Lexington Leadership Foundation Inc

THE FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO THIS MISSION: "THROUGH CHRIST AND THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WE CONNECT LEADERS, UNIFY THE BODY AND MOBILIZE PEOPLE TO TRANSFORM LEXINGTON INTO A CITY FOR GOD."

URBAN IMPACT & WOODHILL COMMUNITY CENTER (WCC) - THIS INITIATIVE INCLUDES SEVERAL PROGRAMS TO EMPOWER YOUTH TO STAY IN SCHOOL, DEVELOP CONFIDENCE AND SELF-RESPECT, AND BECOME LEADERS. COLLECTIVELY, THESE ENGAGE MULTIPLE PARTNER AGENCIES AND VOLUNTEERS IMPACTING OVER 1,250 CHILDREN AND YOUTH DURING 2021. INCLUDED ARE IN-SCHOOL GROUP MENTORING, AS WELL AS AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING AT WCC AND OTHER PARTNER SITES. AFTER-SCHOOL SESSIONS CONSIST OF READING, HOMEWORK HELP, CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, LIFE SKILLS TRAINING, ART AND GYM TIME. ACTIVITY WAS STILL PARTIALLY LIMITED DURING 2021 BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. SUMMER CAMPS OCCURRED ON THE STREETS IN LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS, ALLOWING FOR SMALL GROUP GATHERINGS. THE ANNUAL BACK-TO-SCHOOL RALLY AND SUPPLY DISTRIBUTION WAS CONDUCTED IN SOCIALLY DISTANCED MANNER. VOLUNTEERS CONTINUED TO HOST THE WOODHILL INTERNATIONAL MARKET FROM MAY-OCTOBER, OFFERING AFFORDABLE FRESH LOCAL PRODUCE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD VIA DRIVE-THROUGH DELIVERY. VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF MET WITH MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL GROUPS FOR COOKING CLUB, DRAMA CLUB, FUTSAL, AND OPEN GYM TIMES. CELEBRATIONS FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES AND COLLEGE PREP COACHING CONTINUED FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OUR NETWORK.

AMACHI CENTRAL KENTUCKY - SINCE 2004, THE AMACHI PROGRAM HAS BEEN PROVIDING ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING FOR CHILDREN AGED 6-16 AFFECTED BY INCARCERATION, POVERTY, AND OPIOIDS. CHILDREN ARE MATCHED WITH CARING ADULT VOLUNTEERS (MENTORS) WHO HAVE COMMITTED TO SPEND AT LEAST ONE HOUR PER WEEK WITH THEM. MENTORS AND MENTEES PARTICIPATE IN A VARIETY OF POSITIVE, GOAL DRIVEN ACTIVITIES. MENTORS ARE RECRUITED FROM A BROAD SPECTRUM ACROSS THE COMMUNITY INCLUDING BUSINESSES, FAITH GROUPS, AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. VOLUNTEERS UNDERGO A THOROUGH BACKGROUND CHECK, INCLUDING IN-HOME VISITS AND REFERENCE CHECKS, AND RECEIVE SPECIALIZED TRAINING USING POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT METHODOLOGY. STUDENTS ARE REFERRED FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES. DURING 2021, 184 MATCHES WERE SERVED. FUNDING FOR AMACHI COMES FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES, INCLUDING DIRECT AND SUB-AWARDED FEDERAL FUNDS, PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATE AND INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT. INCLUDED IN 2021 REVENUE ARE THREE SUB-AWARDS TO THE AMACHI PROGRAM, EACH BEING PROJECTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE. THOSE THREE AWARDS INCLUDED LEADERSHIP FOUNDATIONS' MENTORING 2 THRIVE PROGRAM ($35,400), KNOXVILLE LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION'S OPIOID AFFECTED YOUTH INITIATIVE ($108,687), AND YOUTH COLLABORATORY'S MENTORING PLUS PROJECT ($39,982).

FATHERHOOD INITIATIVE (FI) - THIS INITIATIVE BEGAN IN OCTOBER, 2011 FOLLOWING AWARD OF A GRANT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. FOLLOWING CONCLUSION OF THAT GRANT IN 2015, STAFF AND BOARD DECIDED TO CONTINUE THE WORK, SEEKING FUNDING FROM OTHER SOURCES. THE GOAL OF FI REMAINS: TO EDUCATE FATHERS AND COMMUNITIES ON RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD PRACTICES, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, AND PROMOTE ECONOMIC STABILITY AMONG FAMILIES. SMALL GROUP CURRICULA CENTERED AROUND THESE COMPONENTS IS OFFERED AS A SIX OR 12-WEEK STUDY. FI PARTNERS WITH OVER 50 COMMUNITY AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO EXECUTE ITS PARTNERSHIP-DRIVEN MODEL. DURING 2021, DESPITE SOME CONTINUED LIMITATIONS DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, 135 FATHERS WERE SERVED. FATHERS ARE REFERRED FROM LOCAL JUDICIAL AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, GRASS ROOTS SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND THE COMMUNITY-AT-LARGE. FUNDING COMES FROM CORPORATE AND INDIVIDUAL SOURCES, PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THE 17TH ANNUAL FATHER'S DAY COMMUNITY CELEBRATION WAS HELD, ONCE AGAIN GATHERING HUNDREDS TO CELEBRATE FATHERS. PRESENTATION OF THE 3RD ANNUAL FATHERHOOD SUMMIT (A JOINT EFFORT WITH THE COMMONWEALTH CENTER FOR FATHERS AND FAMILIES, CCFF) WAS HELD ONLINE IN THE FALL, FEATURING NATIONAL AND STATE LEADERS IN THE FIELD. THIS COOPERATIVE EFFORT INVOLVING A BROAD BASE OF SERVICE PROVIDERS ACROSS THE STATE HAS AS ITS GOAL TO PROMOTE, ADVOCATE, AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE IMPACT OF POSITIVE FATHER INVOLVEMENT ON CHILD WELL-BEING. DURING 2021, LLF HELPED LAUNCH CCFF AS AN INDEPENDENT NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION TO FURTHER THE WORK OF FATHER CENTRIC PROGRAMMING ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY.