Executive Summary
Love International is a mentoring organization that saves lives by mentoring people through music, providing a safe environment to guide them towards a meaningful and successful life. With over 60 years of combined experience, our mentors are seasoned professionals in the music industry, including producers, songwriters, musicians, and engineers. Our passion lies in helping young people discover and nurture their musical talents, guiding them to become achievers without compromising their integrity.
In North Carolina, one in nine young people aged 16-24 are neither working nor attending school, leading to a myriad of social issues such as poverty, homelessness, and increased crime rates. Love International aims to address these issues through our structured and supportive music mentoring programs. Our annual budget is $500,000 with $32,000 coming from donations. We seek additional funding to expand our impact, reach more at-risk youth, and provide them with the tools to succeed.
WHY!
Statement of Need
Why: Young people today face significant challenges, especially those who are disconnected from work and education. In North Carolina, the disconnected youth rate is alarming, with one in nine young people aged 16-24 neither working nor attending school. This disconnection leads to higher rates of poverty, homelessness, substance abuse, and crime.
Why: Mecklenburg County has seen a 31.5% increase in violent crime rates from 2010 to 2020, highlighting the urgent need for intervention.
Why: Music as Medicine: Music has been proven to be a powerful tool for healing and personal development. Studies from Johns Hopkins University have shown that music-making within a group setting enhances physical, social, and emotional engagement. Music can reduce stress, improve mood, enhance memory, and even aid in trauma recovery.
Why: Love International leverages the transformative power of music to mentor at-risk youth, providing them with a safe environment to grow, express themselves, and develop their talents.
Why: Young people are looking for something real! What can be more real than Music and how it unites. Music mentoring offers the opportunity to discover one's talents and abilities to grow as a person to forge relationships That will last for lifetime.