Today we’d like to introduce you to Luke Ayers.
Hi Luke, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Seven years ago I started to see a massive crime wave in young students in my area. At the time I was working for the state and the community was not doing anything to prevent the high crime with the youth. This made me start having conversations with the African American community leaders who were elderly and were the “Gate Keepers”. They have all said that students needed a safe place to hang out and things to do year around. At this point, I knew I could make that happen if I quit my job and went full-time working with underserved youth in my own community. It was shortly after these our conversation that my father and I opened up our first “Hope Youth Center”. This is a place in the middle of the projects and the highest crime area of our community. We are helping single moms better their lifestyle choices, partnering with grandparents raising their grandkids, and have launched our era own custom mentorship program. Since starting “Hope Global Initiative” we have begun our affordable housing initiative and working on our 11th property currently.
We have learned a lot over the years but the greatest thing we are doing is working one on one with students who want to see their “Dreams become a Reality”.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been rough over the last two years with fundraising, housing for families, being in juvenile court weekly, and even having loss due to crime or suicide. I came out of the business world and then working for the government. So moving into the non-profit sector has been a challenge in itself.
We are finding joy in all over the small things for sure and we have seen a huge success in our mentorship program.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an outdoor therapist and started a non-profit working with at-risk youth in the low-income and high-crime areas of South Atlanta. I specialize in working one on one mentoring youth who have struggled and found themself in a juvenile court system. I am most proud of the impact I have been able to make and watch kids graduate school, start businesses, raise their kids, and complete court order probation. We are set apart as a business and also me as a leader in several ways. The first is that our staff have all moved into the community and are available whenever a family needs us. As in I live 5 houses down from the youth center and live across the street from where multiple crimes have been committed including the murder of one of our teen girls. We also pride ourselves in knowing the stories of the families and are able to help with very specific needs and not just view them as a client.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
YES YES YES!!! I would give most of the credit to my father Lee Ayers who had this vision of starting Hope Global and impacting lives 30 years ago. He has been my mentor, my advocate, and biggest cheerleader. I would also give credit to my counselor, mentor, and boss when I was working for the state department of Outdoor Therapy.
I have many more spiritual leaders in my life who I could give credit to my success.
Contact Info:
- Website: Hopeglobalnewnan.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=hope%20global%20initiative
Image Credits
Matt Moclair
