Life Skills Organization was created from our shared belief that people deserve access to opportunity, dignity, and support—no matter where they start. As founders, Dr. Karwanna D.Irving and Dr. Terrell Irving, we have spent years working alongside individuals and families in underserved communities and witnessing both the challenges they face and the untapped potential they carry.

We saw talented youth without access to mentorship, adults navigating housing instability without clear pathways forward, veterans and returning citizens seeking stability, and artists searching for safe spaces to express their stories. Too often, services were fragmented—education in one place, housing in another, and the arts treated as optional rather than essential. We knew there had to be a more connected, human-centered approach.

Life Skills Organization was founded to bring those elements together. From the beginning, our vision was to create an integrated ecosystem that combines life skills education, workforce development, housing stabilization, mentorship, crime prevention and diversion, and cultural arts programming. We believe that real change happens when individuals are supported holistically—when practical skills, creative expression, and community connection work hand in hand.

The arts have always been central to our work. Through platforms like Mindful Expressions and 1st Tuesday’s Spoken Word, we saw how poetry, storytelling, music, and performance could foster healing, confidence, and belonging. These creative spaces became powerful tools for mental wellness, positive engagement, and community dialogue, especially for those impacted by trauma or systemic inequities.

We created LSO to meet people where they are and walk with them as they grow. We understand that progress does not happen overnight, but we have seen how consistent access to skills, mentorship, and supportive environments can shift outcomes—one individual, one family, and one opportunity at a time.

Today, Life Skills Organization continues to operate with a deep commitment to equity, access, and public benefit. Our work is grounded in collaboration, accountability, and the belief that when communities are resourced, heard, and empowered, they thrive. LSO is not just an organization—it is a reflection of the people and stories that inspired its creation and continue to guide its mission forward.