About Create Now
The youth we serve come from poverty-stricken families with histories of violence, substance abuse, or neglect. These "forgotten children" are tucked away in group homes, shelters, detention facilities, special centers and schools throughout the region, under the radar of the general public.
We've built an extensive database of over 1,200 youth facilities throughout Southern California that enables us to match volunteers with high-risk or at-risk kids in their own neighborhood, based on the youths' ages, genders, challenges and other preferences. We train our mentors, help them to customize curriculum and give materials for their workshops.
Through music, art, writing and performing arts, youth learn to express themselves in a positive manner versus the destructive ways that they have in the past. Creative expression is very therapeutic. We bring thousands of troubled kids to free concerts, plays and other events. These cultural excursions bring relief and joy to the youth, while exposing them to new types of music, theater and art.
We also arrange General Mentoring, like one-on-one "Special Friend" relationships and teaching life skills to small groups of youth. We continually send out targeted notices to our partner agencies about scholarships, jobs, free computers, books and other resources for the kids. We're a conduit for individuals and businesses in the community to give back to the neediest youth.