Foundation Cultivates Young Minds

Carlos Brooks, director of operations for Growing Minds, LLC and now Growing Lives Foundation, recently shared some information about the organization with Ink Spot. Growing Minds has typically focused on tutoring and contracts with DCS (Department of Child Services).

Growing Lives is an expansion of this programming that now includes support with housing, food, education, mental health, spiritually and jobs in a holistically focused way. The organization works with all kids including those connected to the foster care system and probation system.

The organization is known in the community by word of mouth, DCS and referrals from the Boys and Girls Club and several other organizations. They serve youth in Fort Wayne, Whitley County and will add Warsaw in January of 2022. The organization and its staff, which includes learning coaches and administration, works to meet youth where they are – it's an “all-hands-on-deck” approach to serve the youth in their programs. Their new building on Fairfield Avenue that they moved into in 2018 is a state-of-the -art facility featuring a math lab, an art room and a sensory room, to be added in the future.

The staff is focused on building everything back up after the pandemic and losing staff although the organization did offer some virtual options over the last year and a half.

Brooks said he’s been in this business 11 years and has always focused on giving kids who are struggling what they need because of how his family provided and sacrificed for him, he feels all kids deserve that kind of support from caring adults.

Ultimately, the organization wants to be a voice for youth and parents who don’t have a voice.