSO SPANS THE GLOBE WITH STUDENTS AT A HIGH SCHOOL IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND AT A SCHOOL IN SOUTH AFRICA ALSO PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM. THE 88 LOS ANGELES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO WERE ENROLLED IN OUR PROGRAM IN 2023 ENGAGED 379 VOLUNTEERS AND 34 FACULTY MEMBERS TO BENEFIT 729 COMMUNITY MEMBERS, INCLUDING FELLOW STUDENTS. THE STUDENT PROJECTS INCLUDED A HEALTH FAIR WHICH OFFERED A WIDE ARRAY OF SERVICES AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES, A STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH EVENT THAT ESTABLISHED A ON-CAMPUS BOOK SELECTION FOCUSED ON MENTAL HEALTH AS WELL AS A DIRECTORY OF LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ALL STUDENTS, A HOLIDAY EVENT FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN WHICH INCLUDED DISTRIBUTION OF 93 DONATED NEW TOYS AND GAMES, AND A TEEN LITERACY EVENT THAT ALLOWED EVERY STUDENT TO SELECT TWO NEW BOOKS FROM A WIDE VARIETY OF GENRES SPECIFICALLY ASSORTED FOR TEEN READERS. WE UTILIZE SEVERAL METHODS TO ASSESS OUR PROGRAM'S IMPACT. FIRST, WE FIELD PRE- AND POST-SURVEYS WITH ALL STUDENT PARTICIPANTS. IN OUR POST-PROGRAM EVALUATION, 94% OF STUDENTS STATED THAT KNOWING THEIR CHARACTER STRENGTHS HELPS THEIR SUCCESS AND INSPIRES THEM TO GO TO COLLEGE. 100% OF STUDENTS ADMITTED TO BEING NERVOUS ABOUT COLLEGE APPLICATIONS BEFORE THE PROGRAM, WITH 93% FEELING MORE CONFIDENT AFTER COMPLETING IT. 100 PERCENT OF STUDENTS EXPRESSED A DESIRE FOR THEIR ACTIONS IN HIGH SCHOOL TO LEAVE A LEGACY IN THEIR SCHOOL OR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE UTILIZED SEVERAL OUTSIDE ASSESSMENTS TO GAUGE THE EFFECTIVENESS AND IMPACT OF OUR PROGRAMS OVER THE YEARS. PRIOR TO EXPANDING THE PROGRAM BEYOND OUR FIRST PILOT SCHOOL, WE ENGAGED ILSE WOLFE, FOUNDER OF NEW PUBLISHING SOLUTIONS, TO ASSESS THE NEED FOR AND BENEFITS OF THE C11 PROGRAM. ILSE CONDUCTED A SERIES OF FOCUS GROUPS WITH 15 HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATORS AND COUNSELORS, WHO OVERWHELMINGLY PRAISED THE OBJECTIVES OF THRIVE IN JOY'S C11 PROGRAM. THE FOCUS GROUP PARTICIPANTS SAID THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY SIMILAR PROGRAMS. THEY CITED THE PROGRAM'S STRENGTHS INCLUDING ITS ORIGIN OF BEING INSPIRED BY A YOUNG PERSON, NICK FAGNANO, WHO TRAGICALLY LOST HIS LIFE WHEN LIGHTNING STRUCK VENICE BEACH IN JULY OF 2014. THEY VALUED THAT IT WAS A STUDENT-LED PROGRAM THAT ENGAGES YOUNG PEOPLE TO INSPIRE THEIR PEERS. IN ADDITION, THE PROGRAM'S NO-COST ENTRY FOR SCHOOLS IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES WAS CITED AS A MAJOR BENEFIT. COUPLED WITH THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THRIVE IN JOY FOR STUDENTS' ENTREPRENEURIAL SOCIAL IMPACT PROJECTS, THE FOCUS GROUPS APPRECIATED HOW THIS MODEL IMMERSES STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAMMING, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND IMPACT ASPECTS OF THEIR PROJECTS RATHER THAN PLACING A HEAVY DEPENDENCY ON STUDENT FUNDRAISING. ANOTHER STUDY WAS CONDUCTED AS PART OF A GRANT FROM USC. CONDUCTED BY THREE MASTERS OF PUBLIC POLICY STUDENTS FROM USC'S SOL PRICE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY, THEIR RESEARCH ASSESSED THRIVE IN JOY'S IMPACT TO VALIDATE THE NEED FOR C11'S EXPANSION TO MORE SCHOOLS, USING OPEN-SOURCE RESEARCH AND SEMI-STRUCTURED INTERVIEWS, THEY CITED TJNFF'S STORY-BASED LEARNING, PEER-LED PROGRAMMING, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AS