The Ripple Inc. originally started out in West Akron, Ohio by Rev. Marvin Barner in 1999 as the W.A.T.E.R. Foundation. It was used as a development tool, to help youth and adults to detour themselves from negative influences in their community.The first beginnings of The Ripple Foundation implemented positive community environments by bringing faith based events to public parks in the cities of Akron and Cleveland Ohio. During these events youth especially young men were encouraged to stay strong in their Christian walk and to stand firm and consistent in their educational journey.
The Ripple Foundation acknowledges that by bringing positive environments, and by presenting positive role models in the lives of youth, that there can be change in our communities that are being over run with crime, violence, and negativity.
Our Vision
The Ripple Foundation provides opportunities for youth to gather and learn from how to fulfill his/her purposes for their lives.Our mission will reflect and include the core values of the church. The goal is to encourage men to love the Lord with all their hearts, minds, souls and strength, and to be the spiritual leaders of their homes.
The Ripple Foundation will be recognized and respected throughout the USA, across Canada and internationally for our work in supporting youth to transform violent culture by ending all forms of oppression and by promoting healthy and peaceful relationships.
7 Core Values
We are a faith based positive,anti-racist organization.
We are here to contribute in the development of real youth, with real issues, in a real world
We encourage youth in their personal growth, healing and inner work as a way of fostering healthy models and contributing to better relationships with self, others and the community.
We promote youth leadership and work as allies with others in challenging all forms of oppression in our lives, our families and our communities.
We support and reflect the values of equality, diversity, nonviolence, healthy spiritual connectedness and ecological soundness.
We are a visible and inspiring presence through our service in the community.
We will promote genuine male and female values with no exceptions.
The youth population is quickly being incarcerated daily, and we are presented with a tremendous challenge. Please help us as we try to change and redirect the mentality of our youth. We can do this together, there is unity in numbers. There is an old African Proverb that states that it takes a village to raise a child, and the question is, "WHICH VILLAGE WILL THEY BE RAISED IN?"
Help as we go to the streets to mold our youth into what they were called to be.....
