2021 Annual Report

Through your support in 2021:

Over 300 youth from crisis received critical supports. 35 youth and their 11 children received safe and supportive transitional housing.

1,385 nutritious meals were provided through the OC Youth Center. More than 250 life skills classes were provided to young adults learning how to live on their own.

Over 50 mentorship events, ranging from youth and mentor connection nights or retreats to mentor support meetings, were held throughout the year.

14 teens and their foster and adoptive families were provided coaching, training, and a community of support through LifeBASE Teen.

Letter from Founder & Executive Director

It’s an honor to partner with you to see youth from crisis experience breakthrough, healing, and transformation. Looking back on 2021, I can only marvel at the individual and organizational breakthroughs that your support made possible.

As you absorb the pages that follow, I hope you’ll be encouraged to learn how your support made it possible for Sacharra to get her phlebotomy certification, Steve to move into his own apartment, and Regina to graduate and begin working at Immerse. These stories represent more than 300 young people who found support at Immerse last year as they took brave steps toward healing. We celebrate each of these steps, no matter the size!

Your generosity also fueled two major milestones that will provide support for youth from crisis in Arkansas for years to come. With your help, we re-opened The OC providing a beautiful center to serve youth from crisis in the heart of Little Rock. We also launched LifeBASE Teen, a new program designed to help teens under the age of 18 who are still in foster care or have been adopted. Both of these milestones represent the culmination of years of planning, learning, and the generosity of many.

While it’s been an incredible year, we’re by no means content to ease up on the pursuit of seeing more youth from crisis experience transformation. We’ve set our sights on building an expansive pathway to healing available to every youth from crisis. It’s an (holy) ambitious goal, but it's worth it, and if it's achieved, will pay dividends for generations to come.

Whether you just joined the effort, or if you’ve been in the trenches since the first day, thank you. I especially want to thank our staff who work tirelessly on behalf of those we serve, and a board that invests sacrificially. Most importantly, I thank God for his kindness to the hurting, and his kindness toward these efforts we all share. Let’s keep going, and may many more youth from crisis find the path to flourishing through our partnership and with the help of a loving Father.

Toward an expansive pathway,

Eric Gilmore

IMPACT

The

Problem: Trauma in Arkansas

Immerse uses the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) questionnaire to assess for trauma in our youth. The ACEs identify ten key adverse childhood experiences including:

The higher a child’s ACEs score, the more trauma they have faced, and the higher likelihood for mental, emotional, and physical impacts of the trauma.

Youth trauma in 2021

Nearly 1 in 4 children ages 17 and under in Arkansas have experienced 3 or more ACEs, ranking Arkansas as the 3rd highest rate in the nation.1

Youth at Immerse reported having experienced an average of 5.5 ACES during their childhood.2

Immerse served over 100 youth in need of immediate shelter.

44% were experiencing homelessness, abuse, and other forms of crisis.

The Solution: Our Theory of Change

When we surround youth from crisis with unconditional relationships, a vision for their restored future, and tools that anticipate their needs and dreams, we create a climate for healing, growth, and transformation.

Continuum of Support

Immerse has developed a continuum of support to protect, inspire, equip, and empower youth in their journey towards healing and healthy adulthood.

1. National Survey of Children's Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), 2019-2020.

2. Youth participating in our LifeBASE program in 2021.

Top Moments of 2021

Reopened the OC Youth Center

We celebrated the reopening of our newly renovated youth center, The OC, with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Special guests included youth alumni, City of Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott, Pulaski County Sheriff Eric Higgins, Department of Human Services Secretary Cindy Gillespie, and remarks from Governor Asa Hutchinson.

Our new OC space offers expanded supports for youth from crisis: including onsite showers, an expanded laundry space, a fully-equipped commercial teaching kitchen, life skills classroom, art space, counseling rooms, and other resources.

Since reopening the OC, we are now serving more than twice the number of youth each month. We look forward to impacting even more youth throughout 2022 and beyond!

Expanded Supports for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care

In 2021, we expanded supports for youth aging out of foster care in partnership with the Arkansas Division of Children and Family Services. Immerse was one of 7 agencies in Arkansas to receive a state grant to provide new Extended Foster Care options for youth ages 18-21 who choose to remain in care. Our LifeBASE program equips youth for healthy adulthood through supportive housing, coaching, life skills training, mentorship, and other resources.

