SUPPORT FOR FOSTER YOUTH– CONTINUING EDUCATION AND TRANSITIONING 

After turning 18, foster youth are termed out of the foster care system and many are faced with significant challenges in continuing their education and transitioning into society. According to research, only six percent of former foster youth have finished college by age 23 and many are forced to live on the streets. To address these issues, it is essential to identify those at risk and provide them with the necessary resources and support, ideally before they exit the foster care system.

Services and Supports:

Independent Living programs aim to help foster children transition to self-sufficiency by equipping them with the necessary tools they may lack. Through targeted education programs they receive training on completing college applications, resume and interview preparedness, employment, personal budgeting, housing and transportation guidance. These programs also offer personal and emotional support to youth  aged 18 up to 26 to complement their own efforts towards self-sufficiency and emphasize personal responsibility for preparing for adulthood.

SUPPORT FEEDING THE HUNGRY

Our vision is to focus on and root out the core causes of poverty, rather than treating the symptoms, because at that point it’s almost too late to turn it around.

1. Sustainable Food: Fund projects so people can provide food for themselves in a sustainable way. Ultimately we would like to see many impoverished areas not reliant on aid from foreign countries, but rather be able to create their own, steady, supply of food. Promote sustainable agriculture practices, reduce carbon emissions, and support alternatives to industrial agriculture to ensure healthy soils, diverse crops, and resilient livestock breeds.

2. Access to Credit: Help people in impoverished and underdeveloped countries gain access to credit. Most of these credit loans are repaid, and they have created many industries, such as farms, that help generate a sustainable provision for people and also develop nations economically. If these people do not have access to credit, they face a daunting challenge to be able to start and build up industries that combat poverty.

3. Food Donations: It would be ideal to get the entire world to a place of self-sustainability, however it is not something that will happen overnight. In the meantime it is important to lend a helping hand. The impact of donations, both cash and food, can have an immense impact on the short-term challenge of world hunger.

4. Enshrine the rights of indigenous and local communities: to manage their natural resources, including pastures, forests, and fisheries, to promote sustainable livelihoods and food security.

5. Urban Farming: Nearly one-quarter of undernourished people live in an urban environment. There has been a big push for urban farming. Urban farming empowers families to gain control over their own food source. Our goal is to foster local markets with short supply chains, promote urban farming, and connect consumers to small-scale farmers through fair-trade cooperatives and government policies.

6. Access to Education: Education is the best weapon against poverty and hunger. It is especially powerful in underdeveloped countries. Education means better opportunity and more access to income and food.

7. Social Awareness and Change: Bringing awareness of poverty to local communities through grass-roots education is a critical start to addressing the issue. Over 35 million are living in poverty in the USA alone and poverty does not discriminate. Poverty leads to hunger, homelessness, humiliation and hopelessness. Our goal is to reverse this domino effect by focusing on solving these issues instead of exacerbating them. However, this can only start when people begin to care and take this epidemic seriously and compassionately through grass roots efforts to spread the word and educate the local communities.

SUPPORT VETERANS IN TRANSITION

Veterans transitioning back into society face a range of challenges, including:

• Unemployment and Homelessness: Difficulty translating military skills to civilian employment and navigating the job market and struggling to secure  stable housing as a result of unemployment
• Residual Mental Health Issues: Coping with stress-related disorders, PTSD and other mental health issues that can lead to veteran suicide
• Disability: Navigating the process of obtaining benefits and services from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
• Readjustment: Adapting to civilian life, including social and community reintegration

To address these challenges, programs need to offer support, including:

• Transition Assistance Programs: Tailored to individual service member needs, providing resources for employment, education, and benefits
• VA Benefits: Access to healthcare, disability compensation, education, and other services
• Employment Programs: Matching military training and skills with civilian occupations, and providing resources for credentialing and apprenticeships
• Counseling and Employment Assistance: One-on-one support for navigating the job market and addressing mental health concerns
• Community-Based Services: Rehabilitation programs, case management, and community-based care for physical and mental health needs

It is essential for veterans to apply for and manage their VA benefits, as well as seek out employment and counseling services to facilitate a successful transition back into society. We envision a world where veterans have free access to compassionate healing options through qualified teams of Integration Coaches and Healing grants to eradicate the scars of mental and physical wounds of war.

