Kidz 2 Leaders Inc

KIDZ2LEADERS EXISTS TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF INCARCERATION BY PROVIDING STABILITY, OPPORTUNITY AND A CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY FOR CHILDREN OF INMATES. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS BY HELPING THEM RISE ABOVE THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES, ENPOWERING THEM TO BECOME LEADERS AND PROVIDING A LIFE OF HOPE THROUGH INTENTIONAL, FAITH-BASED PROGRAMMING IN A LOVING ENVIRONMENT. OUR 10-YEAR PROGRAM CONTINUUM IS DESIGNED TO CULTIVATE LONG-TERM, SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS, BEGINNING WITH CHILDREN AT AGE EIGHT AND SERVING THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH YOUNG ADULTHOOD. WE BELIEVE IT IS ONLY THROUGH THIS LONG-TERM COMMITMENT THAT WE CAN TRULY END GENERATIONAL INCARCERATION. YOUNG ADULTS WHO COMPLETE OUR DECADE OF PROGRAMMING ARE ON A TRAJECTORY TOWARD LIVING THEIR LIVES FREE FROM INCARCERATION AND CONTRIBUTING POSITIVELY TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED AT NO CHARGE TO OUR PARTICIPANTS.

CAMP HOPE: CAMP HOPE IS A SIX-DAY, OVERNIGHT CAMP THAT GIVES PRISONERS' CHILDREN WHO LIVE IN THE METRO-ATLANTA AREA A WEEK FILLED WITH LOVE, ACTIVITIES, AND FELLOWSHIP. THE PURPOSE IS TO DEVELOP AND FOSTER TRUSTING CHRISTIAN RELATIONSHIPS WITH CHILDREN OF INMATES BY ENGAGING THEM IN A FUN, WORSHIPFUL AND A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. THE LOWER CAMP, CALLED CORNERSTONE, IS OUR ENTRY POINT INTO THESE KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES' LIVES, AND ONLY ACCEPTS FIRST-YEAR ATTENDEES AT THE 4TH OR 5TH GRADE LEVEL. ONCE CHILDREN ATTEND CAMP, WE WORK WITH THEM THROUGHOUT THEIR CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF THEIR LIVES. WE OFFER ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES AT CAMP FOR ACCEPTING CHRIST AND FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP SKILLS. THE LEADERSHIP TRAINING ACADEMY (LTA) PORTION OF CAMP HOPE IS BY INVITATION FOR THOSE CAMPERS WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE CORNERSTONE AND CONSISTS OF RISING SEVENTH, EIGHTH AND NINTH GRADERS. LTA BUILDS ON THE FOUNDATION SET FORTH IN CORNERSTONE. THIS CAMP ENGAGES CORPORATE LEADERS, MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKERS, AND PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES TO SPEAK TO, WORK WITH AND ENCOURAGE OUR CAMPERS TO BECOME CHRISTIAN SERVANT LEADERS. LTA CAMPERS PARTICIPATE IN TEAM BUILDING EXERCISES TO REINFORCE THE LEADERSHIP TOPICS OF THE DAY. WHEN CAMPERS GRADUATE FROM LTA, THEY ARE ELIGIBLE TO SERVE AS TEEN COUNSELORS TO CAMPERS. THEY CAN ALSO PROGRESS TO CABIN LEADERS AND PAID SUMMER CAMP STAFF. THE CAMP AND OTHER PROGRAMS ARE NO-CHARGE TO CAMPERS AND CAMPER-TURNED-COUNSELORS.

BEGINNING IN 2016, KIDZ2LEADERS STARTED HOLDING FAMILY RETREAT WEEKENDS. THE FAMILIES PLAY, BIKE, COOK, FISH, CLIMB, PAINT AND WORSHIP TOGETHER. PARENTS AND CUSTODIANS SPEND TIME IN BIBLE STUDY AND SHARING GROUPS. THESE SEMI-ANNUAL EVENTS PROVIDE MEALS, LODGING, BUS TRANSPORTATION, AND ALL ACTIVITIES AND SUPPLIES TO THE PARTICIPATING FAMILIES. CAMPERS ARE REUNITED WITH THEIR FRIENDS IN A FAMILIAR CAMP-LIKE SETTING AND PARENTS AND CUSTODIANS SHARE FOOD, FELLOWSHIP AND FUN WITH OTHERS. OTHER KIDZ2LEADERS PROGRAMS INCLUDE HOPE4CHRISTMAS PARTY FOR OUR CAMPERS WHERE THEY ARE REUNITED WITH THEIR COUNSELORS, CELEBRATE THE SEASON, AND RECEIVE GIFTS AND GROCERY CERTIFICATES. KIDZ2LEADERS ALSO HOST FIELD TRIPS WITH FUN ACTIVITIES FOR OUR CAMPERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

INTERNS4TOMORROW: THIS PROGRAM PLACES STUDENTS IN PAID SUMMER INTERNSHIPS WITH ATLANTA-AREA BUSINESSES. INTERNS4TOMORROW IS BY INVITATION ONLY TO OUR OLDER STUDENTS WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE FIRST SIX YEARS OF KIDZ2LEADERS PROGRAMMING AND WHO HAVE SERVED AS A COUNSELOR AT CAMP HOPE. BENEFITS THE STUDENTS RECEIVE INCLUDE PREPAREDNESS TO REACH CAREER AND LIFE GOALS, AS WELL AS LEADERSHIP, FINANCIAL, JOB, AND LIFE SKILLS TO DISENTANGLE FROM GOVERNMENT RELIANCE AND BREAK FREE FROM THE CYCLE OF INCARCERATION. THE INTERNS ATTEND RETREATS AND BUSINESS AND COLLEGE FIELD TRIPS. THESE YOUTH ARE ACTING AS AGENTS OF CHANGE IN THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES WHERE INCARCERATION AND DEPENDENCY ON GOVERNMENT FUNDS IS A WAY OF LIFE.

THE CAMPER-TURNED-COUNSELOR: THE PROGRAM ASSISTS IN TRANSITIONING THE CAMPER INTO A SUCCESSFUL COUNSELOR BY OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND INCREASE CONFIDENCE. BY OFFERING TWO WEEKEND CAMPING RETREATS A YEAR WITH OPPORTUNITY FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND IMPROVED TEAMBUILDING, THE CAMPER- TURNED-COUNSELORS ARE BETTER ABLE TO MODEL CHRIST-LIKE BEHAVIOR FOR THEIR CAMPERS. THESE EVENTS PROVIDE THE STAFF WITH A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE STUDENTS' DAILY LIVES AND CIRCUMSTANCES TO BETTER SUPPORT THEM DURING THE YEAR AND AT CAMP HOPE.