Location: Chicago, IL

About Diane Latiker    

CitizenPowered.org member since Tue 03-11-2008

The mother of eight children, “Ms. Diane” has the children refer to her, is a resident of the Roseland Community on the far south side of Chicago. She founded Kids Off The Block, Inc. (KOB) in July of 2003. Ms. Latiker was given this vision through her mother Evangelist Ruth Jackson. Ms. Jackson, saw that the youth in the neighborhood liked and respected her daughter. Looking at the children that were always at her home, she saw health professionals, doctors, lawyers, professional musicians, professional sports figures, politicians, and actresses, and the list goes on.

Her mother, Evangelist Ruth Jackson, further shared this realization. Ms. Diane believed that she could make a difference in the community, and in the many youth that she came in contact with daily. She became encouraged and began to think about opening up a center that would get these young people off the streets and involved in programs that would benefit them for the rest of their lives. KOB started out with ten neighborhood kids, and now has 225 active members, with a waiting list of over 100.

Some say our youth is a lost generation, I don’t believe that to be true. I, Diane Latiker, founder and president of Kids Off the Block (KOB) organization think differently, I have heard the voices and they speak of hope and love. Through forms of compassion, love, and guidance this generation can be led to discovering a spectrum of opportunities and become positive leaders in our communities.

Personal Statement

I love supporting the dreams and goals of youth, and helping them to achieve success. "If you can believe it, you can achieve it"

My Pledges For The Community:

My Websites:

Kids Off The Block, Inc.
Increase the Peace
SAVE A TEEN / DO SOMETHING

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