UP™ Front with Jeff Newton

  Kareen Dunn leading a Huddle at Taylor St. The first time I saw Traeshawn, he was but a silhouette against the harsh light of a setting sun, casting long shadows on the wall of the Kokomo Urban Outreach Building. At 15, he carried the weight of the world in his eyes, yet his frame was light. He looked fragile. His skin was the rich color of the earth after rain, and atop his head was a cascade of dark braids pulled into a neat bun.  Traeshawn's clothes were a canvas of his unique expression . His tie-dyed t-shirt, like a coat of many colors , seemed to hold the swirls of a thousand dreams. His tight,  ripped skinny jeans  spoke of the rough edges of his young life, while his  yellow Crocs  were a defiant splash of color in a world that often seemed too gray. I sensed he couldn't care less what people thought about him.  He was his own man. He wasn't alone; two girls flanked him, their laughter a stark contrast to his solemnity. When I muster...

  KUO's initial approach to helping people in poverty focused on providing basic necessities for a decade, which proved insufficient in alleviating poverty. Founder Jeff Newton, in collaboration with the now Director of Operations and former Director of Food Outreach, Deanna Ancil, recognized the need for a more sustainable solution to addressing the issues surrounding poverty. Inspired by Robert Lupton's critique of "Toxic Charity" (Lupton, 2014), they envisioned a program that fostered self-reliance in participants. This shift in philosophy led to the development of the UP™ program, transitioning from solely providing necessities to empowering youth to develop the skills needed to overcome poverty. The arrival of current Program Director Kareen Dunn when the program was three months old marked a crucial turning point. Dunn's experience working with children facing similar challenges to his allowed him to refine the program and provide valuable coaching to staff...