Kokomo Urban Outreach

Our mission is to ensure that every young person in Howard County has the education, work ethics, and life skills needed to transition successfully into a self-reliant adult.

The UP™ Program was established in November of 2016, starting with young men, 10-18 years old, in what was then called ManUP. In February of 2017, a girls' program was established called StepUP for girls. MiniUP™ (children three years old-9 years old was put in place in September of 2018). In all three programs, young people learned to live by the four Rs, I am Respectful, I am Responsible, I am Reliable, and I am Ready, as well as learning how to work. Pre-COVID, there were 100 children in MIniUP and 125 in ManUP with about 40 in StepUP. After the shelter in place due to Covid, changes had to be made, ManUP and StepUP were disbanded, and the young women and men were combined into one group simply called UP™

The UP™ Program is for 10-18 year old young women and men who are attending school. Currently, the 70 youth in the program work one night per week from 4-6 PM.  They earn 20 points which is saved until they have earned at least 50 points that can be redeemed for a $50 gift card. The youth are divided in to UP™Crews who work together each week. Some crews work in homeowners yards usually pulling weeds, laying mulch, cleaning gutters or raking leaves. Other crews work in the UP™ Makerspace. Those working there make products which are sold on-line. All the UP™ Crews are expected to learn and live by the four R’s of the UP™ Creed—I am Respectful, I am Responsible, I am Reliable and I am Ready. They are taught to be Ready to work, to lead to speak up and to solve problems in a positive way.

MiniUP™ is made up of our community’s youngest. MiniUP™ is for kids 3-9 years old. They meet once a week where they do three things. They attend a class where they learn the 4 R’s: I am Respectful, I am Responsible, I am Reliable and I am Ready and what it means to live it out. The second thing they do is “work”. They have tended gardens, swept floors, made cards, and bird feeders. They learn how to work, what works means and begin to understand when you work you get paid. They earn one dollar each week. The third thing they do is eat a meal together, learning table manners, about table conversation and often get an opportunity to try some kind of new food.