About Youth Oasis
Our Mission
To support youth and young adults recovering from the trauma of homelessness and family separation through housing, healthcare, and advocacy.
Our Vision
A Louisiana that cares for, supports and affirms all youth, nurturing their growth into responsible, resilient citizens.
What we stand for:
Diversity
We’re here for youth and young adults, no matter their race, orientation or identity. Because a category or label should never define the care and opportunities they deserve.
Opportunity
Our youth come to us from situations where their inherent worth is questioned, unconditional love taken away, and basic opportunities withheld. We work to return wholeness by providing a safe space, educational opportunities, mental health services, skills training and unconditional compassion.
Resiliency
“Able to spring back after being compressed” – it’s what we strive for when caring for youth. It’s never, “Look at those poor children,” but always, “Look at all of the potential they possess.”
History
Youth Oasis was founded as Baton Rouge Alliance for Transitional Living in 1998 by members of local social service agencies and universities who saw the need for a transitional living program for young adults aging out of foster care. In 2002, a basic emergency shelter was added to provide support to at-risk youth ages 10-17. The organization become known as Youth Oasis in 2003 and officially changed its name in 2011.
In 2016, the transitional living program was expanded to include services unique to the LGBTQ+ community and branded “Diversity House”. Today, Youth Oasis remains true to its foundation of breaking the cycle of homelessness in our community and state by operating the foster youth shelter, transitional living center, and Diversity House.
Leadership
Tekoah Boatner
HS-BCP, Executive Director
Mrs. Boatner comes to Youth Oasis as nonprofit professional with over 15 years of experience in the sector. She is a multidisciplinary systems professional with a passion for developing people and organizations. Her specialty is integrating systems-oriented thinking into non-profit business models and developing outcome-based programming that directly translates to a diverse funding portfolio. Mrs. Boatner has an undergraduate degree from Southeastern Louisiana University and a graduate degree from Capella University.
Mary Davis
MPA, Chief Operating Officer
Mary Davis a proud two time graduate of Southern University, where she earned a dual Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Psychology. She also graduated cum laude and was Student Marshal of Nelson Mandela's School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs Fall 2012 graduating class. Since graduating, she has been working in human services in both public and nonprofit sectors where she has been able to introduce policy and procedural updates that meet the needs of the organization and staff. In December of 2018 she graduated from Southern University with a Master's of Public Administration. She believes that everyone should be given the opportunity to discover their fullest potential in spite of circumstance(s).
Ednisha Lee
Originating from New Orleans, Ednisha graduated from The University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2017 with a Bachelor's in Child and Family Studies and a minor in Psychology. Her professional journey spans Human Services and Mental Health, primarily focusing on Crisis Intervention. They are a certified Court Appointed Special Advocate. Although she was initially interested in Child Development, her path has shifted towards mental health. She is passionate about assisting the underserved and aims to provide necessary resources for individual growth. Future goals include obtaining a Master's degree in Social Work and establishing a private practice.
Board of Directors
Charlette Minor - Chair
Behavioral Health and Community Development Consultant
Austin Rivas
Community Members
A.V. Mitchell
Marketing and Project Management
Chastity Byrd
U.S. Probation and Pre-trial Services
Partners
The partners listed on this page provide substantial support to Youth Oasis through grants, corporate giving, and individuals donations. Their support is critical to the success of our programs and our ability to provide quality care for youth and young adults. Contact info@youthoasis.org if you're interested in corporate giving.
Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation
WayOUT Foundation
Department of Children and Family Services
Office of Juvenile Justice
Louisiana Housing Corporation
Federal Youth Services Bureau
Capital Area United Way
Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors
Planned Parenthood
Greater Baton Rouge Pan-Hellenic Council
BR Parents
Circle K Stores
Dudley DeBosier
Jewish Family Services Baton Rouge
United Methodist Women
Metropolitan Community Church
Unitarian Universalist Foundation
Montgomery Pride United - The Bayard Rustin Community Center
We are excited to announce our new partnership with Montgomery Pride United or Bayard Rustin Community Center. This partnership is design to expand our reach and provide resources for the LGBTQ community. Together we have more impact and activities for diverse LGBTQ communities. Please visit https://montgomeryprideunited.org/ for more information!
Impact
...but this is only 1.5% of Louisiana’s youth that live apart from their families because of abuse or neglect. Your support helps us expand our programs and carry out our mission.
