Our Impact
More than
Meals delivered by our youth to community members in need
More than
Hours of community service performed annually
More than
Youth actively engaged in core programming every year
More than
Testimonies and public speaking opportunities by our youth
More than
Community projects completed by the youth in our programs
More than
Partnerships with schools and community organizations
What our young people and partners say
I learned to advocate for myself and use my voice. Close mouths don't get fed and I have also learned to make things better for myself. I learned that if I want respect, I have to give respect. I want to be represented differently in this world. I don't want to be thought of as a kid who went the wrong way, who got suspended, got in fights, arrested...I want to change and be able to change the world.
Echo does a great job creating a welcoming space for everybody. There are people we have placed in other places and they haven't been comfortable, but they have had immense success at 508 C.H.E.E.R.S.
I feel like I'm really making a change in my community. I understand that one individual might not make that big of difference, but the group right here that we have collected, it's going to make a big impact for people. People who are unsheltered, people who need food. And that is something that touches me.
My first experience was a little intimidating because there was a lot of people, but I didn't feel uncomfortable because everyone just felt like normal people that I would hang out with. I've got a group of friends now who are consistently there for me.