SUPPORT UNSAFE PRECIOUS METAL MINING OPERATIONS

1. Capacity building: Strengthening local and national institutions responsible for overseeing artisanal and small-scale mining sectors can help enforce regulations, protect miner rights, and formalize the sector.

2. Simplifying trade procedures: Working with African governments and international organizations to streamline trade processes and market access can enable miners to participate legally and more fully in global supply chains.

3. Formalization: Integrating artisanal mining into the formal economy can benefit both miners and economies alike. This can be achieved through capacity building, trade procedure simplification, and institutional strengthening.

4. Technology adoption: Artisanal miners can utilize various methods to simplify the artisanal gold mining process in Africa by entrusting the local government and artisans with the latest mining technology and machinery to enhance their gold mining operations.

5. Diversification of livelihoods: Encouraging rural households to diversify their livelihoods, which can help mitigate the negative impacts of fluctuations in the gold market and reduce the sector’s environmental and social risks.

6. Increase Production: Help develop programs that promote safe working conditions. This in turn helps them increase their revenues and earnings. We want to empower the Artisans by improving the quality of their daily life and giving them the modern tools to create a regular and secured income model.

In Summary: How we can help
As mineral extraction in Africa is only expected to increase in the foreseeable future, it would be strategically unwise for the international community, to sit idly by on the issue of formalizing artisanal mining.

Going forward, the we can focus on capacity building and simplifying trade processes and market access to help formalize artisanal mining in Africa, which could lead to increased global investment in critical minerals. To build the foundation for policies and programs that provide legal protection for artisanal and small-scale miners, we support funding and support training programs for artisanal miners, local authorities, and government officials on sustainable mining practices, health and safety standards, regulatory compliance, and business skills. By strengthening local and national institutions responsible for overseeing the artisan and small-scale mining sector, governments would be better able to enforce regulations, protect the rights of artisanal miners, and formalize the sector.

SUPPORT AFFORDALE HOUSING PROJECTS FOR ALL ASPECTS OF SOCIETY

1. Market Affordable Housing: Develop housing without direct government subsidy, but with rent or sale prices set at affordable levels.

2. Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): Allow ADUs, which are typically affordable units that diversify a city’s housing stock and make efficient use of existing homes. Cities like Seattle, WA, Princeton, N.J., and Washington, D.C., and more recently statewide in CA, have relaxed zoning ordinances to enable more ADUs.

3. Starter Homes Programs – Workforce Housing:  Starter Homes Programs, such as the Habitat for Humanity’s program in Flagstaff, AZ provides simple, efficient, stand-alone homes  for low-income families to purchase with low interest loans, a down payment of $1,000 and monthly payments below comparable rent. Creating a path to homeownership builds equity for low-income homeowners and add to the community’s housing inventory to serve multiple families well into the future.

4. Co-Ownership Models: Develop models of co-ownership as an alternative to purchasing and renting for low-income earners, providing affordable housing options.

5. Urban Renewal: Improve mechanisms for urban renewal, which can involve redeveloping existing properties, incorporating affordable housing, and revitalizing neighborhoods.

6. Community Land Trust Co-Ops:  Support permanently affordable and environmentally sustainable housing co-ops such as Square One in Lane County, Oregon. Duplicate this model through local and regional private funding and low interest loans.

7. Non-Profit Community Development: Engage non-profit community developers, like Housing Alexandria, which create quality affordable housing and community-focused spaces to empower residents and neighborhoods.

8. Long-Term Affordable Housing: Create dedicated affordable housing by buying existing housing stock or building new units, with rent or resale limits ensuring affordability for low, moderate, and middle-income households.

By implementing these strategies, it is possible to create a comprehensive approach to affordable housing, addressing the needs of low, moderate, and middle-income households and contributing to more equitable and sustainable communities.

