We appreciate your continued support of the Flourish Initiative!
Connected youth flourish.
We weave resources and relationships together so all youth can flourish.
So many of our youth are burdened by economic and educational barriers. We provide community and opportunity to support their development and success, in high school and beyond.
32
Columbia residents living in poverty have less than a high school degree
86
Homeless youth who experience trauma
200
Students reported homeless annually by Columbia Public Schools
The Flourish Initiative enhances the lives of under-resourced youth in our community
We want to see youth become their best selves and lead their best lives. Flourish provides a safe and healthy home environment, supportive relationships and development opportunities for students at Douglass High School. Our hope is to support all aspects of well-being so our youth who experience major barriers can move from surviving to thriving.
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Get Involved:
Become a House Parent
Being a house parent at FlourishHome is more of an art than a science. House parents will need to be able to employ wisdom and discernment in mentoring and guiding the residents. The following are character traits that will be needed at one time or another: Wisdom, Compassion, Courage, Joy, Patience, Consistency...
Mark Kirchhoff
Program Director
I’m from Columbia, and I was very fortunate to grow up never worrying about where I would lay my head down at night. Seven years ago, when my work with homeless youth began, it didn’t take long to realize that everyday I walked through my middle and high school halls I passed classmates of mine who were enduring or at-risk for homelessness, and I never knew it. Today, I truly recognize how my experiences as a young man in Columbia weren’t, and aren’t, the reality for many youth and families in our community. I want to help change that in any way I can. Together, we can see to it that all youth flourish.
Get Involved
Be a part of fostering life-changing opportunities by volunteering your time with Flourish. With students at Douglass High School, we are weaving resources, relationships, strengths, and best practices together, so all youth can flourish. Contact the Flourish team to learn about specific needs and how you can get involved.
Contact us