Launched LifeBASE Teen

Our newest track of LifeBASE, LifeBASE Teen, was in full swing in 2021, impacting 14 teens and their foster and adoptive families. LifeBASE Teen offers these youth and families coaching, training, and community-building activities to equip both teens and their families with the tools they need for healing and preparing the teen for adulthood.

Began Raising Support for Arkansas’s First Shelter for Youth Ages 18-24

Over the past 10 years of caring for youth from crisis, we have heard a resounding request for safe, immediate housing. In 2020, we purchased property for this shelter less than a quarter mile from The OC, and in 2021 we raised over 60% of the funds necessary to build Arkansas’s first shelter for youth ages 18-24. Our goal is to raise the remaining funds in 2022 with construction to begin in late 2022. The shelter will provide a welcoming, youth-friendly space where youth who have experienced trauma can find shelter from sleeping on the streets or in other unsafe conditions and can get connected to our continuum of programs designed just for youth.

The OC’s impact in 2021: 300 youth accessed resources through our OC Youth Center, including hot meals, showers, coaching, and other tools.

30% of youth supported through our OC program met with coaches to work on goals.

Over 250 Life Skills classes were taught.

Immerse hosted 50 mentorship events.

Immerse hosted 8 youth through a paid job training program in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services.

THE OC YOUTH CENTER: INSPIRE

Scan for a virtual tour of the OC

Last year was packed full of major milestones at the OC. In late summer 2021, the renovated OC youth center was reopened, welcoming in even more youth in central Arkansas.

From showers, a full teaching kitchen, classrooms, recreation space, and so much more, our ability to care for youth from crisis grew significantly!

In 2021, Immerse supported 54 youth through LifeBASE Programming, including three specialized tracks:

LifeBASE Young Adult supports youth ages 18-24, including housing in Immerse group homes or apartments, one-on-one coaching, mentorship, and life skills training.

LifeBASE Care supports pregnant and parenting youth ages 18-24 and their children, including housing in Immerse apartments, oneon-one coaching, mentorship, life skills training, parenting training, and resources for children.

LifeBASE Teen supports teens ages 14-18 and their foster and adoptive families, including one-on-one coaching, training for parents, life skills and relationship-building activities for youth, and mentorship.

LIFEBASE: EQUIP

“If it wasn’t for my coach, my mentor, and everyone at Immerse, I wouldn’t be where I am today. When you have somebody else believe in you, who is beside you and on your team, that changes everything. The best quality of Immerse is they never stop– they never give up.”

—Immerse Overcomer

LifeBase Young Adult

LifeBASE

LifeBASE Young Adult Impact in 2021:

33 youth received supportive housing, coaching, life skills training, mentorship, and other resources through LifeBASE Young Adult.

80% of youth were matched with a trained mentor.

68% of youth who exited the program were employed or in school.

81% of youth who exited the program entered into safe and stable housing (their own apartment or with roommates, reconnection with family, etc).

Young Adult was the first program offered by Immerse to support youth from crisis, and continues to make an impact in the lives of youth today.

LifeBase Care

Our LifeBASE Care program grew in 2021, welcoming 5 new babies and their parents. Parents and their children received housing, training, and support and were empowered and equipped to grow into healthy young families.

LifeBASE Care Impact in 2021:

7 youth and their 10 children received transitional support, including supportive housing, coaching, life skills training, parenting training, mentorship, and other resources.

80% of youth were matched with a trained mentor.

80% of youth were in school or had earned their GED or high school diploma.

“Since I’ve been with LifeBASE Care, I’ve gotten 2 jobs and I’m closer to being more stable than I have been in years!”

—Immerse Overcomer

LifeBase Teen

Launched in 2021, LifeBASE Teen is already having an incredible impact in the lives of teens and their foster and adoptive families.

LifeBASE Teen Impact in 2021:

14 teens and their families were provided coaching, training, and wraparound supports.

9 community-building and training events were provided to teens and their foster and adoptive families. Camps, hiking, summer pool parties, and more fun activities were also provided to teens and their families!

62% of teens experienced improved well-being. 77% of teens had a mentor. 70% of teens improved their educational or employment skills.

100% of teen foster and adoptive placements were maintained.

“As a family, we all have had the group opportunity to learn how to grow together. Immerse has given us tools and resources to talk about awkward and challenging topics. We are so much closer connected to each other than before.”

ALUMNI: EMPOWER

Even after a youth graduates from Immerse programming, we remain in an intentional relationship with them, creating opportunities to empower our Alumni base both in employment at Immerse as well as mentorship and volunteer opportunities. We are excited to expand our alumni base as we continue to grow.