SUPPORT CLEAN WATER SOLUTIONS FOR THOSE IN NEED

Access to clean water is arguably one of the most powerful tools for fueling economic growth and sustainability throughout the planet. To address the global water crisis, various organizations and initiatives employ diverse strategies. Here are some key approaches:

1. Community-Led Development: Organizations like Water For People empower local communities to take ownership of their water and sanitation systems, ensuring lasting access to clean water and hygiene services.

2. Low-Cost, High-Impact Purification Systems: Initiatives like Healing Waters International and Charity: Water develop and implement affordable, portable water purification systems tailored to specific local contexts, providing safe drinking water to communities worldwide.

3. Large-Scale Infrastructure Development: Organizations like World Vision invest in building and maintaining water treatment plants, wells, and distribution networks, reaching millions of people with access to clean water.

4. Hygiene and Sanitation Education: Many initiatives focus on promoting good hygiene practices and sanitation habits, reducing the risk of waterborne diseases and ensuring the effectiveness of clean water interventions.

Providing clean water to those in need requires a combination of community engagement, technology, and infrastructure development. Low-cost, high-impact solutions can be effective in diverse contexts. Large-scale infrastructure development is crucial for reaching millions of people, while hygiene and sanitation education are essential for ensuring the long-term effectiveness of clean water initiatives.

We will support organizations like Water For People, Charity: Water, Healing Waters International, and World Vision in addressing the global water crisis, and their approaches can serve as models for future efforts.

SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE REGENERATIVE FARMING

Our Vision is to promote and support worldwide sustainable regenerative farming systems that are better for the environment by improving and maintaining soil health. While our Vision also supports organic farming through the elimination of pesticides and herbicides, we believe that regenerative farming systems promote natural processes to improve and preserve soil fertility. When combining regenerative farming systems with crop covering the added benefits are tenfold:

• Prevents fewer crop diseases
• Produces more nutrient dense produce
• Helps manage soil erosion
• Produces natural fertilizers
• Easy and cost effective to implement
• Reduces overall carbon emissions

SUPPORT THE REDUCTION OF PLASTIC POLLUTION AND CONTAMINANTS IN OUR OCEANS AND WATERWAYS

1. Reduce Plastic Pollution at the Source
Refuse single-use plastics (straws, bags, utensils, containers)
Purchase reusable alternatives (bags, bottles, utensils, coffee cups)
Support businesses that offer alternatives

2. Develop and Scale Technologies – Ocean Cleanup
Passive ocean cleanup systems: Leverage natural ocean currents and winds to transport plastic towards collection platforms
Active systems: Use vessels like Mr. Trash Wheel or trash wheels in Baltimore Harbor to collect plastic waste
Innovative solutions: Explore new technologies, such as the Bubble Barrier, to capture plastic waste

3. Monitor and Remove Microplastics
Research and development: Study the impact of microplastics on marine life and ecosystems
Removal methods: Explore techniques to remove microplastics from the ocean, such as using filters or biodegradable materials

4. Collaborate and Educate
International cooperation: Join global initiatives like the International Coastal Cleanup and the Global Ocean Cleanup
Community engagement: Educate the public about the importance of reducing plastic pollution and participating in cleanups
Support organizations: Partner with organizations like The Ocean Conservancy, Surfrider Foundation, and Ocean Blue Project to amplify efforts

5. Address Plastic Pollution in Rivers and Landfills
River cleanup technologies: Implement solutions like Interceptors and AlphaMERS’ mesh fences to remove trash from rivers
Landfill management: Improve waste management practices to reduce plastic waste entering rivers and oceans

7. Support Policy Changes and Research
Advocate for policy changes: Encourage governments to implement policies reducing plastic production and increasing recycling
Research and development: Continuously fund and conduct research on plastic pollution, its impacts, and effective cleanup methods
By adopting a multi-faceted approach that combines source reduction, cleanup efforts, technological innovation, and community engagement, we can work towards a cleaner, healthier ocean.