The Caring Place is a youth development center that reaches out to youths in the inner city who may be in jeopardy of being entangled in the everyday life of drugs, violence, unemployment and hopelessness by providing programs and activities designed to enable young people to overcome the pressures and disadvantages of their environment. All of The Caring Place programs follow a goal to build self-esteem,confidence, increase educational potential and provide positive and motivational support environment where all youths have a chance to avoid, becoming a statistic.
The Caring Place reaches out to youth in the inner city who may be in jeopardy of being entangled in the everyday life of drugs, violence, unemployment, and hopelessness. About, 500 young people representing Latino, African-American, Asian and Caucasian backgrounds, have accessed The Caring Place. Approximately 95% of Caring Place youth participants live at or below the poverty level. The typical Caring Place youth comes from a single female parent family, has at least two other siblings, is of Hispanic, African-American or multi-racial background, and has an annual family income of $15,000 -- significantly below the federal poverty guideline of $25,575 for a family of four.
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| The Need in Our Community |
“It takes a village to raise a child.”
African proverb
The City of Allentown, like cities across the country, has too many low-income, inner-city children who become victims of today’s urban problems. Poverty, single-parent families, gun violence, gang activity, low educational achievement, drug addiction, and teen pregnancy are among the serious issues these children face. This environment does not nurture children; but it does create a sense of hopelessness.
The Caring Place recognizes the need to take action to improve the quality of life of young people trapped in this vicious cycle of poverty, violence and neglect. Many have few support systems and no family structure. These children who “parent” their siblings, who have lost their own childhood, need options and opportunities.
The Caring Place and its host of volunteers are taking action now.
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