Welcome to Raising Up An Alliance of Discerning Luminaries

Program Structure
Raising an Alliance of Discerning Leaders (RADL) operates on a 9-month session model. Each session is designed to provide consistent support, education, and community engagement for participants over the course of an academic year.

During these 9 months, students and community members take part in:

• Educational Workshops on crime awareness, decision-making, and risk prevention.
   
• Mentorship & Tutoring programs for grade-school children and youth.
   
• Community Service Projects such as assisting the elderly and providing food and resources to families in need.
   
• Recreational & Wellness Activities including organized sports and health-focused events.
   
• Life Skills Development addressing issues like substance abuse prevention, teenage pregnancy awareness, and job readiness.
   

At the end of each session, participants will have gained knowledge, mentorship, and hands-on experience that guide them toward positive life choices and stronger community involvement.

Measuring Impact and Evaluating Success – RADL’s Every Child Matters

To evaluate the success of Every Child Matters, RADL will use a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods to measure outputs, outcomes, and long-term impact. The evaluation framework will focus on whether the project achieved its goals of increasing youth knowledge, improving decision-making skills, reducing risk behaviors, and strengthening family and community support systems.

1. Pre- and Post-Program Surveys:
Each youth participant will complete a pre-program survey to assess baseline knowledge of laws, consequences, environmental risk factors, and decision-making skills. At the conclusion of the project, a post-program survey will measure growth in these areas. Survey questions will quantify improvements in comprehension, application of knowledge, and confidence in making safer choices. This approach provides measurable evidence of skill development and awareness gained through the program.

2. Youth Project Assessments:
Youth will complete three structured projects: understanding crimes and punishments, identifying risk factors, and creating positive decision-making scenarios. Each project will be evaluated using a standardized rubric that measures comprehension, creativity, application of concepts, and the ability to model safe behaviors. These assessments provide a direct measure of learning and skill transfer from the workshops to real-life decision-making.

3. Family Engagement Tracking and Feedback:
Family participation is critical to reinforcing lessons at home. Attendance at workshops and community engagement events will be tracked, and parents or guardians will complete follow-up surveys to measure whether lessons are applied at home, household communication improves, and family support structures are strengthened. Qualitative feedback from families will provide insight into program influence beyond the classroom.

4. Mentor and Volunteer Observations:
Mentors and volunteers working directly with youth will provide ongoing feedback on engagement, participation, and observable behavior changes. Their qualitative input will help identify strengths, challenges, and opportunities for program improvement while adding an experiential perspective to the evaluation.

5. Data Analysis and Logic Model:
All collected data will be organized within a logic model framework linking inputs (workshops, mentorship, family engagement) to outputs (workshop attendance, project completion) and outcomes (improved knowledge, decision-making, family support). Comparisons of pre- and post-program data, trends across youth and family groups, and mentor observations will be analyzed to determine overall project effectiveness and areas for enhancement.

6. Reporting and Lessons Learned:
Evaluation results will be documented in detailed reports summarizing quantitative improvements, qualitative observations, and project milestones. These reports will inform stakeholders, funders, and community partners, highlighting measurable successes, challenges, and recommendations for sustainability and replication.

By combining surveys, project assessments, family feedback, mentor input, and logic-model-based analysis, RADL ensures a comprehensive evaluation plan. This approach demonstrates measurable improvements in youth knowledge, decision-making, and family support, while confirming the project’s effectiveness in fostering safer, healthier communities and providing a model for replication in other at-risk areas.

Specific Goals for RADL’s Every Child Matters Project

The overarching goal of Every Child Matters is to empower at-risk youth in Adams and Jefferson Counties, Mississippi, to make positive decisions, avoid involvement in crime, and build skills for academic, social, and emotional success. This goal is achieved through a structured, three-stage curriculum, mentorship, and family engagement activities.

Specific Goals:

1. Increase Youth Knowledge of Laws and Consequences – Through interactive workshops, youth will learn about crimes, legal repercussions, and the cause-and-effect relationship between actions and outcomes. Success will be measured via pre- and post-program assessments and completed student projects.
    
2. Identify and Reduce Risk Factors – Youth will explore environmental, social, and behavioral risk factors that may lead to unsafe choices, such as substance use, peer pressure, or exposure to unsafe environments. They will demonstrate understanding by completing scenario-based projects and guided discussions.
    
3. Promote Positive Decision-Making and Life Skills – Participants will apply knowledge to rewrite risky scenarios with safer choices, fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and responsible behavior. Project outcomes will be evaluated through youth-created projects and mentorship feedback.
    
4. Strengthen Family Engagement and Support – Families will participate in workshops and community events designed to reinforce lessons at home, enhance communication, and provide tools to support youth success. Parent engagement will be tracked through attendance records and feedback surveys.
    
