Bud & Bloom was created to bring wholeness to at risk urban youth and elder population We partnered with others to share resources to help impart value and cultivate leaders, equipping youth to successfully transition into healthy responsible adults. We also act as connection & care-point for our elders through community engagement, providing counseling and supplemental nutrition support. We create opportunities for crossover engagement for elders to share their wisdom & knowledge with youth which can positively influence their future.
Youth Crisis
Florida is facing an unprecedented youth crisis. A growing number of urban youth between ages of 14 -18 leave home because parents can not provide for them financially or due to neglect. More than 23,000 youth between the ages of 18 and 21 "age out” or emancipate out of foster care every year with incomplete education, little work-place readiness & job skills, or life problem solving skills. Twenty six percent of these young adults will experience homelessness within the first year of aging out, with a high risk of becoming a victim of sex-trafficking or opioid overdose – a disastrous epidemic.
Elder Care
The elder community is facing four critical issues that can hinder them from living a longer, healthier life; difficulty navigating aging assistance, obsolesce, limited finances, and isolation. We believe providing resources that offer grief and life counseling which addresses loneliness &, restore value and honor instead of feeling obsolete, cultivate healthier choices are key to solutions. Our pathways help address these issues - by building community helping to bridge the generational gap where elders can share their wisdom and knowledge, mentor youth allowing them to contribute and feel valued. A place where the grow food in a "raised -bed" garden designed for ease of use, and aid a therapeutic and educational tool so they feel a sense of belonging in a place that fosters value for all lives.
Tyrome's Story
We first met Tyrome five years ago outside of our coffee shop. Now 31, he has lived on the streets since he was 16 years old.Tyrome worked beside us at our coffee bar for more than 1 1/2 years. He shared with us, "After my grandmother died, I went to live with my uncle and it wasn't safe because of the violence, abuse and drugs - it felt safer on the streets so one day I left and never went back to that place - never."
He has an amazing work ethic but he lacked problem solving skills for living a sustainable healthy life. His had one goal, survive the day.. His story is too familiar to us. We often helped homeless young women and men outside our cafe doors. Tragically, many were sexually exploited or would die within 6-12 months from overdose, suicide or murder. We became more aware of the growing youth crisis and needed to find prevention methods to address the growing Youth Crisis of homelessness and addiction.
He has an amazing work ethic but he lacked problem solving skills for living a sustainable healthy life. His had one goal, survive the day.. His story is too familiar to us. We often helped homeless young women and men outside our cafe doors. Tragically, many were sexually exploited or would die within 6-12 months from overdose, suicide or murder. We became more aware of the growing youth crisis and needed to find prevention methods to address the growing Youth Crisis of homelessness and addiction.
Without your generous donations, none of this would be possible.
Thank you for impacting a life.
Thank you for impacting a life.
