In the Media
Proclamation from the City Counsel of New Orleans
CULTIVATING YOUTH
WHO WE ARE
Cultivating Youth (CY) is a 501c(3) that works to eliminate childhood trauma, restore healing, prevent violence, and reduce obesity in New Orleans youth ages 8-18 through physical activity, mental health, education, and mentorship.
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Cultivating Youth was founded by Executive Director Mack Terrance Sr., whose lived experiences growing up in Central City, New Orleans, shaped the organization's mission. During his incarceration, Mack confronted the systemic and personal factors that led him to prison. Upon release, he committed to becoming the mentor and support system he once needed.
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Cultivating Youth centers its work on holistic wellness—addressing physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health. Mack’s passion for wellness began in his youth as an athlete, where he learned the value of discipline, physical fitness, and self-care. That passion deepened after the heartbreaking loss of his mother, who passed away from bone marrow cancer despite being in excellent physical shape. This experience reinforced his belief in whole-person wellness and the importance of early intervention and support.
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In 2016, Mack and his wife, Mia Y. Terrance, began grassroots youth outreach in their community. By 2019, they opened the Motivation Team Athletic Academy, a for-profit athletic training facility. Building on that momentum and community trust, they officially established Cultivating Youth as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2021.
Childhood trauma and obesity are the main barriers that plagues our community.
Cultivating Youth addresses community barriers like obesity and trauma through comprehensive youth development and enrichment. CY provides meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks), educational tools, cooking lessons, life skills, childcare, career exploration, academic support, therapeutic healing, and mentorship. Emphasizing mental health services, nutrition, and physical fitness, CY combats childhood obesity and overeating, often linked to trauma coping mechanisms by exposing youth to different therapeutic methods. 20% of school-aged children are obese (National Survey of Children’s Health). The enrichment and homework assistance component of our program directly assists with the academic support that families benefit from the most. Only 8% of New Orleans children enter kindergarten developmentally “very ready” physically, emotionally, socially and cognitively. Research continues to show the positive long-term impacts of high-quality early care and education, particularly for low-income children (Orleans Public Education Network).Through CY’s time spent mentoring at the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center (Youth Study) we have gained the trust of the incarcerated youth and able to delve deeper into why most are committing crimes such as carjacking and robbery. Most crimes stem from the lack of financial stability, learned behavior from their environment and lack of enrichment resources. CY’s violence prevention includes providing youth with enriching activities, employment opportunities, social skills, and conflict resolution training. 1 in every 3 African American men will spend time in prison in their life. Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate in the United States (Census Bureau 2010 & FBI Uniform Crime Reports 2010 & Justiceatlas.org). CY offers a supportive environment, exposing youth to new experiences and relatable mentors who inspire positive change.
HOW WE SERVE
After School: Geared towards 8-12 year olds. Operate Monday - Thursday from 3:30pm - 6:00pm. Students complete homework/studying with Tulane University students on-site (if needed), actively work with mentors, participate in physical fitness activities or athletic training and will receive a free meal daily.
Mentoring: Geared towards 13-18 year old youth. We require a check-in, at minimum, twice a week with mentors to provide updates on their improvement plans that are curated to their specific needs and/or to participate in enrichment activities.
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Summer Camp: Intake 20-40 youth ages 8-12 years old. We assist youth in the community with discovering a healthy lifestyle coupled with physical fitness, literacy, mental wellness, life skills, culinary lessons, entrepreneurship, different career exploration breakouts, a summer trip & more!
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Work-Study Mentee: Allow teens 13-15 who are CY mentees to help with the programs and provide them with a stipend. This allows youth to make some money and assists CY with programming while also being able to pour into youth.
Summer Jobs: hire teen and young adults (16-24) to work during the Summer Enrichment program to teach, connect and peer mentor youth.
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Youth Incarceration: Work with the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center (Youth Study). Go into the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center 2 days per week to provide boxing, cardio fitness, physical activities, nutrition education and mentoring. The mentoring approach focuses on restoration, advocacy and future planning.
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Family to Prison Pipeline: Provides relationship restoration support, propose bills that will positively effect those incarcerated and their loved ones, advocate for youth and parents that need support navigating the legal system, etc.
The Problem
20%
20% of school-aged children are obese.
8%
Only 8% of New Orleans children enter kindergarten developmentally “very ready” physically, emotionally, socially and cognitively.
60%
60% of children in New Orleans experience PTSD.
21%
Among New Orleans families, 21% live in poverty, with African America families experiencing poverty at much higher rates (30%) than white families.
1 in 3
1 in every 3 African American men will spend time in prison in their life.
Our Solutions
100%
100% of our mentees are learning conflict resolution and have never experienced incarceration.
100%
100% of our mentees have a fitness goal and regiment that they work to achieve 4 days a week.
100%
100% of our mentees receive daily meals and nutrition.
100%
100% of our youth have an assigned academic assistant.
100%
100% of our youth have access to a therapist and mentor to help combat childhood trauma.
