ALL4LOVE Inc., a Cambridge-based youth-oriented nonprofit, presented its rapid growth, expanding programs, and plans for a permanent headquarters to the City Council on Monday night, marking a significant milestone.
In just three years, the organization has grown from a team of one full-time and one part-time staff member to a team of five, plus two year-long interns who are Cambridge-South Dorchester graduates and alumni of its programs, according to Executive Director Lucas Thorpe.
Participants in ALL4LOVE’s 2025 summer camp at RockBridge Alum Springs in Goshen Virginia.
The nonprofit has achieved two consecutive years of 100 percent on-time graduation among its seniors. Its programs include NextGen, a mentoring initiative for 44 high school boys, a co-ed flag football league with nearly 300 participants, and “Roses and Sunflowers,” an etiquette and leadership program for middle school girls in Dorchester and surrounding counties.
ALL4LOVE also revived Cambridge-South Dorchester High School’s after-prom celebration after a decade-long hiatus, attracting 125 students and awarding $5,000 in prizes.
The organization’s most significant development is the acquisition of a 6,300-square-foot building at 100 Lake Street, formerly the Tiger Roofing site, purchased in August. Previously, ALL4LOVE had no dedicated space and operated out of the Packing House.
The new facility, named The Warehouse, will feature classrooms, offices, a half-court gym, and a flexible warehouse space with carpeted and turf areas suitable for events such as birthday parties and community gatherings. Renovations are scheduled to begin in November 2025, with a groundbreaking ceremony set for October 28.
The nonprofit has occupied the office spaces, and the first phase of renovations, starting with the gym, will enable the youth to use the building by this fall, to have them in place before Christmas. The whole project is expected to be completed by late 2027.
The $1.5 million project is currently 30 to 40 percent funded through private philanthropists, with ALL4LOVE seeking additional grants and community partners. The or
ganization’s capital campaign, “Built for Kids,” launches in October to support its vision of creating a space specifically designed for youth.
Thorpe said there is a great need for a dedicated youth space in Cambridge, where options like a bowling alley, movie theater, and YMCA are often inaccessible due to cost for students, many of whom live in the town’s most underserved areas.
“Our programs target students from micro-crime zones, as defined by the state, who face high rates of violence,” he said. “By providing a free, dedicated space, we aim to give these kids positive activities and opportunities to stay out of trouble.”
Moving forward, the Warehouse will initially serve youth in ALL4LOVE’s programs but will work towards becoming a community hub by supporting expanded programs like before-and-after-school care and athletic summer camps, among others.
Council members praised ALL4LOVE’s impact, with one noting that its mentoring had “saved” a young man he knew personally. Another described the nonprofit as “building leaders,” not just serving children.
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