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2024 Grants Challenge

Building Tomorrow's Visionaries Today!

The MyrtisHeart Inc. project aims to empower transitional foster youth through sustainable housing solutions, leadership development, STEAM education, and community engagement. This initiative provides safe, eco-friendly housing, nurtures leadership skills, and offers comprehensive educational workshops, fostering self-belief and resilience. By establishing strong community partnerships and promoting inclusivity, MyrtisHeart Inc. ensures a supportive and empowering environment for foster youth to thrive.

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What is the primary issue area that your application will impact?

Affordable housing and homelessness

In what stage of innovation is this project, program, or initiative?

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

What is your understanding of the issue that you are seeking to address?

The Los Angeles foster youth homelessness crisis is a pressing issue, with many transitional foster youth lacking access to stable, affordable housing, leaving them vulnerable to homelessness. In South Los Angeles, there is a significant gap in access to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) career education, limiting the career opportunities and economic mobility of youth in the area. Additionally, there is a critical need for leadership development skills to empower these youth, providing them with the confidence, resilience, and capabilities to become future leaders and positive contributors to their communities. Addressing these issues requires a comprehensive approach that includes sustainable housing solutions, educational initiatives, and robust leadership development programs.

Describe the project, program, or initiative this grant will support to address the issue.

The MyrtisHeart Inc. project directly addresses the Los Angeles foster youth homelessness crisis by offering transitional foster youth stable, affordable, and sustainable housing solutions through our partners at The Nehemiah ProjectLA. Recognizing that many youth in this demographic are vulnerable to homelessness due to the lack of such housing, the project prioritizes safe living environments that are both eco-friendly and cost-effective.
In addition to housing, the MyrtisHeart project tackles the significant gap in access to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) career education in South Los Angeles. By providing comprehensive STEAM educational programs with our partners at Romans Global Foundation, the project aims to enhance career opportunities and economic mobility for local youth, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in these fields.
Furthermore, the project emphasizes the critical need for leadership development among foster youth. Through targeted mentorship and training programs, MyrtisHeart Inc. seeks to empower these young individuals with the confidence, resilience, and leadership skills required to become future leaders and positive contributors to their communities.

Describe how Los Angeles County will be different if your work is successful.

When the MyrtisHeart Inc. project is successful, Los Angeles County will experience a significant reduction in foster youth homelessness as more transitional foster youth gain access to stable, affordable, and sustainable housing. This improvement in housing stability will lead to enhanced well-being and security for these young individuals, reducing their vulnerability and providing a strong foundation for their future.
Moreover, the increased availability of STEAM career education in South Los Angeles will bridge the educational gap, empowering local youth with the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue lucrative and fulfilling careers in these fields. This will not only boost their economic mobility but also contribute to a more skilled and diverse workforce in the region.
Additionally, the focus on leadership development will cultivate a new generation of confident, resilient, and capable young leaders who can drive positive change within their communities.

What evidence do you have that this project, program, or initiative is or will be successful, and how will you define and measure success?

The existing project is measured by our short term outputs and long term outcomes tools. We also partner with Speaks2Inspire and utilize their Psychometric assessments and tools /evaluation Instruments & Software Platform.

Describe the role of collaborating organizations on this project.

Nehemiah Project LA- Dream Chasers Housing program: provides a safe, stable, affordable, and comfortable home environment to aged-out former foster youth with weekly case management and wrap around services.
Roman's Global Foundation: is reshaping education by blending robotics education ​with practical application, aiming to empower young minds to create the future. They ​revolutionize internships by advocating for lower age limits and offering profit-​generating projects, bridging education and industry for students. Their flagship South LA Robotics Class teaches students to construct robots for real-​world tasks, fostering innovation and problem-solving skills. Students gain hands-on ​experience and share in project profits, preparing them for success in the tech ​industry.

Approximately how many people will be impacted by this project, program, or initiative?

Direct Impact: 250.0

Indirect Impact: 500.0