Purpose in Action: Youth Empowerment Month & Child Abuse Prevention Month
This month we are featuring organizations dedicated to uplift, inspire, and protect young people. In April we celebrate those that provide educational programs, leadership training, and vital services for at-risk youth, as well as those advocating for the prevention of child abuse and neglect.
Join us in recognizing their incredible work! We are proud to have these organizations as part of the Purpose Possible family.
Youth Empowerment & Child Abuse Prevention Month: Georgia CASA, Horizons Atlanta, Friends of Mahima, Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth, Youth Sentencing and Reentry Project.
Georgia CASA
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Mission: Georgia Court Appointed Special Advocates, Inc. strengthens and supports court-sanctioned affiliate CASA programs that empower community volunteers who advocate for abused or neglected children. They also contribute to advancements within the child welfare system.
Consultants: Natalia Garzón Martínez, Taryn Janelle
The Work: Georgia CASA helps ensure that a qualified, compassionate adult—a CASA volunteer—will bring a sense of urgency to meet the needs of all children–by advocating for their best interests–and improve their experiences in foster care.
Purpose Possible began to work with Georgia CASA in 2024 to help them craft their next strategic plan. This included several months of collecting community input, aligning with staff and board, and ensuring that the organization has a clear plan for what their next few years will look like.
“Working with Georgia CASA was a delight. We knew at the beginning of the project this was going to be an interesting strategic plan since the organization works with so many affiliates across the state. It was beyond inspiring to see the team working together to ensure all these voices were heard. It is always a pleasure to see teams that are so healthy internally because it shows externally, in everything they do as an organization. The team was constantly finding new ways to grow, to change, and to expand to increase impact. I wish them all the best!”
Horizons Atlanta
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Mission: As an affiliate of Horizons National, Horizons Atlanta aims to improve the life trajectory of underserved students and their families by instilling in them the joy of learning, the skills for success, and the inspiration to realize their dreams.
Consultants: Danika Vause, Erin Nelson
The Work: Horizons Atlanta is changing lives by providing transformative summer educational experiences for underserved youth. Since 2023 Purpose Possible has supported the organization with grant writing, development strategy, and initiatives in individual giving, corporate giving, and Board development—all aimed at ensuring more students have access to the opportunities they deserve.
“It’s such a pleasure to write grants for an organization with such a clear programmatic vision. I am especially impressed with Horizons Atlanta’s commitment to tracking and testing the impact of their work through data collection, ensuring that every dollar invested in their program leads to demonstrable improvements in children’s futures.”
“Serving alongside this organization has been an absolute honor. Their passionate Board members, talented and dedicated staff, and unwavering commitment to educational equity make a profound impact on the youth and communities they serve.”
Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth
Location: Washington, D.C.
Mission: Catalyze just and equitable treatment of children in the US, demanding a ban on life without parole and other extreme sentences, while advocating for alternative responses that consider children's unique characteristics and capacity for change.
Consultant: Kayla Gilchrist
The Work: The CFSY utilizes a multipronged approach to reform including serving as a hub and convener, engaging key stakeholders, educating target audiences and bolstering legal strategies to ban life-without-parole sentences for children. Purpose Possible has worked with the CFSY in several projects, including fundraising planning and coaching sessions as well as board retreat facilitation.
“I’ve worked with this team on development coaching and supported their inaugural development retreat this Spring. The mission of this organization is incredibly inspirational. They do deeply meaningful work to ensure kids do not spend their lives in prison and are given the opportunity to correct mistakes, and returning citizens and their families have the space to heal and rebuild. It’s an absolute joy to work with this dedicated, driven team as they steward the resources they raise for nation-wide community and policy impact.”
Friends of Mahima
Location: United States
Mission: Friends of Mahima provides vital funding for the restorative, trauma-informed care of children who are victims of human trafficking.
Consultant: Danika Vause
The Work: Purpose Possible has supported Friends of Mahima with fundraising initiatives. Consultant Danika Vause has been working with the newly appointed Executive Director on implementing a CRM system, creating a donor newsletter, and developing stewardship strategies to sustain and grow the organization’s support.
“Working alongside Friends of Mahima has been an incredibly inspiring experience. I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with board members, new staff, and internal Purpose Possible team members to develop sustainable strategies that have helped launch and expand Friends of Mahima’s donor network. This has truly been a grassroots effort—building a donor base from the ground up. The passion and commitment of everyone involved have driven meaningful change, transforming an incredible vision into a fully functioning nonprofit. I am so honored to be a part of this team!”
Youth Sentencing and Reentry Project
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mission: Youth Sentencing & Reentry Project (YSRP) works to keep children out of adult jails and prisons, and to bring home people who were sentenced as children to life in prison without the possibility of parole (“Juvenile Lifers“).
Consultant: Kayla Gilchrist
The Work: YSRP walks alongside our client-partners from the courtroom through their return to the community, connecting them to vetted, appropriate services related to education, employment, and mental health. Purpose Possible has worked the organization on fundraising support (planning and coaching).
“YSRP leads with their values to keep kids out of adult prisons and through our work with them has shown a deep commitment to utilizing their time and treasure to build the infrastructure necessary to be in this work for the long-haul.”
