Live & Learn Foundation

Empowering communities through education and mentorship.

We provide transformative mentorship, practical education, and community-building programs that empower youth and families to create brighter futures.

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A mentor and a teenager talking and laughing together at a community center table

Rooted in community. Built for generations.

When you invest in people, in their knowledge, their confidence, and their futures, you change not just one life but an entire lineage. That's the work we do every day.

Where we come from

Live & Learn Foundation was born from a simple but powerful truth: communities thrive when their members have the tools, knowledge, and support to grow together. We started with a deep commitment to closing opportunity gaps in education, financial access, and community ownership, and we've been building bridges ever since.

Our work spans mentorship, financial literacy education, and grassroots community investment, all grounded in the belief that lasting change is built from the inside out. We don't come into communities with answers. We show up as partners, listeners, and co-builders, committed for the long haul.

Why we do this work

To provide transformative mentorship and practical education, empowering youth and families to build holistic well-being, master financial literacy, and create pathways to community investment and ownership.

Empowerment

We equip individuals and families with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to create lasting change. Not dependency, but capability. Every person already holds potential; our role is to help unlock it.

Equity

We work to ensure every person, regardless of background or circumstance, has real and meaningful access to opportunity. For us, equity is a daily practice built into everything we do.

Collaboration

We show up alongside communities, families, and partner organizations to achieve impact none of us could create alone. The best solutions come from the people closest to the need.

Stewardship

Every dollar, every hour, and every relationship is held with care. We are accountable to the communities we serve: transparent, responsible, and worthy of the trust placed in us.

Three pillars. One vision.

Every program we run is designed to meet people where they are and walk with them toward where they want to be, whether that's a young person finding their footing or a family building a financial future.

Mentorship alone doesn't solve economic hardship, and financial education alone doesn't replace connection and belonging. So we built three programs that work together, supporting the whole person and the whole family.

Pillar one

Youth Mentorship Program

A mentor and a teenage girl talking as they walk outside a school

Connecting young people with mentors who believe in their potential.

Our flagship program pairs youth ages 12 to 24 with trained community mentors who provide guidance, accountability, and genuine relationship. Mentors meet with participants regularly, celebrating wins, navigating challenges, and opening doors to networks and opportunities that might otherwise feel out of reach.

Every young person deserves at least one adult in their corner who shows up consistently. This program is designed to be that anchor.

Who it's for: Young people ages 12 to 24 looking for direction, support, and connection to opportunity.

What's included:
  • One-on-one mentor matching
  • Regular scheduled meetings
  • Group cohort sessions
  • Goal-setting and progress tracking
  • Access to workshops, events, and community networks
Pillar two

Financial Literacy & Economic Empowerment

A family reviewing a budget worksheet together at a financial literacy workshop

Practical money skills for youth and families, taught without shame.

Financial knowledge is power, and too many families have been shut out of it for too long. Our workshops and courses cover budgeting, saving, credit, debt, banking, and the basics of investing and ownership.

We teach in plain language, in culturally grounded ways, and in community settings where people feel safe to ask the questions they've always had. Participants leave with real plans, real skills, and real confidence.

Who it's for: Youth, young adults, and families who want to take control of their financial lives and build toward a more stable future.

What's included:
  • Budgeting and saving fundamentals
  • Credit building and debt management
  • Banking basics and account access
  • Introduction to investing and wealth building
  • Family workshops and youth-specific tracks
Pillar three

Community Investment & Ownership Pathways

A family celebrating on the front porch of their first home, holding up the house key

Building toward wealth, individually and collectively.

True community transformation happens when residents become stakeholders. Our ownership pathway programming connects families and young adults to resources, education, and partnerships that support community investment, from homeownership to small business development.

We work with local partners to create real on-ramps to ownership, because when communities own a piece of what they've built, the results are generational.

Who it's for: Adults and families ready to take the next step toward building assets, owning property, or starting or growing a business.

What's included:
  • Homeownership preparation and counseling
  • Small business development support
  • Community investment education
  • Partnership referrals to local lenders and resources
  • Cooperative ownership models and community wealth strategies

Community-first design

Programs are co-created with participants and shaped by ongoing community feedback, not handed down from the outside.

Safe and affirming spaces

All programming takes place in environments built on trust, dignity, and cultural respect. You belong here.

Tracked outcomes

We measure what matters: skill gains, goal completion, and participant-reported well-being. And we share results openly.

Ongoing connection

Our relationship with participants doesn't end when a program does. Alumni stay connected to our community and resources for life.

Get involved

Every program we run depends on people who decide to show up. Here are three ways to be part of the solution.

Mentor or volunteer

Share your time, experience, or a skill. Mentor a young person, teach a workshop, or help with a community project.

Volunteer with us

Partner with us

Organizations, businesses, and churches can help expand our reach through sponsorships, space, expertise, and referrals.

Start a partnership

Give

A one-time or monthly gift directly funds mentorship, financial education, and ownership programs.

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Make an impact today.

Your gift funds mentorship, financial education, and community ownership programs for youth and families.

Join a community of people working together on the issues that matter, and let your generosity inspire friends, family, and colleagues to do the same.

All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Donations are processed securely by Givebutter.

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Meet the board

Leaders committed to the foundation's mission and to the youth and families we serve.

DeAndre Thomas

Board Chair

DeAndre provides strategic vision and executive leadership for Live & Learn Foundation, guiding its long-term direction and ensuring every decision stays rooted in community. His commitment to education and equity drives the foundation's growth and impact.

David Robinson

Vice Chair

David supports board leadership and spearheads community partnership development. He brings a collaborative spirit and a deep network of relationships that help expand the foundation's reach and open new doors for the families and youth we serve.

Yvette Brooks

Secretary

Yvette ensures the foundation operates with the highest standards of governance and organizational integrity. She maintains records, facilitates communication, and keeps the board aligned and accountable to its mission.

Larry Whaley

Treasurer

Larry oversees the financial health of Live & Learn Foundation, bringing discipline, transparency, and care to the stewardship of every dollar. His oversight ensures resources go where they matter most: directly into the community.

Rico Merriewether

Director of Programs & Community Engagement

Rico is the heartbeat of community connection on our board. He brings lived experience, grassroots relationships, and a passion for programming that works, championing the voices of participants in every board conversation.

Lorenza Thomas

Director of Outreach & Strategic Partnerships

Lorenza leads the board's work building meaningful relationships with donors, partner organizations, and local stakeholders. Her ability to communicate the foundation's vision inspires others to invest in the work alongside us.

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