Meet the Founder!

Christiana-teddi Rollins or as many know her “Teddi” is the founder of The Lost Boys Project, created from her deep commitment to education, justice, and hope for underserved communities. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia Teddi’s early experiences shaped her belief in the power of compassion, mentorship, and second chances.

She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater with a minor in Professional Education at the University of Tampa, where she actively serves on the Student Advisory Group and engages in research connecting education and the school-to-prison pipeline. Her project, The Lost Boys of Public Education, explores the futures of Black and Brown boys and highlights the urgent need for systemic change.

Beyond academics, Teddi mentors youth through the Tampa Bay Academy of Hope and teaches with organizations such as Kids Connections Florida, Hillsborough Community College’s Verizon STEM Program, and the Arts Conservatory for Teens. Whether in classrooms, theaters, or community spaces, her mission is the same: to uplift, guide, and create pathways where young people can thrive.

Through The Lost Boys Project, Teddi channels her lifelong passion for service into programs that remind individuals—especially those impacted by incarceration—that they are seen, valued, and never forgotten. Her journey from education to nonprofit leadership is a testament to her belief that true change begins with love, education, and opportunity.

Our Mission

Mission Statement 

The purpose of The Lost Boys Project is to prepare young black boys to survive the American Public School system by educating them on how to meet their basic needs, advocate for themselves, and fight the system so well that they create generations of black freedom.

Vision Statement 

In the next 10 years The Lost Boys Project will remove disciplinary punishments from all American Public Schools and lower the number of young black boys fighting cases in the American Prison System. By the end of their lives The Lost Boys will know and be able to articulate what it means to be free, not as a dream or as a hope but as a lifestyle they have created for themselves.

Our 6 Whys

  • Renewal-Creating generations of black freedom

  • Freedom-Dismantling the stereotypes of black criminals 

  • Education-Educating ourselves and others 

  • Advocation-Advocating for public Black History

  • Peace- Addressing our healing as a generational phenomenon 

  • Closure- Finally Legally existing in every space that we embody 

Our History

Our nonprofit was born from a deeply personal experience. As our founder watched close friends get arrested with no clear path to freedom, she was driven to understand why so many lives were being caught in the criminal justice system. That search for answers sparked a passion for research and revealed deep flaws in the prison system. Out of that awakening came a determination to act—not just to study the problem, but to create real change.

Since then, we have touched the lives of many individuals and expanded our mission across the world. Today, we work alongside public school systems to remove harmful disciplinary policies that push students out of classrooms and into the justice system. We also partner with juvenile facilities to ensure teens’ most basic needs are met—so they can focus on healing, learning, and building brighter futures.

Contact us

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