One Mission, Two Ways to Help, Donate or Volunteer and Uplift Lives
LIVE PROJECTS
Community Health Ambassador
California Jobs First Subretional Lead
COVID Mitigation Project
PAST PROJECTS
What we do
We are your Community. Thought Partners
The problems that communities need to resolve are complex, requiring comprehensive solutions. Addressing issues like health promotion and chronic disease prevention requires the inclusion of people from diverse backgrounds and disciplines.
Social norms approach to CHANGE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- Financial Literacy training
- Community Benefit Agreements & Negotiations
- Tuition Free Skills Training, Certifications & Apprenticeship Programs
- Business Mentoring- Help you start, grow, or transition your business
- Job readiness
Peer SUPPORT
Personal benefits
- Empowerment
- Finding a voice
- Increased confidence and self-esteem
- Finding a source of hope and optimism
- Companionship and friendship
- Reduced isolation
Collective benefits
- Mutual understanding, shared identity and shared experience
- A sense of belonging
- Collective action / campaigning – challenging the status quo
- Creating new knowledge and questioning dominant models
Practical benefits
- Accessing information and advice
- Learning new skills and strategies
- Signposting to other sources of help and information
Social benefits
- Increased social networks and social inclusion
- Citizenship
- Challenging stigma and discrimination
- Achieving a sense of justice and equality in society
Area of focus
SOCIAL INEQUITIES
Social Norms Approach to Change
A social norms approach to change requires identifying behaviors you would like a group of people to adopt, while increasing perceptions of that behavior as something members of their group do or are starting to do.
Equity Advocacy
Inequity is at the root of most consequential disparities in health, wealth, and opportunity. However, advancing equity in communities is challenging. It requires a widespread embrace of collective responsibility, a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Policy Advocacy & Sytems Change
We endeavor for transformations in the policies, practices, power dynamics, social norms or mindsets that underlie the societal issues that prevent people from thriving. Focus on policy creates sustainability.
Social Justice
Our objective of creating a fair society in which each individual matters, their rights are recognized and protected, and decisions are made in fair and honest ways rests at the core of what Love is, Selflessness.
DISEASE & INJURY
Disaster Preparedness
Underserved Communities are traditionally the least prepared when disasters happen. We make sure these communities are prepared for anything. Our Certified Disaster and Response team equips neighborhoods with a set of measures undertaken in advance to respond better and cope with the immediate aftermath of a disaster, whether it be human-induced or caused by natural hazards. The objective is to reduce the loss of life and livelihoods.
Communicable Disease Prevention
Preventing communicable diseases is crucial for maintaining public health and safeguarding communities from outbreaks. The High Desert was hit hard during the Corona Virus Pandemic. We constantly rank high in the Nation for other communicable diseases.
Preventing communicable diseases requires a comprehensive approach that includes public education, vaccination, hygiene promotion, safe food and water practices, infection control, and community engagement. By implementing these strategies, we can reduce the incidence of communicable diseases, protect vulnerable populations, and ensure a healthier society.
Chronic Disease Prevention
Preventing chronic diseases is essential for improving quality of life, reducing healthcare costs, and enhancing overall public health. Chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases are leading causes of death and disability worldwide.
By promoting healthy lifestyles, increasing access to preventive services, and creating supportive environments, we can reduce the burden of chronic diseases and improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities.
MORTALITY
LIfe Expectancy
Life expectancy is a vital measure of population health that can reveal disparities across different geographic areas.
I Am Love uses this information to prioritize what neighborhoods we host Love Movements in.
By focusing on the factors that influence life expectancy and addressing disparities at the zip code level, communities can work towards improving health outcomes and achieving greater health equity.
Infant Mortality
Infant mortality, defined as the death of a baby before their first birthday, is a key indicator of a population’s overall health. Efforts to reduce infant mortality focus on ensuring healthy pregnancies, safe births, and the well-being of infants in their early life.
Preventing infant mortality requires a comprehensive approach that includes improving access to quality healthcare, educating parents and communities, providing support services, and addressing social determinants of health. By implementing these strategies and tailoring them to the needs of different populations, we can reduce infant mortality rates and ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow and thrive.
