With our pilot, we wanted to make sure Kensington’s young people did not feel alone or unsupported. We used our connections in the neighborhood to introduce our young people to groups and caring adults working in the area. This “hang in there, you are not alone” message will remain central to our work. However, we also realize that the multiple epidemics occurring in Kensington can create toxic stress. We want our young people to be well-equipped as well as well-supported.
With the 2024 Kensington Community Resilience Fund, we are excited to offer the first of our efforts to equip our young people with tools for positive mental health. We are teaming up with Lakeside Global Institute to offer our young people LGI’s trauma awareness training within PB&J’s cooking format. Just like the 2023 KCRF grant funded our first core programs, the 2024 KCRF grant will launch our mental health curriculum.
Further, we are thankful for the flexibility of the 2024 KCRF grant. PB&J is growing as fast as possible, but that process entails uncertainty. We will use the 2024 KCRF grant to build towards daily programming and fund pop-up programs to maintain our connection to Kensington’s youth if we face delays.