One in seven children experience child neglect or abuse. About one in five children live in poverty. And by no means are there enough ways for disadvantaged youth to escape these hard lives.
Adolescents exposed to violence and poverty are more likely to struggle in school, engage in criminal behavior, suffer from depression…the list goes on.
A local organization, Lives of Legacy, aids the disadvantaged youth in the QC area impacted by poverty, crime and neglect through strengths-based development and training.
Jeremiah Schroeder is a significant contributor to the organization. Schroeder visits youth at the Scott County Juvenile Detention Center, Davenport Central High School and many other locations.
“My why for life is to encourage, inspire and give hope to others to bring God glory. I want to give back to my community. I have a heart for mentoring the youth since I’ve seen how such a pivot role has played in my life,” Schroeder said. “Growing up as a troubled youth myself helps me to have a non-judgmental and deep compassion to help other youth that are going through it.”
Schroeder has mentored and built relationships with disadvantaged youth from many areas of the Quad Cities. One particularly meaningful experience came from a young man Schroeder met at the Scott County Juvenile Detention Center. Schroder visited, coached and helped this young man learn character values he had not had the opportunity to learn in the past. After his release, Schroeder continued to mentor him.
Schroeder covers topics such as mental health, spiritual strengthening and money management, often exposing kids to these topics for the first time.
“Giving youth the opportunity to change their frame of thinking from just surviving to a thriving and hopeful mentally has been empowering and transformative. We counsel the whole of a person. Spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically and socially. We help them to succeed in areas of faith, family, friends, food, fitness, finances and fun,” Schroeder said.
A recent study published by University of Michigan economics professor Sara Heller, found that summer jobs reduce violent crime among disadvantaged youth. Heller studied a program in Chicago that gave disadvantaged youth a 25-hour work week over the summer along with an adult mentor. This program led to a 45% reduction in violence.
Jeremy Tatman, the founder of Lives of Legacy, is also an employer that hires youth from the Lives of Legacy program. Tatman cited that jobs offer something that the school system has trended away from: standardized expectations.
“I think what we are seeing more and more in the education system is lower expectations to accommodate for the disadvantaged start and jobs don’t do that,” Tatman said.
Employment teaches children to be disciplined, dependable, and collaborative while also contributing to labor economy.
Programs such as Lives of Legacy have countless impacts on the community and the people they serve. Not only do disadvantaged youth get back on their feet, but they help them move forward in living a successful life.