INSTITUTIONAL INEQUITIES
Healing and Resilience
Shared negative experiences associated with certain community characteristics, such as poverty, failing schools, unsafe streets and parks, or lack of good nutrition. To optimize health, safety, and opportunity, the origins of community trauma, toxic stress, and Adverse Childhood Experiences must be assessed, understood, and prevented through trauma-informed policy and systems change.
- ACE’s (Adverse Childhood Experiences)
- Community Trauma
- Toxic Stress
Media Advocacy
In an age where a cell phone is referred to as people’s second brain. I Am Love utilizes Media advocacy as one of its most effective tools in community revitalization at an environmental level by disseminating policy-related information through the communications media, especially where the aim is to effect action, a change of policy, or to alter the public’s view of an issue.
Free or Low Cost Legal Assistance
I Am Love partners with Law Firms to provide in-person and remote legal services and consultations on a monthly basis at our Community Houses.
Access to legal representation is a basic human right. It is fairly clear that access to legal services in the United States is inadequate. In its present state, most individuals who cannot obtain counsel on their own are left without a fair chance at legal recourse in a wide array of legal proceedings. There are many consequences, but none as troubling as the effects on the basic human rights of individuals without access to quality legal representation.
RISK BEHAVIORS
Substance Misuse & Stigma Prevention
Substance use, trauma, and mental health disorders are intrinsically linked. Our prevention strategies focus on youth. However, we refer those who suffer from substance misuse disorder to treatment programs and provide supportive services.
We fight to eliminate stigma and work diligently to change the drug culture that teaches us to seek drug use for every emotion we experience. Instead, utilize non-pharmesutical treatment and coping skills when possible.
We advocate for policies that promote treatment and rehabilitation over punishment and condemnation.
Harm Reduction
Education
Assesments
HEAL (Healthy Eating Active Living)
I Am Love has adopted the H.E.A.L. Program as a comprehensive approach to improving overall health and well-being by focusing on nutrition and physical activity.
Safe Sex
Promoting safe sex is essential for public health as it helps prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and unplanned pregnancies, and enhances overall sexual health and well-being. Promoting safe sex is a multifaceted effort that requires collaboration among educators, healthcare providers, community organizations, and individuals.
Human Trafficking Prevention
Preventing human trafficking requires a multi-faceted and collaborative approach that involves raising awareness, providing education and training, enacting and enforcing strong laws, offering support services to victims, and addressing the root causes of vulnerability. By working together, communities, governments, and organizations can make significant strides in combating human trafficking and protecting the rights and dignity of all individuals.
LIVING CONDITIONS
Workforce Development & Entrepreneurship
A majority of problems people face are a direct result of poverty. When people leverage their money, talents, and resources to benefit a common interest, we can create a sustainable infrastructure that promotes financial resilience, generational health, and wealth.
- Financial Literacy training
- Community Benefit Agreements & Negotiations
- Tuition-Free Skills Training, Certifications & Apprenticeship Programs
- Business Mentoring- Help you start, grow, or transition your business
- Job readiness
Affordable & Diverse Housing
Housing is a Human Right. Housing is critical to many other facets of life, including physical and mental health, quality of life, access to education, and economic outcomes, among many others. Given this role, safe, stable, and affordable housing is a necessity for achieving many other human rights, including security and safety.
Community Organizing
Community organizing is a fundamental process that plays a critical role in fostering change and development within communities.
Community organizing is a powerful tool for social change that harnesses the collective energy, knowledge, and resources of a community to address common issues, improve quality of life, and build a more equitable and resilient society.
Strategic Planning
Strategic planning provides a roadmap for implementing outcome-driven prevention programs and advocacy campaigns. I Am Love facilitates a rigorous strategic planning process designed to advance goals related to equity, health, safety, opportunity, and quality of life at the population level. The process includes visioning, setting goals, identifying SMART objectives, mapping assets, assessing resources, and establishing a capacity-building plan. Our process produces a flexible roadmap for the data collection, advocacy campaigns, community building, media advocacy, and policy work necessary to create sustainable systemic change.
Community Liasons
As we build community capacity, empower, and teach residents how to advocate for themselves. At times I Am Love Organizers may act as reverse Community Liaisons by managing communication between the public and an organization, such as a police department, school, or social services department. To remind residents and service providers that they are not alone.
