Thrive AV!

Community safety

Antelope Valley

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

The AV faces critical issues including food insecurity, poverty, homelessness and lower college educational attainment, per 2024 “Bridging the Gaps in the AV” motion, by office of Kathryn Barger, LA County Board of Supervisor District 5. Families impacted by domestic violence are a great number within each of these critical areas. Data collected from current and previous adult Thrive Program participants show that 83% have skipped meals due to financial hardship, 67% shared their dependents currently have untreated health issues, 50% need connection to job training programs, while over 80% are unemployed due to hardships such as childcare and reliable transportation. Transitional age youth Thrive Program participants provided data indicating that 88% are interested in scholarship, volunteer and intern opportunities; 70% expressed that after learning about healthy relationships in our workshop they are or were previously in an unhealthy relationship, 68% of those said they would leave.

The Antelope Valley is a community built to thrive! The main cities and surrounding areas consist of generations of residents and relocated transients who have planted roots into the promising futures that can exist in the oasis of our large desert. A region filled with folks from many walks of life; this area supports a heavy aeronautics and aerospace industry with large government contractors such as Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman that are creating more jobs in STEM but has impacted the jobs-housing imbalance. As the population scales, sales taxes rise (currently 11.25%), limited resources and access to critical needs continue to prevent the community's ability to reach its true thrive trajectory. We seek to address community safety, youth economic advancement and resource gaps through our thrive programming. Our Junior Thrivers Program (JTP) and Thrivers in Partnership Program (TIPP) provide services in the areas of Violence Prevention, Youth Development, Survivor Empowerment, Resource Support, Life Skills, and Scholarship Opportunities. Our small team of seven support an entire region, without pay. We spend equal amounts of time sourcing funds, donations, sponsorship and community-based organization collaborations as we do full time operations. The LA2050 funding will provide Thrive Programming sustainment and scalability, further allowing a more effective, productive and healthy Antelope Valley.

LA County will be safer because Thrive Program participants (youth and adults) will reach the following goals:
Thrivers in Partnership participants will increase job readiness by 10% within 24 months illustrating the organization’s reach one, teach one ethos - guiding survivors to thrive economically and socially through support, career development, exploration and training.
Junior Thrivers Program participants will be able to demonstrate an understanding of power and control relationships, as well as the red flags that indicate teen dating violence. Complete day-to-day clerical tasks. Demonstrate an understanding of responsibilities and tasks necessary for effective organizational operation, including typical office/clerical tasks. The goal of the Junior Thrivers Program is to increase TAY career and collegiate placement by 10% in the Antelope Valley. We will continue to seek funding through grants, fellowships, donations and sponsorship as we have for the past 5 years.