EXEMPLARY SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING MODELS ELEVATING POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT IN AN AFTER-SCHOOL SETTING. THEY ALSO FOUND TJNFF MEANINGFULLY CONTRIBUTED TO STUDENT'S SCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES RESULTING IN A CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION GOAL ATTAINMENT. SPECIFIC TO THE STUDENT ENTREPRENEURIAL SOCIAL IMPACT PROJECTS, WHICH ALSO IMPACT THE NEARBY LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES, THE RESEARCH TEAM FOUND TJNFF WAS APPEALING TO STUDENTS IN THAT THEY BECAME LEADERS OF THEIR COMMUNITY INITIATIVES AND WERE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN HANDS-ON PROJECT PLANNING. THE RESULTS SHOWED THAT STUDENTS WITHIN FRAGILE POPULATIONS GAINED SKILLS THAT NOT ONLY IMPROVED THEIR WELL-BEING, BUT ALSO IMPACTED THE WELL-BEING OF THEIR FAMILIES. RESEARCH ALSO SHOWED THE PROGRAM INSTILLED IN STUDENTS A STRONG DESIRE TO PURSUE CAREERS IN FIELDS THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES. THIS SUCCESS IS FURTHER REFLECTED IN THE PERSONAL, ACADEMIC, AND SOCIAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS. IN 2023 OUR SENIORS RECEIVED FULL SCHOLARSHIPS TO PRESTIGIOUS UNIVERSITIES INCLUDING USC, JOHNS HOPKINS, UC BERKELEY, UC DAVIS, UC RIVERSIDE, UC IRVINE, WHILE OTHER STUDENTS COMMITTED TO LOCAL COLLEGES INCLUDING CAL STATE LA, CAL STATE DOMINGUEZ HILLS, AND CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE. ALL STUDENTS CREDITED TJNFF AS HAVING A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THEIR SUCCESS WITH 100% OF SENIORS WHO WERE CLUB THRIVE IN JOY MEMBERS ENTERING A 4-YEAR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION.

SUPPORT FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: THRIVE IN JOY'S FOCUS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (DR) IS ON YOUTH LIVING IN EXTREME POVERTY. WE SERVE CHILDREN AND TEENS, AGES 3-18, WHO ATTEND TIA TATIANA SCHOOL IN HERRERA AND WE SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF THE REMAR ORPHANAGE IN SANTO DOMINGO WHO RANGE IN AGE FROM 5-20. WE ALSO SUPPORT FAMILIES IN NAGUA WITH FOOD AND HOUSEHOLD SUPPLIES AND OUR C11 STRENGTH OF CHARACTER PROGRAM IS ACTIVE AT A NAGUA HIGH SCHOOL. IN ALL THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE, THE POPULATION IS APPROXIMATELY 65% DOMINICAN, 30% HAITIAN, AND 5% OTHER. FOR THE CHILDREN AT TIA TATIANA SCHOOL AND IN NAGUA, THE HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD FOR 60% OF THE FAMILIES IS A SINGLE FEMALE PARENT. FOR THOSE AT REMAR, THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT HAVE BROUGHT THE CHILDREN TO THE ORPHANAGE INCLUDE PARENT ABANDONMENT, PARENT INCARCERATION OR DRUG ABUSE, REPORT OF THE CHILD BEING SEX-TRAFFICKED OR SUBJECTED TO OTHER ABUSE. OTHER FACTORS INCLUDE THE CHILD BEING HIV+ OR IMPACTED BY OTHER HEALTH ISSUES FOR WHICH A FAMILY MEMBER IS UNABLE TO PROVIDE CARE. IN 2023 WE MADE TWO MISSION TRIPS TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC WITH VOLUNTEER TEAMS TO: A. ASSIST WITH LIGHT CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION PROJECTS B. PROVIDE FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN'S NUTRITIONAL NEEDS BY COOKING MEALS AND BRINGING TREATS THEY WOULD NOT TYPICALLY BE ABLE TO ENJOY C. SUPPORT FOOD DISTRIBUTION BY VISITING HOMES OF FAMILIES IN NEED DELIVERING ESSENTIAL FOOD STAPLES. OUR SUPPORT FOR THIS ACTIVITY CONTINUES MONTHLY TO 20 FAMILIES THROUGH THE VOLUNTEER EFFORTS OF OUR PARTNER