It's been awhile since my last post. Life has been pretty crazy! I'm appearing online again to ask for another favor, from all the facebookers who read my blog. I know that includes 99% of you!
Yes, we've entered WorkUp into another contest - this time, on the most popular, time-consuming, and maddening social network website ever: facebook. First of all, thank you for all of you who have already voted - we are so grateful for your continued support!
If you haven't voted yet and you have a facebook account, please vote now! It's super easy - only takes a few seconds. Just go to this link:
http://tinyurl.com/2juwzs. You'll need to add the application - but you should do it for the kids.
You can even uninstall it right after you vote, and your vote still counts!
Why should you vote for WorkUp, you ask? Because we make good use of the $500--and most of it goes directly to at-risk youth! Thanks to a small group of generous individuals who have invested so much of their time, energy, and love into the youth in DC, we have no administrative costs to delivering these programs to the community.
Keep reading if you're interested in the proposal that we submitted (notice that the last paragraph is the same text as the American Express competition--the projects are one and the same!). Thank you for your help!!
The Problem / Need / Situation:In the United States,
between 2 and 3 million young adults aged 16 to 24 are disconnected
from school and from work. In Washington, DC, there are approximately
18,000 "disconnected youth"--10 percent of the District's low-income,
low-skilled, working-aged population.
Many low-income young adults struggle to live from one paycheck to
another just to make ends meet and do not have the time, energy, or
access to needed resources to improve their living circumstances. They
often have difficulty finding and keeping jobs because of low workplace
skills, poor physical or mental health, or limited options for
childcare or transportation. Young workers who have seen some success
in achieving upward social mobility are usually able to draw upon
family supports and networks of acquaintances with desirable employment
prospects.
- The Pitch:
- With
Razoo's first generous $500 speed grant in May 2007, WorkUp launched
its pilot financial literacy program with a six-week youth employment
program this summer, educating 35 youth on basic financial management
concepts, including goal-setting, budgeting, banking, debt, and
long-term financial planning.
A $500 grant from Razoo enables WorkUp to assist 25 youth in opening
and maintaining savings accounts and provide a dollar-for-dollar match
for the youths' savings deposits. During the 2007-08 school year,
WorkUp is partnering with after school programs to bring an enhanced
version of its pilot curriculum to at-risk youth, expanding the
workshops to include a youth-run fundraiser that focuses on
entrepreneurship.
WorkUp takes a comprehensive approach to ease persistent barriers to
social mobility for hardworking low-income youth. Youth "pay" for
services by regularly contributing part of their paychecks to a
program-run savings account. Their investments give them access to
supports for their specific training, healthcare, or logistical needs;
workshops on financial management; opportunities for civic engagement
in their neighborhoods; and guidance in setting and planning to reach
their life goals. Youth withdraw their savings balances with accrued
interest and use their earnings to improve their lives.
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