Mission
Cherish Our Children Inc. (COCI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to create sustainable solutions for vulnerable children. Historically, COCI has supported projects for vulnerable children around the world, but its most recent and notable program has focused on children of incarcerated parents. These services are provided through the Gaining Empowerment in Middle School (GEMS) program, the only program in Houston focused exclusively on middle school-aged children of incarcerated parents. The schools currently offering GEMS are in low-performing areas with student populations that are between 86-97% Black or Hispanic and are in communities where Census Bureau research predicts that 1-in-5 male students will be incarcerated as adults. All the students at the schools qualify for the federal free or reduced-price lunch program, 21% demonstrate limited English proficiency, and 60-73% of students are at risk of dropping out. GEMS provides in-school classes focusing on a