Lauren’s House 4 Positive Change Inc.

  I AM FEARLESS

I AM AWESOME

I AM, LAUREN’S HOUSE 4 POSITIVE CHANGE INC.

 Meeting in East Palo Alto Library: Mon Tues Thurs 4:00-6:30 Wed 3:00-5:00pm

Unofficially Lauren’s House 4 Positive Change Inc. has been in existence since 1997. I have always been the fun adult that looked out for the kids I dealt with on a regular basis. Born and raised in the Gardens, I never saw East Palo Alto as anything other than Beverly Hills.  My family never exposed me to the violence and negativity that the news depicts. I lived on a street that had a loving family environment and that sheltered me from the reality of the streets.  The East Palo Alto that I know and loved streets echoed the sounds of the neighborhood Ice Cream truck. My summers were filled with football games on the dikes, with exciting walks with other neighborhood kids around the corner to the candy house, bike rides around the neighborhood, family road trips across the world while looking for the closest McDonald’s, weekend trips to San Francisco to Saks Fifth Avenue for mother daughter lunches, going to the East Palo Alto Seventh-day Adventist church for Vacation Bible School. Priceless fun! I still had to fight the stigma of being from East Palo Alto without knowing I has fighting the stigma. Why wouldn’t I think that being East Palo Alto, is awesome?  People don’t understand why I would compare East Palo Alto to Beverly Hills; it was clearly what I made out of. I lived in the house that neighborhood kids could come to and eat, especially on Friday nights. My grandfather, James Carter, was a community activitist, donating his time to EHP and other community groups. My Grandmother, Mary Carter, Head Deaconess of EPA Seventh-day Adventist Church and in charge of floral arranging. This was my childhood.. All of these opportunities made me a rare gem from East Palo Alto.

The ignorance and beliefs that being from East Palo Alto is a (dis)advantage is preposterous. I have never felt like I was at a (dis)advantage being from East Palo Alto. I have always looked at it, like it was my advantage. Working in the school districts and hearing first hand how are kids are being belittle is why; Lauren’s House 4 Positive Change was created. A positive non-judgmental safe haven dedicated to at-risk youths emotionally and academically uplifting while giving youths, with positive rewards. Lauren’s House 4 Positive Change Inc. wants to be build youths up so they can be loving and accepting of themselves regardless as to what others think about them.     

Mission Statement:

Lauren’s House 4 Positive Change Inc., provides a positive balance of love and guidance to any at-risk youths between the ages of 8 to 18 within San Mateo County and/or City East Palo Alto who are either wards of the courts and/ or homeless. Faith based, Lauren’s House 4 Positive Change, is a non-profit empowerment residential safe haven with, non-residential services dedicated to the academically and emotionally uplifting, of any at-risk youth in San Mateo County, with positive rewards.

  Lauren’s House 4 Positive Change offers the following services:

       Academic/Tutoring support

       Life skills training

       Education funds

       Fashion and design

       Art/Writing Services

       Life changing adventures

       Emotional support/expected to be positive, honest and try their best at all times   Anabolic empowerment groups

       Positive communication instead of hurting others feelings because you are mad

       Name your Gremlin (the voice inside you that says you can’t do something) and every time you hear it say to it, I am Fearless! I am awesome! I know I can

We believe that every child needs someone positive and non-judgmental that believes in them and brings out their best!

With California in a budget crunch, our goal is to raise $250k, so that we are not dependent on governmental funding. I have been a struggling parent and I am starting out struggling and that’s ok for now, however Lauren’s House 4 Positive Change doesn’t want to miss out on any opportunities because of finances. We want our first Life Changing Adventure to be a trip 13-day tour of Europe!  Lauren’s House 4 Positive Change believes that each child associated with our organizations deserves this magnificent opportunity. Every child in San Mateo, County deserves the opportunity to go to college and explore the world despite what others say. That's why we've created education funds for the community and life changing adventures for our participants.

Through therapy I realized, I allowed my manager's negative view of me being different, created doubt in how awesome being truly different is! I allowed my manager's image of where I was from, cloud my judgment of how AWESOME I AM, because I am from there. Even though I was doing the job the best I could, MY BEST was never good enough for her. I allowed her opinion of me, to out weigh mines. I allowed my manager to dictate that my job was first and my kids were second vs. me knowing I AM AWESOME  ENOUGH TO HAVE BOTH WORLDS. I can stride to have both worlds. If I am broken, I am no good to anyone. My manager’s views were my motivation, not feel sorry for myself, but to prove to myself  and others that East Palo Alto is a awesome place to be from. This experience even though it was unbearable at times, was truly a blessing for me. I will never allow anyone to have the power to make me believe my best is not good enough. If I can build up the confidence of one child, so that even if someone doesn’t believe in them, they believe in themselves. I have accomplished my Mission Statement. I won’t be happy until each of my participants know that if it their best, that’s all that matters.

"Kim Bullock, M.D. Cognitive Behavior Therapist, changed my life and showed me how to turn the worst situation in the world, into a POSITIVE OPPORTUNTIY FOR ME. Changing my way of thinking from  NEGATIVE and doubting  myself, into thinking positive and knowing I can conquer the world if I try. This has been a MAGNIFICENT AND MIND-BLOWING experience that I have to share with other youths in my community to give them a jump start to their success. Thus, Lauren's House 4 Positive Change Inc.. was born. We radiate anabolic (positive) energy. We want our name to radiate anabolic energy, and repel catabolic (negative) energy.

L.H.4.P.C. wanted to inspire at-risk YOUTHS to try their best and aspire to go above and beyond their wildest dreams, like I did. I know how it feels to feel like no one believes. I know how it feels to stride to beat your stereotype, but no matter what you do the stereotype wins.... Kim taught me how to build my own negativity repellent, it doesn't matter what others think, as long as I know it’

Lauren’s House 4 Positive Change Inc, is an awesome organization dedicated to empowering youths.