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About Create Now!

Create Now! is an independent, 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that was founded in 1996. The organization serves high-risk and at-risk children and youth, ages 2-25, who have been abused, neglected, abandoned, orphaned, are left homeless, runaways, foster children, teen parents, victims of domestic violence, substance abusers, children of prisoners, gang members or incarcerated.

Create Now! offers the widest variety of creative arts mentoring, resources and opportunities to the most diverse range of troubled youth with the largest geographic reach in Southern California. For the past 11 years, we’ve impacted over 11,000 of these problematic children.

The number of low-income and marginalized youth is 40% higher in our home-base of Los Angeles than the national average. Create Now!’s work is motivated by these Los Angeles statistics¹:

• 123,177 child abuse and neglect cases were filed in 2005
• 48,041 domestic violence-related calls for assistance were made in 2004
• 25,000 homeless youth are enrolled in L.A. County schools
• 13,000 runaways from around the world live on the streets of Los Angeles
• Los Angeles the gang capital of the world, with 40,000 gang members in 700 gangs
• After 25 years of a multi-billion dollar war on gangs, there are six times as many gangs and at least double the number of gang members in the region as of 2007.
• Almost 75% of youth gang homicides in California have occurred in LA County
• Over 4,000 youth are imprisoned in detention facilities.
• There are more incarcerated youth in L.A. than in 48 other states
• 21,000 children live in foster care because of family abuse and neglect
• In L.A. County, 50% of emancipated foster youth will become homeless and 58% end up in prison
• Over 40% of foster youth have been pregnant or fathered a child
• California's teen pregnancy rate is the second highest in the nation
• 93,000 young people in Los Angeles are not in school and have no job
• One year’s class of high school dropouts will cost California $38.5 billion in lost wages, taxes and productivity over their lifetimes
• More than 10% of California's youth use illicit drugs
• One in three public school children struggle to function in English

Through our five main program areas; music, art, literacy, artistic journeys and one-on-one mentoring youth learn to express themselves in a positive manner versus the destructive ways that they have in the past. In addition, we bring thousands of disadvantaged kids to concerts and plays and other special events at premiere venues throughout Southern California, including the Hollywood Bowl, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Ford Theater, Geffen Playhouse and to many other diverse unique events, such as Cirque du Soleil, museum exhibits and film studio tours. These cultural excursions bring relief and joy to the youth, while exposing them to new types of music, theater and art. It also helps these troubled kids to assimilate into society, since many have been protected most of their lives.

Many of the kids that Create Now! serves have emotional, behavioral and mental disorders because of the abuse and neglect that they’ve had to endure. The artistic projects have a very therapeutic effect. Our programs help to heal the children’s pain, enhance their skills, and develop their self-esteem, confidence and teamwork. For a number of our participants (mentees), this is the first time that they've successfully worked with others to create something positive.

We collaborate with more than 700 state-funded institutions, private facilities, shelters, after-school programs, detention and rehab centers, group homes, special education schools, gang prevention organizations and other non-profits that directly serve the most troubled children in the community. Create Now! is a bridge for individuals and businesses to provide in-kind donations, services and other forms of support to the neediest kids in their local neighborhoods or throughout Southern California. We distribute essential supplies, like computers, software, books and other materials to the kids.

In addition to programming intervention, we raise community awareness of our society’s "forgotten children," who are often hidden from the public eye. Through bi-monthly ezines, Create Now! informs thousands about the histories and potential of these amazing kids. Without actually revealing their identities, we share the stories behind the statistics and dispel the notion that these youth are simply problematic drains on our social networks.

Create Now! also assists some of our participants to pursue careers in their chosen fields. We find opportunities for them to work as interns and apprentices, receive scholarships, and attend special training so they can pursue their dreams.

The positive emotions that the kids experience radiate out to everyone in their world. Family members, teachers, neighbors, friends, foes, and classmates become very impressed with their achievements. Most want to emulate their success. An attitude develops, such as "If she/he can do that, then I can, too." Many of our graduates are now mentoring the younger kids in their neighborhood. What they’ve learned ripples through their community, touching countless lives.

The children that we reach through Create Now! represent our future. Since many of these kids are now parents themselves, future generations are at stake. Through the generous support of those who care, we introduce them to a larger world where they can become contributing members of our society, rather than adding to the criminal or welfare statistics. By offering them a new alternative, we make a difference as we show them how to Create Now!

To make an impact today, click here and donate to Create Now! and help us help our children.

¹ Statistics are courtesy of the United Way "State of the County Report," Department of Children and Family Services, Shelter Partnerships, California Department of Education, Department of Probation, the Citywide Gang Activity Reduction Strategy, Los Angeles Homeless Services Coalition and the United States Department of Health & Human Services.