Changing the Narrative:
The Origins of New Culture
2011
The Seeds of Change
The story of New Culture begins with Brandon Hampton, who in 2011, founded a private equity real estate firm. His goal was to leverage real estate investments not just for profit, but to uplift communities and drive sustainable growth. With a focus on acquiring, developing, and managing properties, Brandon honed his expertise in creating spaces that had both economic and social impact. His passion for real estate development was not just about properties; it was about building infrastructure that could serve people and provide stability in their lives. Over the years, Brandon’s firm expanded, taking on larger projects, but he always kept an eye on how his work could benefit underserved communities, planting the early seeds of what would eventually align with New Culture’s mission.
2013
Empowering Entrepreneurs
Two years later, in 2013, Oye Waddell launched HustlePhoenix, a nonprofit born out of his desire to empower inner-city entrepreneurs. Oye believed that talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not. He founded HustlePhoenix to change that, focusing on providing mentorship, business training, and access to resources for individuals from underserved communities who wanted to start their own businesses. By teaching entrepreneurship, Oye aimed to break the cycle of poverty and provide pathways to financial independence. Under his leadership, HustlePhoenix grew into a thriving community, helping countless individuals create businesses that would not only support their families but also contribute to the revitalization of their neighborhoods. His deep commitment to mentoring and developing people into leaders would later play a crucial role in the mission of New Culture.
2017
Birth of Housing For Youth Aging Out of Foster Care
In 2017, Aundré Wright identified a growing crisis among young adults aging out of foster care—youth who, after turning 18, were left to fend for themselves without adequate housing, support, or guidance. Drawing from his years of experience working with at-risk youth, Aundré launched AscendPhoenix, a nonprofit focused on providing semi-supervised housing for these young adults. AscendPhoenix was a revolutionary model in Arizona, offering not just a place to live, but a structured environment where youth could learn life skills, access resources, and receive mentorship. The aim was to help them transition into independence with a strong foundation beneath them. Aundré's vision for AscendPhoenix was not just about meeting immediate needs but about giving these young adults a chance to truly ascend into stable, fulfilling lives.
2022
The Formation of Adonai Transitional Housing
By 2022, Aundré’s experience with AscendPhoenix, combined with Brandon’s expertise in real estate and Oye’s work in mentoring entrepreneurs, led to the creation of Adonai Transitional Housing. This new venture was more than just a housing program; it was a holistic approach to supporting young adults aging out of foster care. In partnership with the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS), Adonai offered not only stable housing but also wraparound services designed to help these youth build the skills and relationships they needed to thrive. The program provided mentorship, life skills development, and pathways to employment, all within a supportive community. Adonai was the embodiment of the shared vision of Aundré, Oye, and Brandon: to give young adults the resources and support they need to transition successfully into adulthood.
2023
One Year In
In 2023, within the inaugural year of our program, New Culture achieved remarkable milestones. We proudly saw 100% of job-ready youth secure employment within just three months of entering our program, a testament to the effectiveness of our tailored support and resources. Our transitional housing initiative welcomed 43 young adults, guiding them through all three essential phases of our program and ensuring comprehensive progress. We also celebrated the launch of six fully furnished transitional homes across Phoenix and Tucson, providing safe and supportive environments for our participants. Impressively, 90% of those in Phase 3 qualified for and secured leases for their own apartments, marking a significant step toward independence and long-term stability. These accomplishments underscore our commitment to empowering young adults as they transition out of foster care and into a successful future.
2024
Rebrand to New Culture
In 2024, New Culture underwent a significant transformation, rebranding from Adonai Transitional Housing to New Culture to better reflect our expanded mission. We evolved beyond a traditional housing program into a comprehensive ecosystem designed to support young adults aging out of foster care. This shift marked our commitment to offering a broad spectrum of supportive programs that address not just housing but also the varied needs of our youth as they transition into adulthood.
New Culture’s Evolution – A Holistic Ecosystem for Youth
This year has marked a period of significant growth and impact. We have expanded our operations from 21 beds across 6 housing sites to become the nation’s largest housing provider for this population. We now offer 30 housing sites with a capacity to support 73 young adults at any given time, demonstrating our commitment to addressing the pressing need for stable housing.
Furthermore, our enhanced partnership with the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) has positioned us to extend our capacity to over 110 beds by the summer of 2025, reflecting our dedication to scaling our services to meet the increasing demand.
In addition to our housing expansion, we have introduced the EFC Success Coaching Program, a new case management model designed to provide tailored support and guidance. This program exemplifies our commitment to offering a holistic approach to youth development, ensuring that our participants receive the personalized coaching and resources needed to thrive as they transition into adulthood.