CITY LIFE KIX
SERVING URBAN YOUTH IN MIAMI & BROWARD
KIX'S MISSION
City Life KIX shares the love of Christ with youth & families, while also providing a safe place for young people to learn & grow in the Gospel. "Doing life" with kids & empowering them to change their community for Christ is key to our mission. We want to reach a critical mass of indigenous leaders who stay in, give back to, and transform their neighborhood.
AFTER SCHOOL AT THE CITY LIFE CENTERS
OUR STORY
In 1993, the City Life KIX neighborhood outreach program was established in West Homestead with the mission of offering help, hope, and wholeness to at-risk children and youth. City Life KIX has provided all-inclusive, free after-school services for urban children and youth eleven to ninteen years old for over 20 years.
Today, City Life KIX serves more than 300 children and youth in three locations of Miami-Dade County: West Homestead/Florida City; Goulds in Princeton (the nation’s largest Habitat for Humanity community); and North Miami, in partnership with Vive City Chapel. These communities are characterized by high crime and high levels of poverty, with 97% of students eligible to receive free/reduced lunch programs. At City Life KIX, at-risk children and youth receive fun, engaging, best-practice curricula, activities and individualized instruction including literacy, homework assistance, health/nutrition classes, physical fitness and life skills development.
In December 2013, thanks to the support of many generous donors, Miami YFC was able to purchase a building for the City Life KIX West Homestead site, making is possible to serve many more students than ever before. In 2019, City Life KIX launched KIX Clubs, which are run by high school student leaders from the neighborhood and serve elementary youth.
pictured left to right: Stacy Morales, City Life KIX Director, Jules Altidor, City Life KIX Middle School Director and Indigenous Leader, Mary Ann Draghi, Jordan Commons City Life KIX Site Director, Janie Sims, Ocean Reef Grant Committee Chair)
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Thank you to our community Partners.
City Life KIX is funded in part by The Children’s Trust. The Children’s Trust is a dedicated source of revenue established by voter referendum to improve the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade County.
City Life KIX is thankful for the Ocean Reef Community Foundation Grants program. Because of their continued generous support, we will be able to expand our Teen Indigenous Leaders development and employment mentoring program to include both of our sites, W. Homestead and Goulds. It will allow us to add Leadership Coaches for each of our indigenous leaders and will help us add a middle school leadership program. We are excited and grateful for their continued support!
Indigenous Leadership Development Program
The Indigenous Leadership Development program develops leaders among the high school and/or college students who attend the KIX after-school program. The Indigenous Leadership Program consists of 4 Stages:
Stage 1 (Initial Relational Investment)
a) Timeframe: 0-12 Months
b) Develop a quality mentoring relationship with student(s)
c) Point young person to make a first time decision to follow Christ (if has not already)
e) See each student as a potential “Indigenous Leader”
Stage 2 (Turning Spiritual Corners)
a) Timeframe: 3+ Months
b) More time mentoring with the purpose of developing student spiritually
c) Provide leadership opportunities (volunteer opportunities)
e) Student makes higher commitment to KIX program
Stage 3 (A Call to Discipleship)
a) Timeframe: 9+ Months
b) Discipleship (vs friendship) is invited by adult and defined for student
c) Relationship is more structured and specific
e) Accountability and instruction are increasing, and so is encouragement
Stage 4 (A Challenge to Give Back)
a) Timeframe: 3-5+ Years
b) High level of trust has been developed
c) Student growing closer to Jesus and therefore demonstrating growing victory over moral and character issues. (Time in Word and Prayer significant.)
e) Youth are ready to begin relationships with other youth to intentionally take them through the mentoring/discipleship process.
Our leadership program prepares students for their future by:
-
Providing trainings in professional development
-
Personal empowerment
-
Enrichment activities
-
Employment and service opportunities and a leadership coach.
Contact Us To Get Involved!
Get in touch so we can connect on all things City Life Kix.
