What we stand for

Diversity

We're here for youth and young adults, no matter their race, orientation or identity. A category or label should never define the care and opportunities they deserve.

Opportunity

Young people come to us from situations where their worth was questioned and basic opportunities withheld. We return wholeness with a safe space, education, mental health services, skills training, and unconditional compassion.

Resiliency

"Able to spring back after being compressed." It's never "look at those poor children," always "look at all of the potential they possess."

History

1998

Founded as Baton Rouge Alliance for Transitional Living 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.

2002

A basic emergency shelter was added to support at-risk youth ages 10–17.

2003

The organization became known as Youth Oasis, and officially changed its name in 2011.

2016

The transitional living program expanded to include services unique to the LGBTQ+ community, branded Diversity House.

Today

Youth Oasis remains true to its foundation of breaking the cycle of homelessness in our community and state, operating the foster youth shelter, transitional living center, and Diversity House.

Leadership

Tekoah Boatner

HS-BCP, Executive Director

A nonprofit professional with over 15 years in the sector and a passion for developing people and organizations. Her specialty is integrating systems-oriented thinking into nonprofit business models and building outcome-based programming that translates directly to a diverse funding portfolio. Undergraduate degree from Southeastern Louisiana University; graduate degree from Capella University.

Mary Davis

MPA, Chief Operating Officer

A two-time graduate of Southern University, with a dual Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Psychology and a Master's of Public Administration earned in 2018. She has worked in human services across the public and nonprofit sectors, introducing policy and procedural updates that meet the needs of the organization and its staff. She believes everyone should have the opportunity to discover their fullest potential in spite of circumstance.

Ednisha Lee

Program Leadership

Originally 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 work spans human services and mental health with a focus on crisis intervention, and she is a certified Court Appointed Special Advocate. She is passionate about serving the underserved and plans to pursue a Master's in Social Work.

Board of Directors

Charlette Minor

Chair

Behavioral Health and Community Development Consultant

Austin Rivas

Community Member

A.V. Mitchell

Marketing and Project Management

Chastity Byrd

U.S. Probation and Pre-trial Services

About Youth Oasis