IN THE DR, CASA MISIONERA. THE FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM IN HERRERA AND NAGUA PUTS VOLUNTEERS INTO THE HOMES OF THE MOST VULNERABLE IN THE COMMUNITY. THEY BECOME AWARE OF OTHER NEEDS THAT CAN BE MET THROUGH MEDICAL ATTENTION, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, AND PROVISIONS IN THE HOME THAT ARE NEEDED FOR THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THE FAMILIES SERVED. WHILE THE FOOD PROVIDES FOR THE FAMILY'S NUTRITIONAL NEEDS, THE REGULAR VISITS FROM A CARING YOUNG PERSON PROVIDE ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE FAMILIES AS WELL AS GIVES THE STUDENT VOLUNTEERS THE ABILITY TO GAIN THE EXPERIENCE OF LEADERSHIP THROUGH SERVICE. THIS PROGRAM ALSO GIVES THRIVE IN JOY VOLUNTEERS A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE OF GETTING TO KNOW THE PEOPLE WE ARE SERVING, TO HEAR THEIR STORIES, TO OFFER PRAYER, AND TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF PEOPLE LIVING IN A CULTURE VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE U.S. D. CONSTRUCT A LARGE-CAPACITY WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEM TO PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER TO THE COMMUNITY OF NAGUA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A LOCAL CHURCH WHO OVERSAW CONSTRUCTION AND WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR WATER DISTRIBUTION THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. E. REPAIR HOMES, PROVIDE HOUSEHOLD ITEMS TO FAMILIES IN NEED. EDUCATION, NUTRITION, HEALTH, AND FAITH COMMUNITY ALL OFFER HOPE FOR A BETTER LIFE FOR YOUNG ADULTS LIVING IN POVERTY IN THE DR. BUT IN ORDER TO REACH YOUNG PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE MAKING CRITICAL LIFE CHOICES, THEY MUST BE ENGAGED WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG. ANY OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THEIR PARENTS OR GUARDIANS WILL ALSO ENHANCE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT CHILDREN WILL HAVE THE DESIRE AND OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO SCHOOL FROM PRESCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND BEYOND. THRIVE IN JOY SUPPORTS PROGRAMS IN THE DR THAT COMBINE THESE FOUR ASPECTS OF DEVELOPMENT TO ADDRESS THE COUNTRY'S SERIOUS PROBLEM OF PERPETUAL POVERTY WITHIN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES. ACCORDING TO THE WEBSITE, WWW.WORLDPOPULATIONREVIEW.COM, DESPITE THE ECONOMIC GROWTH OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC OVER THE LAST DECADE, POVERTY IS STILL A LARGE PROBLEM AND A DISPROPORTIONATELY LOW AMOUNT OF GOVERNMENT SPENDING IS INVESTED IN EDUCATION. THE WEBSITE WWW.CHILDREN.ORG, STATES THAT HALF OF THE CHILDREN UNDER 18 IN THE DR LIVE IN POVERTY. AN ARTICLE POSTED TO WWW.BORGENPROJECT.ORG REVEALS THAT OUT OF THE 4.7 MILLION CHILDREN THAT LIVE IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, CLOSE TO 600,000 CHILDREN UNDER AGE 15 LACK PARENTAL CARE, AND OVER 1 MILLION CHILDREN LIVE IN POVERTY. THE PRESENCE OF CARING ADULTS TRAINED IN EDUCATION AND/OR HEALTHCARE WHO ARE DEDICATED TO ENSURING THE PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN LIVING IN COMMUNITIES OF EXTREME POVERTY ARE BEING SERVED IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE PARTNERSHIPS THRIVE IN JOY HAS ESTABLISHED AND WHY WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FACILITIES AND SERVICES OF THE REMAR ORPHANAGE, TIA TATIANA SCHOOL, AND COMMUNITY HEALTH INITIATIVES SUCH AS FOOD DISTRIBUTION AND ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER. WORKING WITH CASA MISIONERA'S YOUNG DOMINICAN LEADERS PROGRAM, WE HAVE AN IN-COUNTRY TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS WHO, THEMSELVES, ARE FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND ARE KEENLY AWARE OF THE NEEDS OF THEIR COMMUNITY. WITH THE SUPPORT FROM THESE 30 YOUNG PEOPLE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DIRECT OUR FUNDING TOWARDS LOW-INCOME CHILDREN IN PRESCHOOL ALL THE WAY UP TO YOUNG ADULTS WHO HAVE JUST ENTERED COLLEGE, WE HAVE INVESTED IN A CONTINUITY OF SERVICES THAT STAY WITH A YOUNG PERSON EVEN AFTER THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL. THIS TESTIMONY FROM CRISBEL, A CASA MISIONERA VOLUNTEER WHO IS NOW THE ADVISOR OF OUR C11 PROGRAM AT A HIGH SCHOOL IN HER COMMUNITY OF NAGUA, BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATES THE POSITIVE OUTCOMES OF WHAT WE DO: HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ALONGSIDE THRIVE IN JOY HAS IMPACTED MY LIFE IN A PERMANENT AND UNPARALLELED WAY. I MEAN THIS IN THE BEST POSSIBLE SENSE, OF COURSE. BEING AROUND PEOPLE THAT HAVE SO MUCH LOVE TAUGHT ME A LOT. ESPECIALLY GETTING TO KNOW THE TESTIMONY BEHIND THE CREATION OF THRIVE IN JOY, TAUGHT ME SUCH A VALUABLE AND EVERLASTING LESSON ABOUT RESILIENCE. THINGS THAT I WILL TAKE IN MY WALK WITH GOD THROUGH LIFE. I TURNED 20 THIS YEAR AND I CONTINUE TO REMEMBER THE THINGS I WAS EXPOSED TO AND THE THINGS I LEARNED ALONGSIDE THRIVE IN JOY. I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE THIS EXPERIENCE. " OUR ABILITY TO MONITOR AND EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF OUR SUPPORT IS FORGED THROUGH THE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE, TEACHERS, AND ADMINISTRATORS INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAMS WE SERVE. BY MAKING VISITS AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR TO THE SITES WE SUPPORT, WE ARE ABLE TO OBSERVE AND REPORT ON THE FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS, HOW THEY ARE IMPACTING THE WELL-BEING OF THE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE SERVED, AND CONSISTENCY IN THE NUMBERS OF CHILDREN SERVED. THROUGH OUR CONTINUED SUPPORT, WE'VE SEEN THE PROGRAMS WE'VE INVESTED IN EXPAND TO ACCOMMODATE MORE CHILDREN WHICH GIVES US ASSURANCE THAT EACH CHILD WITHIN THESE PROGRAMS IS SAFER AND MORE PROTECTED FROM THE DANGERS OF DRUGS, GANGS, VIOLENCE, AND ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS, INCLUDING HUMAN TRAFFICKING, THAT LURK IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THROUGH MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH NELSON PAULINO, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CASA MISIONERA IN THE DR, WE RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON ALL THE PROGRAMS IN WHICH WE ARE INVOLVED. WE WORK CLOSELY TO PLAN THE PROJECTS AND GIVE OUR VOLUNTEER TEAM MEMBERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THE CONNECTION WE FEEL TO THE CHILDREN, STAFF, AND DOMINICAN VOLUNTEERS WITH WHOM WE WORK. ON EVERY TRIP WE OBSERVE HOW THE LIVES OF OTHERS, AS WELL AS OUR OWN LIVES, ARE BEING TRANSFORMED BECAUSE OF THE GENEROSITY OF OUR DONORS WHO GIVE US THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE AND INVEST IN LASTING CHANGES THAT PROVIDE FAR MORE THAN MATERIAL BENEFITS. IT'S BEEN OUR EXPERIENCE, OVER THESE PAST NINE YEARS OF SERVING IN THE DR THAT HOPE, LOVE, AND JOY ARE THRIVING IN COMMUNITIES WHERE OTHERS MIGHT SEE ONLY POVERTY, FEAR, AND CONFLICT.