163: Providing At-Risk Kids With Positive Alternatives to Gangs, Drugs, Truancy, Violence, and Incarceration

Diane Latiker, founder of Kids Off The Block, joins The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast this week to talk about her inspiring story and her incredible work to help inner city kids. Kids Off The Block started in 2003, when Diane simply opened her home to youth in her community to help them steer away from the negative influences they saw daily. Kids Off The Block works with at-risk low income youth and young adults, between the ages of 12-24 years old, and provides them with positive alternatives to gangs, drugs, truancy, violence and incarceration. Kids Off The Block provides homework help, mentoring, tutoring, activities, and a "safe place" to hangout. Kids Off The Block also provides food and other resources for kids too. The density and variety of programming invites these young people to come “off the streets” and become engaged in events that are conducted in a safe and caring environment. In this episode, you’ll hear: Diane’s life story;  How she opened her home to her daughter’s friends and how that led to Kids Off The Block; About the incredible work of Kids Off The Block; Stories about the kids that Kids Off The Block works with and the difficulties they are facing; How Kids Off The Block has grown and evolved, and how they’re changing lives every single day; And so much more.  For more information about Diane and Kids Off The Block, please visit: }www.1girlrevolution.com/kidsofftheblock