5. Improve Community Connections and Mentorship Opportunities – Volunteers, mentors, and local partners will actively participate in program delivery, strengthening pathways for community support and sustained youth guidance. Success will be measured by volunteer engagement, partnerships formed, and ongoing mentorship relationships.
    

By the conclusion of the project, Every Child Matters aims to demonstrate measurable improvements in youth knowledge, decision-making skills, family support, and community engagement, providing a sustainable model for preventing juvenile risk behaviors and promoting long-term youth success.

Find out how Raising Up An Alliance of Discerning Luminaries has made a difference in the community and the lives of those we serve. We are committed to creating lasting change.

At RADL, we believe that every child matters—no matter their past or the mistakes they may have made along the way. Too often, young people who find themselves involved in the justice system are defined by their worst moments instead of their potential. Our mission is to change that narrative by walking alongside youth who need guidance, support, and a second chance.

Working with Probation and Parole
When students in our program are on probation or parole, RADL steps in as a partner in their success. We work closely with probation and parole officers to ensure that young people meet all requirements and uphold the expectations set forth by the court. This includes:

• Assisting youth in keeping scheduled appointments.
   
• Helping them understand and comply with court-ordered requirements.
   
• Providing mentoring, accountability, and encouragement along the way.
   

If necessary, our team will also attend court with the student, standing as witnesses to their progress. We testify honestly about their efforts—whether they are meeting their obligations or need additional support to stay on track. Our presence shows the youth that they are not alone, while also giving the court confidence that someone is invested in their growth.

A Commitment to Redemption
We want every child to know they matter and that we care. At RADL, we believe that past mistakes do not have to define the future. That’s why we are building strong ties with the judicial system, youth courts, and probation and parole officers. Together, we can provide a solid foundation for students to recover from past missteps, make better choices, and become strong, contributing members of their communities.

For those facing minor offenses—or those who demonstrate true growth and responsibility—we advocate for opportunities such as expungement when legally possible. We believe that if a child has shown promise, upheld their responsibilities, and worked diligently to regain the trust of their community, they deserve a full shot at redemption.

Building Character from the Inside Out
Our goal is not only to help students comply with the justice system but to help them thrive beyond it. We focus on developing good moral character, teaching life skills, and empowering youth to build strong identities rooted in responsibility, accountability, and compassion. By addressing both external actions and internal growth, RADL helps young people step confidently into brighter futures.

Compassion in Action
More than anything, RADL strives to be a positive force in the lives of our youth. Through kindness, mentorship, and genuine care, we help students feel what they may have never heard before: you truly matter. We stand in their corner not to excuse poor choices but to help them see that they are capable of better ones.

With compassion as our foundation and redemption as our goal, RADL partners with families, courts, and communities to give every child a chance at a stronger future.

Community Engagement and Collaboration

RADL’s Every Child Matters program is rooted in the belief that lasting change for youth and families can only happen through deep community engagement and strong collaborations. We intentionally design our work to be welcoming, accessible, and responsive to the needs of those we serve in Adams and Jefferson Counties, Mississippi, and Concordia Parish, Louisiana.

Engaging Youth and Families Directly:
We begin by inviting youth and their families into the planning process. Through informal conversations, pre-program surveys, and community meetings, we gather input on the issues they face—such as violence, peer pressure, or lack of digital access—and incorporate their voices into our program design. This ensures the project is not something “done for” them but rather “built with” them.

Accessible and Inclusive Participation:
To reduce barriers, RADL offers programming at community-based locations—such as schools, recreation centers, and churches—that are familiar, safe, and easy to reach. We schedule workshops during after-school hours or weekends to align with family availability. All programs are free of charge, ensuring cost is never a barrier. We also provide snacks, transportation support where possible, and child-friendly spaces so that siblings and families can participate fully.

Collaborative Partnerships:
Collaboration is central to our work. We partner with schools, local churches, civic leaders, and community organizations to extend our reach and connect families with additional resources. Teachers and mentors serve as trusted guides, reinforcing lessons from workshops. Partnerships with other nonprofits and social service providers allow us to connect families to mental health resources, tutoring, or financial literacy support—multiplying the impact of our project.

Feedback and Continuous Improvement:
RADL actively seeks feedback from youth, families, and partners throughout the program. We host reflection sessions at the end of workshops, distribute short feedback surveys, and hold one-on-one conversations to understand what is working and what needs adjustment. This creates a continuous improvement loop that keeps the program aligned with real community needs.

Building Trust and Shared Ownership:
Our long-term presence as mentors, coaches, and faith leaders helps us build trust with the people we serve. We emphasize open communication, respect, and shared ownership of the project’s success. By treating youth and families as equal partners, we strengthen their commitment to the program and increase the likelihood of lasting impact.

Through these approaches, RADL creates a program that is accessible, community-driven, and collaborative—ensuring Every Child Matters not only teaches life skills but also strengthens the bonds that make communities safer, healthier, and more resilient.