We envision South Los Angeles as a gang and violence-free community.
Through education, counseling, and mentorship, BABY empowers at-risk youth, families, and the broader community with the resources they need to avoid falling victim to gang recruitment and to create a safe and violence-free Los Angeles.
Youth Development & Gang Prevention
BABY works in Los Angeles middle and high schools to provide solutions to adverse behaviors including violence, truancy, drug-use, bullying, on-campus gang activity, and more. We offer assessments and evaluations, mediation, conflict resolution, mentorship, academic support, and teach basic life and coping skills.
Parent & Community Engagement
We work with parents, community members, and public/private agencies to educate them on gang-recruitment practices and offer them real life strategies to prevent gang violence. We provide parent workshops, support in recognizing and identifying negative behaviors or gang recruitment signs, and more.
In-reach &
Re-entry Services
Through the Prison Letters 4 Our Struggling Youth program and re-entry services, BABY helps currently and formerly incarcerated individuals share their stories and change lives. Our re-entry services include workforce readiness, job training and certification, money management courses, and coping strategies.
Our Approach
BABY provides top-down and bottom-up support for young people and those re-entering our communities. By providing positive outlets that help build character, self-esteem, and life skills, our programs help to improve the safety of our communities; strengthen relationships with local businesses, law enforcement, and civic and community leaders; and give young people an opportunity to reach their full potential.
BABY’s priority is prevention. We tailor our approach to meet the unique needs of each young person. This means that our prevention specialists will accompany youth to parent/teacher conferences, conduct at-home visits and check-ins, provide Safe Passage services, serve as campus aides, engage youth in recreation or community service activities, and more. Our engagements are as frequent as needed for each young person.
BABY is uniquely equipped to address the complex needs of our youth. All of our programs are led by individuals with lived experience, and most are from or currently reside in the Los Angeles communities where our participants are from. These shared perspectives foster an environment where youth feel safe, understood, and empowered.