Maintenance of Project

The mission of A Better LA and it's partner organization C.U.R.E is to reach gang members and potential gang members by providing education and an alternative to the gang-related lifestyle. Each project funded has a beginning and an end with an anticipated result expected. The program model is based on a replicating model where gang members are provided with scholarships for life skills training, stress and anger management and community organizing. Then the graduate gang members become the recruiters/trainers for other gang members. "High-profile" leader-gang members are recruited first. Upon completion of the program, the gang members are expected to do a "Life Turn Around" and go back into their communities, recruit new participants and support the initiative. The goal is to reach critical mass resulting in a culture shift. Additionally, A Better LA and C.U.R.E receive funding from other steady funders. A Better LA has a fundraising plan in place to reach out to diversified funders to maintain this project. This includes: (1) fundraising through its Board, which is chaired by Pete Carroll. Each Board member is required to raise or give at least $25,000 per year; (2) approaching foundations. A Better LA's goal is to raise dollars to maintain the project for at least 5 years. The goal is that after five years, the community with be healthy and the community based organizations providing programs, such as CURE, will have their own Boards and be self-sufficient. Sustainability is developed through successful implementation and retention of the life-skills programs. The goal is permanent character change through educational opportunity. "A Better LA" is the over-site organization providing accountability and administrative management.