PROGRAM SITES Served by spirit awakening

Below you’ll find a list of the previous and current sites served by Spirit Awakening Foundation:

Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall School, Writes of Passage, LACOE (previous)
Camp Joseph Scott School, Writes of Passage, LACOE (previous)
Central High / Tri-C CDS, Writes of Passage, The LA County Department of Arts and Culture (current)
Central Juvenile Hall School, Writes of Passage, LACOE (current)
County-Wide, Virtual Mentoring Leaders Program (current)
Dorothy Kirby Center, Writes of Passage, LACOE (current)
Frontier Continuation High School, Writes of Passage, The LA County Department of Arts and Culture (current)
John Muir High School, Writes of Passage Anti-Gang/Violence Prevention Program, Sup. Kathryn Barger & The LA County Probation
Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, Writes of Passage, LACOE (previous)
New Earth YouthBuild, Writes of Passage, The LA County Department of Arts and Culture (previous)
Whittier High School, Writes of Passage, The LA County Department of Arts and Culture (current)

Program Impact

Since its 1995, Spirit Awakening Foundation (SAF) has been a pioneer in restorative justice and juvenile delinquency prevention. With programs hailed as “creative, innovative and powerful” by the California State Department of Justice, SAF has provided programs and support to underserved youth, high schoolers, incarcerated and previously incarcerated youth, as well as systems-impacted youth and young adults in Los Angeles County. SAF has been collaborating with the Los Angeles County Probation Department and the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) for over 27-years and has served thousands of children and young adults.

SAF provides intergenerational intervention, prevention and diversion programs for youth and their families all throughout LA County. Using trauma-informed, restorative, arts-based programs, SAF supports underserved youth in high schools, offers life skills and re-entry programs for young people upon being released from incarceration and also provides programs for offenders during their time of confinement in the juvenile system. Our organization also offers a virtual, after-school Mentoring Leaders Programs and has an extensive number of organizations and schools on waiting lists to receive our programs and services.

During the years 2001-2004 SAF successfully implemented gender-specific programs in middle schools across LA County. Evaluations conducted by the LA County Probation Department found SAF program participants’ grade point averages jumped from 1.5 to 3.0, and 4.0 in some cases. We have guided young people into becoming strong, purposeful citizens. We have steered them away from criminal activities and into attending institutions of higher education, including USC, Berkeley, UCLA, San Diego and San Francisco State and other colleges and universities.

SAF has supported young people as they become doctors, teachers, business entrepreneurs and artists. Our organization is the recipient of a number of prestigious recognitions, awards and accolades, including the 2018-2022 Best of Santa Monica Nonprofits award, being inducted into the Santa Monica Business Hall of Fame and receiving the Southern California Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine Leadership award. We are enthusiastic to continue to provide our programs and services to more young people. SAF has plans to open residential homes for re-entry, foster and runaway youth and to continue our international service trip programs, taking youth to Ghana, W. Africa, where we lead our students in learning to understand the meanings of global citizenship, leadership and service.

A Brief Timeline of SAF History

1995 - 2000

  • SAF conceived of and created by Akuyoe Graham

  • Ms. Graham implements program at Camp Afflerbaugh and Camp Paige

  • “Unmasking Your Authentic Voice” writing program expands to John Muir High School sponsored by All Saints Episcopal Church and 20th Century Fox

  • SAF awarded Violence Prevention Contract by California State Department of Justice

  • SAF begins working in LA County’s only girls’ probation facilities

  • Given Local Hero Award from Agape International Spiritual Center and A Season For Nonviolence

  • Given Angel Of the Year Award from The Children’s Life Saving Foundation

2000 – 2004

  • Awarded Gender Specific Contract by Los Angeles County Probation Department to serve middle school girls in Covina, West Covina, Palmdale and Lancaster

  • Contracted to work with Police Activities League in Pasadena, Planned Parenthood and Prototypes

  • NBC Television profiles SAF’s work with survivors of domestic violence

2004 – 2014 Triumphs

  • SAF expanded programmatic offerings and vision to serve more disenfranchised youth and young adults

  • SAF writing programs expand incorporating life skills and mentoring

  • Begins work with Phoenix House Rehabilitation Centers through LACOE

Spirit Awakening Foundation and Otis College of Art and Design Students working on a joint project

  • SAF begins partnership with Otis College of Art and Design

  • Awarded grants from The California Wellness Foundation and initiates Service trips to Ghana, W. Africa (inaugural trip is televised by The Africa Channel)

  • SAF profiled by local news channel KCAL 9

  • Begins Anti-Bullying Project at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall: Spirit Awakening Foundation is lead Community Based Organization in this campaign to curb violence amongst students; Akuyoe Graham co-created the curriculum used in the classrooms and is lead teacher; produced student PSA’s; SAF Art Director Masauso Chiumya designed anti-bullying kit; project led to 43% decrease in fighting amongst youth and 75% decrease in suspensions and referrals within one year

  • SAF Art Director Masauso Chiumya given Creative Art Award of Appreciation from Probation Department

  • Akuyoe Graham accepts Freedom Award from The Four Dames on behalf of SAF

2015 Triumphs

  • Founder Akuyoe Graham given ARWEY AWARD for Woman of the Year for her work with SAF

  • SAF given Southern California Society For Adolescent Health and Medicine Regional Chapter

  • Recognition Award for “effective, creative and transformational work to promote the holistic healing and wellbeing of youth and young adults”

  • Spirit Awakening graduates, Yahniie Bridges and Angel Arciniega, chosen to host Digital Voice Awards for LACOE

  • Spirit Awakening participated in John Legend’s International Crowdrise through RYOT

  • Spirit Awakening acknowledged at “Somebody Stood Up for Me” hosted by California Endowment

  • Spirit Awakening performs spoken word event at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA

  • USC School of Social Work partners with SAF and hosts the Foundation’s annual “Voices of the Unheard” event at USC’s Bovard Auditorium

2016 Triumphs

  • Visual Arts Program expanded and implemented at Camps Scott and Scudder and Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall

  • Created new PSA’s for the Anti-Bullying Campaign at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall

  • Expanded Mentoring Program at the Agape International Spiritual Center serving over 100 teens and young adults, offering Life Skills training, Financial Aid and After-Care Services

  • Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich sponsors Spirit Awakening program

  • SAF program returns to John Muir High School headed by SAF graduate and licensed teacher Johanna Moore

  • Akuyoe Graham receives City of Los Angeles Resolution from the Mayor’s Office

  • Akuyoe Graham co-directed RTSA Celebration of Learning for LACOE

  • Agape International Spiritual Center hosts SAF’s annual “Voices of the Unheard”