GoodLife

The Good Life Youth Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that was founded in August of 2012. We exist at the intersections of youth engagement, entrepreneurship and HipHop culture! It was founded by the CEO, Hasan Stephens, and born out of a desire to eliminate youth violence, poverty and incarceration by exposing youth to the power of HipHop Culture. We aim to use HipHop culture and youth culture to connect the highest risk youth population with opportunity access through entrepreneurship.

Our founder, Hasan “Maestro” Stephens, is a living testament to the transformative power of entrepreneurship. As an impoverished youth in the inner-city, he experienced firsthand the challenges faced by young people in underprivileged communities. Through his own journey, he recognized the importance of mentorship, education, and access to resources in helping youth succeed. We believe that by providing access to necessary supports and resources, we can empower youth to take control of their lives and build a better future for themselves and their communities, becoming thriving and sustainably contributing members of their communities.

Based in Syracuse, NY within Onondaga County, we battle daily the systemic realities of being the nation’s capital for concentrated poverty amongst African-Americans and Latinos. Additionally, we have the highest child poverty rate and a disparate display of segregation and inequity. While much of our work is done in Syracuse, our impact extends throughout the state of New York. We also provide consulting and assist in innovative model design for various jurisdictions nationally, including Kansas City and Albuquerque through our critical work in SPER (Shifting Power for Equity and Results), the consulting wing of Good Life Youth Foundation. Through sharing our model and helping jurisdictions understand the necessary steps to bridge a gap between systems and community to affect and maximize change where needed.

Summary

Family Support for Student Success (FSSS) is a voluntary, family-centered case management program funded through the Onondaga County Department of Children and Family Services and the Community Foundation. It partners with the Syracuse City School District to remove barriers that interfere with student attendance, behavior, academic success, and family stability.

Program Purpose

• Bridge the gap between home and school.
• Provide family-centered case management.
• Improve student wellbeing and academic success.
• Coordinate community resources and school supports.

Core Services Provided

• Parent engagement and one-on-one family support.
• Home visits (minimum of two monthly when appropriate).
• Safety and risk assessments.
• Case management and service planning.
• Student skill development (communication, social-emotional learning, problem solving).
• School-based individual and group support.
• Restorative and trauma-informed practices.
• Advocacy during school meetings.
• Referrals for housing, mental health, medical care, and other community resources.
• Navigation of school and community systems.
• Send schedule to building Administration weekly- home visits- specific information.

Promise Zone

Summary

Promise Zone Specialists partner with school administrators and staff to provide proactive student support, restorative interventions, crisis response, and social-emotional learning. The program is designed to strengthen student engagement while complementing—not replacing—the responsibilities of district personnel.

Primary Responsibilities

Proactive Student Support

• Use a student-centered, collaborative approach.
• Attend Student Support Team (SIT/RTI/Mental Health) meetings.
• Support student skill development.

Crisis & Responsive Support

• Use trauma-informed practices.
• Support the school's restorative processes.
• Provide up to two hours per day of on-call crisis response.
• Assist with de-escalation, classroom resets, and student regulation.

Peaceful Schools

Summary

Peaceful Schools partners with the Syracuse City School District to strengthen school climate through Social Emotional Learning (SEL), Restorative Practices, Community Schools coordination, and professional learning. Peaceful Schools staff build school capacity by coaching staff, supporting students, engaging families, and implementing restorative systems while working collaboratively with building administrators.

Program Components

• Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Interventionists
• Community Schools Coordinators
• Restorative Justice Training & Implementation Services
• Professional development and coaching for staff
• Family engagement and community partnerships