Alumni Opportunities

PEER MENTORSHIP

Shared experiences are powerful. We are working to create opportunities for alumni of Immerse to mentor current youth, both widening the circle of support for current program participants and building in leadership opportunities for alumni as they invest in other youth.

EMPLOYMENT AT IMMERSE

Through training and employment opportunities at Immerse, alumni are able to grow their resume and skillset in an environment they feel comfortable in and with people who already have relationships with them. Employment at Immerse will springboard alumni to even more occupational opportunities within our community.

PARTICIPATION ON YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL

The Youth Advisory Council will function as a “think tank” within Immerse, as alumni are encouraged to weigh in and share their perspective on making Immerse even better. We know that their experiences are invaluable and can strengthen supports for current Immerse participants. We are excited to engage our alumni base and employ their feedback for future programmatic decisions.

Trauma has wreaked havoc on the lives of youth from crisis in our state. Youth in central Arkansas who don’t have a safe place to sleep at night are at even higher risks of victimization, chronic homelessness, and additional trauma. To protect these vulnerable youth, Immerse purchased property less than a quarter mile from the OC youth center in 2020.

On this property, we plan to build Arkansas’s first emergency shelter dedicated to supporting youth ages 18-24.

When describing his experience with homelessness and adult shelters, one youth shared:

“When I go to the other shelters, I see grown men and that’s one of my fears. I don’t want to get stuck where I’m at. I really don’t. And I don’t want to put myself around a lot of people to teach me what they’ve been doing their whole life. So, now I sleep outside because…I don’t want to be that person and I don’t want to learn the ways that they’re gonna teach me.”

In 2021, Immerse served over 100 youth in need of immediate shelter. Our planned 16-bed shelter will not only provide youth with a safe place to stay but will also offer access to Immerse’s continuum of programming, including the OC Youth Center. At full capacity, we anticipate providing shelter to 100 youth within the first year.

In order to create a safe and youth-friendly environment, each youth will have their own bedroom, bathroom, and shower, as well as access to indoor and outdoor common areas for rest and relaxation.

Thanks to the generosity of many supporters, Immerse raised over half of the funds needed for construction of this shelter in 2021. We’re continuing our efforts to make this resource a reality! Thank you for your prayers and partnership in making vital supports like these available to youth here in Arkansas. Our goal is to raise the remaining funds in 2022 with construction to begin in late 2022.

How to

TANNER MEZEL

Board President

DSG Consulting, Partner

ANGELA ADUDDELL

Board Vice President, Child Advocate

BO BOSCHETTI

Board Treasurer Simmons Bank, Director of Loan Operations

CAROL SPENST

Board Secretary, Chick-Fil-A, Owner

JIMMY ALESSI

Alessi Keyes Construction, Co-Owner

ROBERT COOK

St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Rector

PHIL GLOVER

Crye-Leike Real Estate Services, Agent

ROBBI ROSENBAUM

Quattlebaum, Grooms, & Tull PLLC, Associate Attorney

DIANE TRACY

Child Advocate

DAN WILLIAMS

Garver Engineering, Former CEO

Thank You!

Dear friends,

This year, we wrote a statement to give an identity to the Immerse team, volunteers, donors, supporters, and partners. Below is our Invitation to Belonging:

Immerse is a collaboration of redemptive innovators who pair ambitious faith with strategy in all pursuits. We’re hungry for healing for all, deeply interested in those who have been counted out, and drawn to anything that’s labeled “impossible.”

It is our belief in the ideas in this statement that drive us to constantly innovate, strategize, press into hard places, pursue those who are counted out, and trust that God is leading us in our identity. We see you all in this statement as we partner together in this work and we thank you all for helping make this true about Immerse. We thank you for partnering with us in our hunger for healing. We thank you for your faith that there truly is One who is greater. We thank you for your creativity. We thank you for believing that no one is “impossible.”

As we look forward to the next 5 years, we are ambitious about the impact Immerse will have. We are deepening our support for those who are counted out and are increasing our strategic pursuit of redemptive innovation. We look forward to all that God will make possible for things and people labeled “impossible.”

Thank you for joining us. We look forward to our continued partnership in helping youth from crisis transform into Overcomers!

Sincerely, Immerse Leadership Team

Eric Gilmore, Justin Sanders, Sydney Foster, & Ardelia Rodgers