Rechanging Lives, Inc: A 501 (c) (3) Non-Profit and Faith-Based Organization

Mission:

“Rechanging Lives Inc.’ s mission is to create an environment that welcomes troubled youth that have been incarcerated, provides a safe and loving environment that integrates counseling, academic

pursuits, mentoring, group therapy, and an active program schedule that encourages its teens to make heart-felt, life-

changing decisions to ensure a healthy and productive life all while fostering interfaith dialogue and community cooperation.”

History In the Making:

A) Past:

In 1889 Jane Addams founded Hull House: the first settlement house to exist in the United States. This all purpose

community center helped the poor that lived in Chicago, Illinois (www.fastrackteaching.com).

Current Picture of Hull House (en.wikipedia.org):

B) Present: On May 18, 2009, Rechanging Lives, Inc. was established after its President/Founder Yolanda Johnson survived a long family

history of incarceration. For instance, her youngest brother was given two life sentences. Also, one of her nieces is

currently serving twenty years in prison. July 16, 2011 marked the day Rechanging Lives, Inc. received tax exemption.

Roseland Community Center; photo courtesy of Dallas Housing Authority

C) Future:

Photo courtesy of www.dallashistory.org

On 4408 S. 2nd Avenue Dallas, TX 75210 is the old Lee G. Bilal building. It formerly was a community center for Ethiopian Muslims.

Back in 1925, it was the original Lagow School House. However in 1926 when the Lagow School District was annexed, The Lagow family

donated it to the City of Dallas. Yet, when Realtor Thomas Mitchell appealed to the City of Dallas in 1959 for the former hosiery mill (1931) to serve as a “Negro Dance Hall”, they rejected the idea

(www.dallashistory.org). At this time, Rechanging Lives, Inc. wants the building so that we can turn it into a Christian Charter School.

Not only will it be a Christian Charter School but the rest of the block where the building is located will be used as a community center to

offer job training and other community resources to allow the community of South Dallas to become self-sufficient. Also, we will

have our RCL Café Experience restaurant to offer healthy food choices to the community. All along the property located at 4408 S. Second Ave. Dallas, TX 75210 was meant to be used for uplifting the

community.

Program Outlets:

•Mentoring•Cognitive Group Therapy

•Parenting Classes•Community Service Opportunities

•Bible Study•After-School Tutoring

•Community Resources•Community Events

Quantifying Results:

In order to prevent juvenile delinquency, youth are able to participate in open gym at the Roseland Community

Center.

Sampling Plan (Open Gym Statistics)/Data Collection Procedures (Number of Male and Female

Participants)/Tools (Line Graph and Table Chart) observed in the following:

1-Nov-1

2

4-Nov-1

2

7-Nov-1

2

10-Nov-1

2

13-Nov-1

2

16-Nov-1

2

19-Nov-1

2

22-Nov-1

2

25-Nov-1

2

28-Nov-1

2

1-Dec-

12

4-Dec-

12

7-Dec-

12

10-Dec-

12

13-Dec-

12

16-Dec-

12

19-Dec-

12

22-Dec-

12

25-Dec-

12

28-Dec-

12

31-Dec-

12

3-Jan-13

6-Jan-13

9-Jan-13

12-Jan-13

15-Jan-13

18-Jan-13

21-Jan-13

24-Jan-13

27-Jan-13

30-Jan-13

2-Feb-13

5-Feb-13

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Open Gym Statistics

Number of Males Number of Females Total

Date Number of Males Number of Females Total

1-Nov-12 20 8 28

2-Nov-12 21 7 28

3-Nov-12 23 9 32

5-Nov-12 27 15 42

6-Nov-12 26 8 34

7-Nov-12 20 4 24

8-Nov-12 27 8 35

9-Nov-12 42 15 57

10-Nov-12 24 9 33

12-Nov-12 7 4 11

13-Nov-12 15 7 22

14-Nov-12 15 7 22

15-Nov-12 24 10 34

16-Nov-12 24 8 32

4-Jan-13 46 10 56

17-Jan-13 32 11 43

31-Jan-13 31 9 40

1-Feb-13 26 7 33

4-Feb-13 21 11 32

7-Feb-13 15 17 32

Based on the results, the number of participants for open gym is declining. Therefore, other amenities must be in place for youth not to engage in delinquency. In

order to fulfill this goal, funding has to be in place.

Program Implementation:

According to research, “[The] strengths-based practice requires an accounting of what people know,

what they can do, what they want, and how they have managed to survive, given their circumstances. Practitioners must discover, name, and help employ the resources within and around the individual or

collectivity (Saleebey, 1992; Sullivan & Rapp, 1994; Weick, Rapp, Sullivan, & Kisthardt, 1989).”

Anticipated statistical and data analyses will show a decline in the rate of juvenile delinquency by 25%

within the first year of our program implementation of the strengths-based perspective.

Crime Rate:

6%

11%

5%

26%

2%

50%

Crime by Type-2011

Robberies Auto Thefts AssaultsBurgluries Other Thefts

Data taken from: http://www.city-data.com/crime/crime-Dallas-Texas.html

Rechanging Lives, Inc. will have an impact on the decrease in juvenile crime rate by 10% in the first

year of receiving funding.

35%

15%20%

30%

Sources of Contribution

Sponsors Fundraisers Grants State Funding

In order to keep our programs intact, Rechanging Lives, Inc. will collaborate with service providers within the community,

apply for grants, and conduct fundraising events.