A Lifestyle Approach to LYFE​

Concrete LYFE takes a lifestyle approach to youth development.

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We believe the way people connect with a brand can influence how they think, what they value, what they aspire to, and even how they live. A sneaker brand can become connected to performance, confidence, creativity, or a particular culture. A brand can become a connection, It can connect people to a feeling, a lifestyle, or a sense of belonging. Concrete LYFE can create that same connection for young people by connecting them to their dreams, their potential, and the opportunities that can turn those dreams into reality.

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Concrete LYFE is designed to feel different from a traditional program. We do not want youth to feel like they are simply being enrolled, referred, or required to participate in another service. We want them to want to be part of Concrete LYFE.

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That means creating an experience and culture that feels authentic to young people and the communities they come from. We use creativity, culture, storytelling, experiences, relationships, and opportunities to create something young people can identify with.

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CREATING A CULTURE YOUTH WANT TO JOIN

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Our approach starts with understanding that young people are already surrounded by powerful influences. They connect with sneaker culture, music, sports, fashion, creators, social media, entertainment, and other communities that give them a sense of identity and belonging.

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Concrete LYFE wants to create a positive culture that can have that same kind of influence.

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We want young people to see themselves in the culture we create. We want them to feel welcome, valued, and connected. We want them to discover opportunities they are excited about and experiences that expand how they see themselves and their future.

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The goal is not simply to deliver a service.​

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YOUTH-FIRST BY DESIGN

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Our lifestyle approach is built around our Youth First Framework.

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The framework keeps young people at the center of how we design, deliver, and improve our work. Instead of assuming we know what young people need, we create opportunities to listen to them, learn from their experiences, and use their feedback to shape what we do.

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Youth are participants, but they can also be contributors, creators, advisors, and leaders.

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We use real-time feedback and data to understand what young people are experiencing and what is working. We make adjustments while youth are still engaged instead of waiting until the end of a program or year to find out what could have been better.

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Our Youth Advisory approach also gives young people a voice in shaping experiences, reviewing what we are learning, and helping us understand what success looks like from their perspective.

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We listen. We learn. We create. We adapt.​

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THE CONCRETE LYFE CULTURE

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Everything we do comes back to one idea: creating the conditions for young people to flourish.

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Like a rose growing through concrete, young people can grow through difficult circumstances when they have the right conditions, opportunities, relationships, support, and space to become who they are capable of becoming.

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Our lifestyle approach is how we create those conditions.

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We use culture to connect.
We use creativity to engage.
We use opportunities to inspire.
We use youth voice to guide.
We use data to improve.
We use community to strengthen.​​