L.A.S.E.R. PROJECT

Mission & Purpose

LITERACY ARTS SKILLS EMPOWERMENT RECREATION

• Our mission is to assist our youth and families with overcoming community and educational barriers which may be due to impaired or deficient family dynamics and social skills

• L.A.S.E.R. Project utilizes evidence based curriculum to improve academic achievement, self-esteem, social competence, and family relationships through mentoring, coaching and collaboration with local community organizations and resources. L.A.S.E.R Project’s services are family driven so that individuals do not return home to the same barriers which may have led to their unfortunate circumstance. 

• 31.9% of Marion County children live in poverty, compared to 20.5% in Indiana and 20.4% in the U.S.

• Only 77% of Marion County ninth-graders graduate from high school in four years, compared to 87% in Indiana and 85%nationally

• 57.7% students who are considered special education pass the IREAD & only 68.5% black students pass the IREAD

• The hours with highest number of crimes by youth are 3-6pm on weekdays.

• 20% (221, 761) of children including kindergartners are home alone in the afternoons.

       (After School Care Alliance)

• 25,633 Indiana Youth are arrested each year and 1 in 10 have been a witness or direct victim of a crime. (Indiana Criminal Justice Institute)

• Indiana has the highest rate in U.S. of teens who considered suicide