Youth Rescue Initiative Film Production Program:

Designed to the develop the production skills necessary to begin working in the film industry in New Orleans, the goal of the YRI Film Production Program is to expand the local workforce in a city whose economy is strongly tied to the film and entertainment industry. YRI has also partnered with Scrub Brush Productions to produce a documentary, “Through the Eyes of a Child: A Documentary about Coming of Age in Post Katrina New Orleans”, which follows seven teens as they film their lives to expose the problematic social issues faced by at-risk youth in a post-Katrina New Orleans.

Club Lead Program:

The Youth Rescue Initiative understands that achieving significant improvement in the quality of life for all citizens of New Orleans will require an investment in creating opportunity and options for today’s at-risk youth.  Club Lead has been designed to achieve that goal.  Developed and administered by two doctoral-level university professors, Club Lead is currently underway in three area public elementary schools.  Based upon proven research methodologies and paradigms in current implementation at Harvard and Princeton Universities, Club Lead will provide structured, on-going programming designed to influence a culture of success, discipline, and personal responsibility within participants’ school and neighborhood communities.

Youth Rescue Initiative "POWER THROUGH READING" Program:

Launched June 1, 2009, the Youth Rescue Initiative "POWER THROUGH READING" program culminated National Literacy Day, July 2, 2009 and resulted in of over 4,800 donated books being placed directly into the hands of children in need. This community-wide book drive was a huge success, and YRI received an overwhelming response not only from within New Orleans but also from donors nationwide. YRI would like to formally recognize and thank Irvin Mayfield, Chairman of the Board of the New Orleans Public Library, Dr. Petrice Sams-Abiodun, the Executive Director of the Lindy Boggs Literacy Center at Loyola University, and the Loyola University students who were the inspiration for the program, Andy Beal and Chris Zimny. YRI also greatly appreciates the participation of our community partners: Sara Massey of Communities in Schools, Sarah Woodard with Start the Adventure in Reading (STAIR), Sheila Matute at the Early Childhood and Family Learning Foundation, Rynell Wilson with the First Pilgrim Baptist Church, and Shawn Toranto, principal of the Einstein Charter School.

New Orleans Bowl Program:

The Youth Rescue Initiative is partnering with the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation to bring 500 local underprivileged youth to the Louisiana Superdome on December 20, 2009 to attend a youth outreach program held in conjunction with the New Orleans Bowl.  By underwriting a portion of transportation, expenses, and ticket purchases, YRI’s sponsorship will help to enable several thousand at-risk children to attend pre-game conflict resolution seminar focusing on non-violent negotiation procedures.  Following the seminar, participants will then attend the New Orleans Bowl, a NCAA bowl game featuring the Sun Belt Conference and Conference USA champions, an opportunity they otherwise would not have had.

Read and Rise Literacy Program:

The Youth Rescue Initiative partnered with Scholastic Books and Clear Channel Radio New Orleans in the Read and Rise Literacy Program, held September 1 - 15, 2009.  YRI’s sponsorship offset the cost and allowed each student at the Good Sheppard Elementary School, the Laurel School of Technology, and Schaumburg Elementary to purchase at least one book.   Many of the children who attend these schools would not be able to purchase regularly priced books under ordinary circumstances. It is the goal of this initiative to instill a love of reading in children at a young age.

Blue Blazer Drive:

The Youth Rescue Initiative's Blue Blazer Drive is for the benefit of Miller-McCoy Academy for Mathematics and Business.  The goal is to provide 270 school blazers to the students.  Miller-McCoy Academy is a grade 6-12 college preparatory institution designed to educate male students.  Miller-McCoy was founded in 2008 by principals Tiffany Hardrick, Ph.D., and Keith Sanders.  By creating the Blue Blazer Drive, the YRI strives to allow the students of Miller-McCoy the opportunity to wear their full school uniform.  The school is asking for sizes between Youth 20 to Adult 46-48.  T