In our community there are so many kids who don’t take the big steps necessary to take advantage of traditional youth programs. They often want more out of life, but these kids end up ‘outside the fence’. They live the street life, maybe because they lack parental involvement, or just have a bad attitude. Honestly, most traditional youth programs aren’t set up for kids who tend to be a distraction, struggle to stay focused and don’t follow the rules.

Providence Road exists to “jump the fence” so that we might engage these youth, especially those who tend to be natural leaders and are teachable, but don’t fit existing programs.

The Providence Road program seeks to end the cycle of generational poverty. Our goal is to change attitudes and change the culture, “outside the fence”.

What We Teach

We envision a community where tough youth have an invitation to:

• live a bigger story supported by adults and youth leaders

• the opportunity to learn new skills,

• exposure to the world outside their neighborhood, and

• a stipend to help them meet their needs

Providence Road…changing attitudes and culture

Ages 12-18

Many kids “outside the fence” don’t know emotional management, self-regulation, or have the coping skills that help them stay out of trouble and persist in the face of difficulty. Because of this, Providence Road doesn’t sanitize it’s meetings, and not only allows, but encourages distractions. We want our Jump Team members to have an opportunity to practice staying focus, because the street, schools, and their homes are full of distractions and hard stuff.

Providence Road Jump Team leaders receive a stipends to help them meet their needs while volunteering in the community instead of at a local fast food restaurant.

Core Values

• Trust.  Providence Road coaches and leaders stay true to their word, lead by example, and take the time to listen well, all that youth might develop the confidence to join us.   Providence Road brings trust where there is no trust.

• Culture.  The Providence Road culture isn’t sanitized because life ‘outside the fence’ isn’t sanitized.  Our culture also has elasticity so that we can thrive amidst the difficulties associated with youth who are volatile and easily distracted.  

• Affirmation.   Providence Road is about affirming Big Steps and celebrating  ‘wins’.

• Attitude.  The Providence Road journey begins when youth are invited to change their attitude, from that of ‘taking’ to a posture of ‘receiving’.  The process that Providence Road offers cultivates an appreciation for structure, being accomplished, and awakens desire.

• Leadership.  The culmination of the Providence Road effort is leadership that represents these values;  focused, struggling together, strong on behalf of others, all ‘outside the fence’.

   
  
  

Providence Road is all about teaching and doing. But to impact these youth, we are very much about noticing and ‘finding’. We notice when Jump Team members step into greatness and are quick to offer ‘snaps’. And to really live, we must all find our ‘why’ and our voice. Attitudes change when these youth find their ‘why’, and cultures change when leaders raise their voices in the communities.

Take a good look at these Jump Team pics.

The journey is long, and the effort great on behalf of these youth. They are so worth it.

Want to learn more, want to experience Providence Road and take steps with youth in your community who are ‘outside the fence’?

Call Coach J @ 225.335.2395 or

Cole @ 206.920.0826

Jump Team leaders are readers:

|Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

|Hillbilly Elegy

|Jump Team leaders use a planner!