Vision, Mission and Values of the UP™ Program

 At Kokomo Urban Outreach, our UP™ Program is dedicated to making a lasting impact on the lives of children and youth in our community. Today, I'd like to share with you the three pillars that form the foundation of our work: our Vision, Mission, and Values.

Vision: Preventing ACEs and Breaking the Poverty Cycle

The UP™ Program's vision is multifaceted, focusing on creating a brighter future for our youth by addressing key challenges they face:
  1. Keeping children and youth from experiencing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). ACEs are potentially traumatic events that occur during childhood and can have long-lasting negative effects on a person's health, well-being, and life outcomes.
  2. Breaking the cycle of childhood poverty that affects many families in our community.
  3. Helping those who have experienced ACEs to move through them with resilience.
To achieve this vision, we:
  • Provide a stable and supportive community
  • Offer positive role models and mentorship
  • Equip children and youth with essential life skills and coping mechanisms
  • Implement programs that address the root causes of poverty
  • Teach financial literacy and provide educational support to enhance future opportunities
  • Offer trauma-informed care and resilience-building activities for those who have experienced ACEs
By focusing on these areas, we strive to create a protective environment that not only shields young people from harmful experiences but also empowers them to overcome challenges and break free from generational cycles of poverty and trauma.

Mission: Fostering Self-Reliance

Our mission at Kokomo Urban Outreach remains clear and ambitious: "To ensure that every young person in Howard County has the education, work ethics, and life skills needed to transition successfully into a self-reliant adult".This mission drives everything we do in the UP™ Program. We achieve this by:
  • Offering comprehensive educational support
  • Teaching crucial work ethics through hands-on experiences
  • Providing life skills training that covers everything from financial literacy to basic home maintenance
By focusing on these key areas, we aim to empower our youth to become independent, capable adults who can thrive in any environment.

Values: The UP™ Creed

The values of the UP™ Program are encapsulated in our creed, which serves as a guiding principle for all participants. Our creed states:"I am Respectful, I am Responsible, I am Reliable, and I am Ready".Let's break down these "4 Rs" that form the core of our values:
  1. Respectful: We teach our youth to treat themselves, others, and their environment with dignity and consideration.
  2. Responsible: We encourage accountability for one's actions and decisions, fostering a sense of ownership over their lives.
  3. Reliable: We instill the importance of consistency and dependability, crucial traits for both personal and professional success.
  4. Ready: We prepare our youth to face challenges and seize opportunities with confidence and competence.
These values are not just words; they are lived experiences within our program. Through various activities, mentoring sessions, and community work, we help our participants internalize and embody these principles.

The UP™ Program at Kokomo Urban Outreach is more than just an after-school activity. It's a comprehensive approach to youth development that addresses the whole person. By aligning our expanded vision of preventing ACEs, breaking the poverty cycle, and nurturing resilience, with our mission of fostering self-reliance and our values embodied in the UP™ Creed, we create a powerful framework for positive change in our community.

As we continue to grow and evolve, these three pillars will remain at the heart of our work, guiding us as we strive to unleash the potential, passion and purpose in every child and youth we serve. Together, we're building a stronger, more resilient community where every young person has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their background or past experiences.

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