Executive Summary

“With a definite purpose and determined idea, becoming strong young men, we have no fear!”

Boys join Life Pieces To Masterpieces’ comprehensive out-of-school-time programming as early as age three. These words kick off a bold proclamation about their future.

Since our 1996 founding, 2,000 young men growing up in DC have been a part of LPTM from that young age into adulthood. LPTM partners closely with each of their families, and the daily programming is entirely free–including meals and safe transportation. At Life Pieces, they engage in experiential literacy and STEM learning; participate in athletics; express themselves artistically; and practice LPTM’s community-built, proprietary Human Development decision-making framework. They create collaborative stitched canvas art pieces–a metaphor for transforming their “life pieces” into Masterpieces.

As our young men grow, they become eligible to join the Saturday Academy college and career program while becoming mentors for their younger peers in the Afterschool and Summer programs. For the past decade, 100% of Saturday Academy participants have graduated high school, and LPTM continues to support them as they enter college and the workforce.

We share our philosophical framework with broad audiences in the public and private sector through Color Me Community, a series of workshops that bridge divides, foster belonging, and align people around a shared mission.

LPTM proudly maintains the highest Charity Navigator (4-Star) and Candid (Platinum) ratings. Charity Navigator recently named us “One of the Best” Black-founded nonprofits in the country. We will soon launch a capital campaign to build the Global Center for Shared Humanity, a permanent home for us and hub for local, national, and international community-building. Investment in LPTM is an investment in the power of shared humanity in a changing world.

In the words of our boys, “We don’t get off track or fall behind. We put our purpose first–now watch us shine.”

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