Cloud & Fire

Specialties

YouthBuild:

A life-​saving intervention program that helps troubled youth transform into community leaders. This unique educational program allows students who are 16 to 25 years old to study for their GED or high school diplomas free of cost for the student. Students advance through their coursework at their own pace and are provided with a classroom teacher as well as numerous volunteer tutors. The program includes academic subjects, job-​readiness skills, leadership development and extra-​curricular activities.

Monday — Friday: 8:00 am-4:00 pm

EPIC L.A. Church:

Cloud & Fire was founded to help share Christ’s love to hurting youth. Faith is, therefore, at the very heart of our mission and guides all we do. Although some of our programs have a secular goal, such as improving academic outcomes or providing job readiness skills, Cloud & Fire takes care to provide every participant with optional opportunities to grow spiritually and experience God’s love in tangible ways. Some of our activities are faith-​based in nature, and help youth discover or strengthen their relationship with God if they desire to.

Coffee and Bagels: 10:00 am

Worship and Service: 10:30 am

History

Established in 1999.

Cloud & Fire was founded in 1999 by Founder and Executive Director, Melody Rossi. Formerly an opera singer, she survived a crushing illness that changed everything. As Melody began to rebuild her life, she became a substitute teacher for LAUSD, and was repeatedly sent to a middle school that was performing in the lowest 2% in the nation. Her heart began to break for these young people, and she determined that she would do something to help.

Melody and her friend Carole Walker began Cloud & Fire as a way to provide extra help to their students. They started an after school club which eventually grew to include field trips, camping, and cultural events. Before long the club became a staple in the lives of young people in the community.

Cloud & Fire became an official 501©3 religious nonprofit in 2002. It has now grown into a wonderful refuge for low-​income youth that provides multiple programs that help provide young people with a future and a hope.

Meet the Business Owner

Melody R.

Business Owner

Melody Rossi has been an advocate and champion for youth from poor communities since 1995. While working as a Special Education teacher at Sepulveda Middle School in North Hills, Melody became aware for the first time that schools in the Northeast San Fernando Valley were some of the worst in the nation. Students were also facing tremendous pressure to join gangs, take and sell drugs, and become involved in crime. Melody’s motto is, «If you don’t like it, change it!» So she did.

In 1999, Melody Rossi founded Cloud & Fire to provide a place of belonging and safety to children and teens in dangerous neighborhoods. Today, countless youth refer to her as teacher, pastor, mother – or all three. Under her leadership, Cloud & Fire has grown from an after school club to a thriving organization that provides multiple programs and a wide array of services to hundreds of youth each year.