ABOUT US
History In the Making
"encourage youth to embrace their self-worth and value life’s lessons in order to maximize their potential."
Founded in 2012, L.O.V.E Our Youth, Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing programs for youth throughout Central Florida. With a mission to encourage youth to embrace their self-worth and value life’s lessons in order to maximize their potential.
With a desire to serve our community in a greater capacity, L.O.V.E Our Youth, Inc. was launched with the first event held by Founder and President, Lasheena Williams, MNM, CNP who stepped out on faith and posted a flier for the first meeting. One mentee attended the first meeting and from there, it evolved into a platform for other mentors to donate their time and resources to help uplift youth. Each new meeting and event grew the membership of L.O.V.E Our Youth and it eventually expanded its mission to address the needs that arose.
L.O.V.E Our Youth supports youth by providing mentorship, workshops, and special events. We also collaborate with individuals and community partners to generate a greater impact on the lives of youth in our community. Our mantra is that we do not need another organization to compete with, but a partner to collaborate with. This led to the launch of our three channels of impact:
- L.O.V.E. Our Youth
- L.O.VE. Our Community
- L.O.V.E. Others
Our Mission
Our mission is to leverage the power of collaboration to uplift and empower youth and their families within our community.
Our Vision
Empower and create a sense of community for youth and their families through the support and collaboration of like-minded volunteers, organizations, and sponsors. We envision a future where every youth in our community, regardless of their circumstances, has the opportunity to flourish and achieve their highest aspirations. Together, we are building a legacy of resilience, hope, and opportunity for future generations.
Our Values
Love - Doing everything with love and compassion.
Outreach - Providing support to those who need us most.
Value - Identifying the "possible" in the impossible.
Empower - Supporting and uplifting others.
Love Philosophy
Collaboration is the heart of L.O.V.E. Our Youth, and two models inform our philosophy of collaboration. The Collective Impact Model and the Twelve Sectors of Community. These frameworks advocate for partnerships among community leaders, organizations, and institutions to provide strategic processes for change.
L.O.V.E. Our Youth embodies these principles by creating and maintaining partnerships that positively impact our youth. We are all in the same boat, rowing in the same direction, creating an environment where our youth can learn, grow, and thrive. Check out our three channels of impact to see our philosophy in action.
Meet the Team
Lasheena Ross-Williams
Founder & President
Lasheena is a native of South Florida and a dedicated community advocate with over 15 years in program development and nonprofit management. With a passion for service and a desire to create thriving communities, she continually offers support to her community by contributing her expertise to various local and nationally-recognized organizations.
Her dedication to youth development led to the founding of L.O.V.E Our Youth in 2012, a nonprofit organization providing youth programs and connects local partners with program services to provide greater impact in the community. She has received national recognition for these efforts.
Her consistent action toward community development has fueled her desire to empower organizations that will provide services for our communities to flourish. In 2021, with this mission in mind, Lasheena launched The Nonprofit Enthusiast, a full-service consulting firm to support growing nonprofits.
Lasheena holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master of Nonprofit Management (MNM), both from the University of Central Florida. She is a certified nonprofit professional (CNP) and certified youth mental health first aider.
Tamara Phillips
Director of Programs and Operations
Tamara was born and raised in New York and moved to Central Florida in 2008. Tamara was one of the first members to join LOVE Our Youth.
- Mentee to mentor to program manager to program and marketing director to director to board of directors and now executive director of LOVE Our Youth.
- Bachelors degree in Psychology and master’s degree in Marriage and Family therapy (RMFTI- Registered marriage and family intern from UCF.
- was inspired by LOVE to become a family marriage and family therapist so that the family foundation including couple/marriages were solid so that a child could thrive.
- Has a passion for working with children and their families.
- Served the community by working in a hospital for women and babies providing necessary resources and support to new parents in underserved areas.
- Chose to give what this organization instilled in herself to other youth with the new skills and knowledge gained from other opportunities.
Board of Directors
Treasurer
Member At Large
Director Emeritus
Staff
Volunteer Management Director
Communications Director
Chief Technology Officer
Administrative Assistant
Channels of Impact
L.O.V.E Our Youth is a nonprofit organization that provides programs and services to enrich the lives of children and adolescents in the Central Florida area. L.O.V.E Our Youth serves the community through three channels:
L.O.V.E Our Youth
L.O.V.E Our Community and
L.O.V.E Others
Annual Reports
