The entire PanZOu Staff flew to New Orleans for our 4 day strategic planning retreat in the beautiful City of New Orleans. We visited the Lt Govenor's Office of Social Enterprise, a youth run cafe called "Cafe Reconcile", and another social enterprise called the Green Project!

Special thanks to 305 Films for inviting PanZOu to be VIP on the set for the video shoot for Ace Hood's "Champion" featuring Jazmin Sullivan, DJ Khaled!!!!

Young kings and queens

hustlers and thieves
musicians and beauty queens
poets and dreamers

money making schemers
the lost and lonely and the down-for-you-only
class clowns and street soldiers and those with the world on their shoulders

misguided angels and misunderstood brothas
thug huggers and single mothers
rappers and writers and those who's souls are just plain tired

the smile flashers and football stars shy eyed girls with great big hearts and funny boys who are secretly smart

past prisoners and future presidents the go-getters and the hesitant

revolution leaders and deep dark secret holders gangstas, goons and gutta souljas...

I SEE YOU BABY

www.panzouproject.org

Congrats Class of 2009!!!

March 31, 2009 - The community came out to our 1st Old Fashioned Carnival! We had a pig roast, bounce houses, snow cones, face painting, auctions and more!! We raised money and had a blast. Thank you to Fulford United Methodist Church, Lou Schuster, Jamba Juice, and the Police Explorers for a wonderful day. Thanks to all our PanZOu kids for coming out for the fun and helping all day!

During Spring Break, PanZOu clients worked all day at Fulford United Methodist Church planting a Peace Garden for victims of violence.

On April 8, 2009 Whole Foods Market in Aventura chose to donate 5% of their proceeds to PanZOu! PanZOu kids and staff came out to bag groceries all day and raise awareness for our cause. THANK YOU WHOLE FOODS and CUSTOMERS for being so kind and so generous!

Each year PanZOu Project, Inc. holds an Annual Award Ceremony to recognize our clients for their efforts. Awards are based on achievement of goals (diploma/GED, vocation programs, successful completion of probation, etc.), and recognizes those young people who exemplify the qualities and traits that PanZOu endeavors to cultivate (leadership, integrity, perseverance, civic engagement, etc.). All clients receive a certificate of participation. This year each Outreach Specialist chose a "Client of the Year" to honor those who have overcome the most obstacles and achieved the most. Congratulations!!!

PanZOu also acknowledged the City of North Miami Beach, Communities in Schools, Island Place Apartments, North Miami Beach Police Department, and our Board President and Vice President for their efforts and support. Special thanks to Mayor Marin of North Miami Beach and the North Miami Beach Councilman Rosner, Councilman Pierre, and Councilwoman Smith. Thank you for supporting our youth!

Special thanks to Wholefoods who donated food for 80 people! The Police Department donated money for Awards and Fulford United Methodist Church for offering the use of their fellowship hall!

In June of 2008, PanZOu celebrated the high school graduation of some of our clients! We held a party in our new Drop-in Center, which has no air conditioning but all we need is food and music and we're straight. You guys worked hard this year and we are VERY PROUD of you!

PanZOu Staff cooked a full homemade Thanksgiving dinner for our clients to let them know that we are a family and we are thankful for each other! Even though someone stole one of the turkeys, the church came through and donated one of their own. Special thanks to Fulford United Methodist Church for donating their fellowship hall, their wonderful Pastor, and a turkey!