Kimberly Dilosa is the adult advisor for The Campaign to Rebuild a Teen-Friendly Greater New Orleans. At 32 years old, Kimberly Byas-Dilosa has become the “go to lady” for youth initiative development. In 1997, she founded YOUTHanasia Foundation, Inc. to “simply protect her younger sister and cousins” from the streets of Greater New Orleans. They began to tell their friends, and out of genuine concern grew a nonprofit that creates prevention and intervention programs for high school aged youth in grades 9-12. For 10 years this self-taught community advocate has kept teenagers alive, safe and off of the streets of Greater New Orleans through creative service learning projects. When others see “thugs”, Kim sees a breath of fresh air…when others judge, Kim makes them step into the teenagers’ world. The foundation got its ironic name, YOUTHanasia, because it “kills what is killing our teenagers”. Kim desired to use teen opinion and ideas to create numerous programs to keep teenagers occupied, safe, and off of the streets of Greater New Orleans. As a result, programs like Self Respect Extravaganza to combat teen pregnancy and Summer Excursion for Excellence to expose teenagers to life outside of Louisiana were created and continue to garner the attention of local and national interests.

Mrs. Dilosa also created the Young Artists Leadership Program which brought forth a relationship with the Tallowtree community, the third deadliest community in Jefferson Parish. “Get as many teenagers off of the streets as possible!” is Kim’s creed. She feels the only way to do this is to duplicate herself in others. Kim’s energy is contagious, and her knowledge of facts and statistics regarding youth ages 13-19 is extraordinary. Our community continues to lose young people at an alarming rate….but Kimberly’s young protégées make it! Most of her kids come from negative backgrounds…but they make it. Kim’s methods have garnered the attention of many. In 2001, YOUTHanasia Foundation was designated Point of Light #2381 by President George Bush. Kim was a 2005 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Angel Award finalist. As a result, YOUTHanasia was given $10,000 to continue work with “Kim’s Kids”. YOUTHanasia Foundation was one of four 2006 Nonprofit Innovators of the Year as recognized by CityBusiness. Mrs. Dilosa is one of five Gulf Coast heroes (out of hundreds nominated) recognized by national health care leader, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for continuing community work in the face of Hurricane Katrina. She received a $120,000 leadership award to continue her work. In December 2006, Kim was recognized as one of 7 New Orleans Saints Community Quarterback Award recipients. She received a $2500 grant award to continue her work.

Kim is also making her mark in the business world as the President and CEO of TEENZMatter Productions. She and her husband John (who serves as the Chief Operating Officer) started TEENZMatter to host citywide events for teenagers. TEENZMatter Productions will unveil its Final Fridayze series in April. Final Fridayze is a series of teen events which will take place every last Friday in the month and insures “Kim’s Kids” have something to do in our “adult-friendly” community. Mrs. Dilosa is a 1992 graduate of Xavier Prep High School and a 1997 graduate of Tuskegee University. She is a member of the Jefferson Parish Anti-Drug Coalition, the Louisiana Family Planning Advisory Board, and the Jefferson Parish Cops and Clergy Coalition Board of Directors. Kim is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and serves as co-youth director at Dominion and Power Ministries where she is a member. She is the wife of John Dilosa Jr. and the mother of two-year old KaJa Jonee’ Dilosa.

Kim keeps teenagers alive…..PERIOD!! YOUTHanasia’s Board of Directors is 100% alumni…all members have come through the YOUTHanasia fold, and have either graduated from college or they are currently college students. Our city can focus on levees, political leadership, and the Road to Recovery woes…but if Kim stops…we may not have a city to rebuild. Kim’s work insures we have a living generation to pass our great community to.

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