Foster youth in Los Angeles often enter the system due to circumstances beyond their control—neglect, abuse, and abandonment. These youth face significant barriers, including mental health struggles, low high school graduation rates, and high interaction with the juvenile justice system and homelessness.

“A Greater Me” is a 9-week empowerment program designed by Urban Uplift, Inc. to provide foster and underserved male youth age 14-21 with life-changing access to mentorship, professional development, and practical life skills. In 2025, our pilot program enrolled 40 youth and graduated 20 with overwhelmingly positive feedback. In 2026, we aim to expand this impact. The program integrates wellness education and access to healthy food through our expanding community garden, where youth learn to cultivate, harvest, and prepare nutritious produce as part of their personal growth.

Our Project Aims, Goals & Community Involvement:
“A Greater Me” aims to break the cycle of poverty, isolation, and disenfranchisement by equipping foster youth with the tools, connections, and confidence they need to thrive.

Our 9-week program will take place from January 3 to February 28, 2026, and will include:
• Workshops led by volunteer professionals: life coaches, HR executives, lawyers, DCFS social workers, healthcare workers, accountants, etc.
• Gardening & Wellness Education: participants learn to grow vegetables —Workshops address food scarcity and teach youth how sustainable gardening can provide affordable, healthy meals for their families.
• Vocational career exposure in barbering, plumbing, electrical work, construction, and other trades.
• Job and college readiness include career panels and presentations from community colleges and the armed forces.
• Life skills education: entrepreneurship, creative writing, etiquette, law enforcement protocol, and financial literacy.
• Personal development: self-care, mental health, &civic engagement.
• Peer mentorship, hot meals & clothing.