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.

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

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.