Civic Engagement
I Am Love has NO political party affiliation. However, it is of utmost importance for residents to participate in a democratic society to empower themselves and increase self-determination.
We educate the community on how government works. The roles and responsibilities of the various offices at the different levels of government.
Neighborhood Beautification
Although this may be our most downstream program, the psychological effects on a neighborhood are invaluable. Broken Window Theory has been corroborated over and over again. No other program galvanizes a community and empowers residents quicker than the small win of cleaning up one’s neighborhood.
As we move further upstream, we implement a recycling program to offset the cost of the Community House and fund other neighborhood endeavors.
Other beautification strategies include:
- Community Fruit Tree planting
- Greenspace development
- Adopt a street program
Technical Skills/ Computer Literacy
We now live in a digital world. Many have seamlessly transitioned as technology advanced and has become part of our everyday lives.
However, there is a large population of computer-illiterate people, mostly comprised of Seniors and underserved communities. Whose lives will be severely impacted, or lives can be greatly improved through the use of technology.
- Our training includes software such as Microsoft and Google suites, ZOOM, Internet Browsers, and more.
- Free or low-cost Technical Support & Repairs
- How to operate various hardware ie. Iphone, Android, PC, MAC
- Virtual online support
Art & Music
Art and music are critical for our youth. Whether they are exposed to art and music in school or through private or community classes and lessons, the benefits are incredible. Art and music exposure does more than provide a creative outlet for kids; they provide mental, emotional, and educational benefits and more.
Local understandings and interpretations of a community’s history reflect past events that feed into and are partially driven by the demands, sentiments, and interests of those in the present. This makes it crucial for community development practitioners to consider the importance of culture in efforts to improve local well-being. By paying attention to, and incorporating unique cultural values, traditions, and related factors, more efficient and effective development efforts can be achieved.
Free or low-cost Piano lessons
Asphalt Art
Community Murals
Environmental Justice
We are deeply committed to advocating for environmental justice in the High Desert. The High Desert faces unique environmental challenges, such as Air Quality, lack of green spaces, and infrastructure for one of the fastest growing regions in the country. These issues disproportionately affect marginalized communities, exacerbating existing social and economic inequities. Recognizing this, I Am Love has made environmental justice a core part of our advocacy efforts.
Advocacy & Civic Engagement
- Equity Advocacy
- Policy Advocacy & Systems Change
- Civic Engagement
- Media Advocacy
- Community Organizing
Support Services
- Housing Assistance
- Free or Low-Cost Legal Assistance
- Local Resources & Services Referrals
Youth & Education
- Youth Mentoring
- Art & Music Lessons
- Technical Skills / Computer Literacy Training
Health & Wellness
- Health and Nutrition Resources and Education
- Substance Misuse & Stigma Prevention
- Community Healing and Resilience Training
Community Development
- Neighborhood Beautification
- Environmental Justice
- Disaster Preparedness
- Strategic Planning
- Third Party Evaluations
- Data Analysis & Collection
- Community Liaisons
Advocacy & Civic Engagement
- Equity Advocacy
- Community Healing and Resilience Training
- Local Resources & Services Referrals
- Youth Mentoring
- Community Organizing
- Media Advocacy
- Community Liaisons
- Data Analysis & Collection
- Strategic Planning
- Disaster Preparedness
- Policy Advocacy & Systems Change
- Civic Engagement
- Third Party Evaluations
- Health and Nutrition Resources and Education
- Substance Misuse & Stigma Prevention
- Neighborhood Beautification
- Free or Low-Cost Legal Assistance
- Housing Assistance
- Data Analysis & Collection
- Social Justice
- Technical Skills / Computer Literacy Training
- Art & Music Lessons
- Environmental Justice
- Third Party Evaluations
- Health and Nutrition Resources and Education
- Substance Misuse & Stigma Prevention
- Neighborhood Beautification
- Free or Low-Cost Legal Assistance
- Housing Assistance
- Data Analysis & Collection
- Social Justice
- Technical Skills / Computer Literacy Training
- Art & Music Lessons
- Environmental Justice