ABOUT ONE HEART

One Heart Project exists to help justice-involved and at-risk youth discover hope, purpose, and a path forward. Through mentorship, life skills development, and meaningful relationships, the organization equips young people with the tools they need to navigate life successfully and break cycles that too often define their future.

Built on values like integrity, perseverance, compassion, and leadership, One Heart Project believes transformation happens when young people are seen, challenged, and supported by people who genuinely care. What began as a movement to serve underserved youth has grown into a nationally recognized effort impacting thousands of lives through restorative programs, mentorship initiatives, and long-term relational investment. At its core, One Heart Project is committed to helping young people realize that their story is not over — and that a better future is possible.

THE SECOND CHANCE PATHWAY

One Heart Project’s success is found in a holistic approach called the Second Chance Pathway, which equips youth with the skills and tools needed to navigate life successfully while surrounding them with a network of healthy adults and peers to coach them in the process.

Social and emotional intelligence learning provides the foundation upon which the experience is built. One-on-one mentoring, life skills and gap skills training follow, along with job training and employment opportunities, and a number of reentry services. This comprehensive approach results in transformation: changing lives, reducing crime, making communities safer, reducing drains on financial resources, and breaking the cradle-to-prison pipeline.

OUR MISSION AND VALUES

OUR MISSION

The One Heart Project equips justice-involved and at-risk youth with the skills, tools, and healthy relationships they need to navigate life successfully.

OUR VALUES

Relationships

Honoring others through commitment, purpose, respect and compassion


Integrity

Instilling moral values to do the right thing consistently


Teamwork

Investing in each other and our partners to transform lives


Social Responsibility

Stewardship of relationships and resources for underserved youth

CORE VALUES

  • Be fully engaged
    Have a “whatever it takes” mentality
    Sow excellence
    Balance personal priorities

  • Do the right thing consistently
    Let your yes be yes and your no be no
    Communicate good intentions
    Make character your greatest asset

  • View every challenge as an opportunity
    Make failure the breeding ground for success
    Demonstrate a positive attitude in all circumstances
    Finish what you start

  • Be slow to speak & quick to listen
    Be in control of your self-talk
    Sacrifice short-term results for long-term wins
    Use wise judgment and discernment

  • Serve others selflessly
    Be an example worth following
    Lift others up
    Live with passion

  • Extend grace and kindness to others
    Honor others
    Consider the workload and time of others
    Exercise humility

  • Deliver on commitments
    Treat the business as your own
    Transform culture
    Be a good steward

  • Love unconditionally
    Be a good listener
    Be intentional in each relationship
    Go. Do.

  • Believe good intent
    Trust in each other’s competencies
    Make a long term investment into others
    Think team 1st

  • Create the future
    Find solutions not problems
    Believe in the impossible
    Work hard, play hard. Have fun!

OUR STORY

The nonprofit was founded in 1997 by Steve Riach and a few professional athletes and business leaders who shared a common passion for helping underserved youth. Our early work focused on youth in urban public schools and afterschool outlets in 26 states, providing life skills curricula that produced dramatic decreases in dropout rates, drug and alcohol use, bullying and other negative incidents, and increases in graduation rates, college and career readiness, attitudinal and behavioral change, and self-esteem.

In 2012, after serving some 750,000 youth in 26 states, the organization’s focus shifted to justice-involved youth, after Steve witnessed an unusual high school football game. While Steve, a filmmaker, began to develop this incredible story into a feature film, he and friends also met Mack White, who was part of the football game. Mack’s personal story became the impetus for the One Heart Project.

The pilot project was launched at the Gainesville (TX) State School and at Riker’s Island (NY). With dramatic measurable results coming from both pilot initiatives, the project was then rolled out in other locations and has impacted thousands of youth in multiple states, giving them hope for a future.

ONE HEART PROJECT IN YOUR STATE

We have several state-specific initiatives and are constantly expanding our footprint across the country.