About us
Our Story
Minnesota roots. Chicago expansion. A commitment to young adults who are building adulthood without the supports many people take for granted.
In loving memory
Her love helped begin the work. Her vision continues to guide it.
Living Waters Youth carries forward the loving vision of Demetra Ann Douglas, a devoted mother, aunt, entrepreneur and woman of deep faith who believed wholeheartedly in the promise of young people.
She wanted the young people in our family and our communities to have the love, guidance, support and opportunities they needed to build strong futures. Her care for others was genuine, her faith shaped the way she lived and her vision helped lay the foundation for the work we continue today.
Although she is no longer physically with us, her compassion, strength and commitment to young people remain at the heart of Living Waters Youth. Every young person we encourage, every family we support and every opportunity we help create carries a piece of her legacy forward.
Inspired by that vision, Living Waters Youth, Inc. was founded in 2013 by Tanneka Harrington, a Chicago native and former foster-care youth who transformed her experiences with childhood instability and systems involvement into a commitment to helping young people build safer and more stable futures.
Tanneka’s personal experiences shaped the foundation of Living Waters. After experiencing foster care and childhood trauma, she developed an understanding of what it means for young people to enter adulthood without the family, financial, housing and emotional supports that many people take for granted.
Her professional experience working with youth and in a group-home setting further strengthened her commitment to creating environments where young people are treated with dignity, respect, consistency and compassion.
In 2019, Tanneka opened a foster home in North Minneapolis, where she cared for more than 10 young girls over several years. That experience deepened Living Waters’ understanding of the challenges facing youth in foster care and the importance of stable adults and communities.
Living Waters Youth began with a strong Minnesota presence and has since expanded its work into Chicago.
Today, the organization is building a Chicago-based model focused heavily on young adults transitioning from foster care, foster-care alumni, housing instability and other systems of vulnerability.
Our work has grown beyond connecting young people to individual resources. We are building pathways between young adults and the systems, organizations, housing opportunities, workforce resources, clinical supports, peer networks and community relationships they need to build independent lives.
In loving memory of Demetra Ann Douglas. Her faith lives on through our service, and her love continues through every life we touch.
Mission
Living Waters Youth, Inc. is committed to advancing housing stability, healing, opportunity and long-term self-sufficiency for young adults and families impacted by foster care, homelessness, housing instability, juvenile justice and other systems of vulnerability.
Vision
We envision a future where young adults transitioning from systems are not left to navigate adulthood alone.
Every young person deserves access to safe housing, supportive relationships, economic opportunity, healing and the resources necessary to build a stable and meaningful life.
Our approach
How we work with young adults
- Person-centered
- Trauma-informed
- Culturally responsive
- Rooted in lived experience
- Housing-focused
- Strengths-based
- Voluntary
- Community-based
- Focused on long-term stability rather than short-term crisis response
We meet young people where they are while helping them move toward where they want to be.