Streets University - Youth Enterprise Development Initiative

According to a new report produced by IT Futures Lab and the Creating IT Futures Foundation, "Teen Views on Tech Careers", we have learned what low-middle income urban African American and Hispanic teens; and their parents think about information technology (IT) jobs, college and future careers. Most prevelant is that teens believe that with hard work and/or innate talent, they could be successful in IT careers.

With the number of IT job listings in 2014 at nearly 600,000 and the unemployment of youth ages 16 to 24 at more than twice the overall national average, today's youth need jobs that lead to careers and companies need tech workers to fill current and future positions.

IBSA created the Streets University Initiative to fill the need for entry-level tech training in areas where incomes can be easily earned and youth have an innate ability to learn. Our online business directory(s) were created to provide the actual on-hands product to serve as the tool to provide the learning activity that puts acquired skill to practice. 

Streets U. is 'not a youth entrepreneurship' program, but an 'youth enterprise training & development program.' Meaning, our program model focus its efforts on teaching a practical tech skill in need (WordPress) while providing a real opportunity to 'earn' an income from these skills acquired.

Unlike any other entrepreneurial or enterprise development program in existence, our model program has proven to:

• provide real IT skills that incites learning and offers employment in a growing industry,
• provide a legitimate income for those youth willing to learn the tech skills and enterprising competencies,
• reduce the propensity of juvenile delinquency & criminal behavior for youth involved,
• increase youth reading, writing, and math skills; while increasing academic achievement,
• increase the level of confidence & specific soft-skills needed to be prepared for a future of competitive employment

Streets U. provides the avenue to meet the most common goals to accomplishment that youth stated in the report regarding their their interest in IT and those are:

• altruistic aspirations (special projects are required to complete the program)
• helping other people (community service teaching elders basic computer skills)
• learning skills that lead to a career
• having an opportunity for continual learning, and more importantly,
• developing IT skills if they got PAID

The Streets University Initiative accomplishes all this with proven results.

There are over 15,000 small business concerns owned and operated by women, minority and disadvantaged individuals within our immediate region. Supporting youth involved in Streets U benefits small businesses/nonprofits through the features offered by being listed in our proprietary online business directory. Such benefits include:

• increased exposure to potential customers using the standard Google search
• increased exposure on social media from efforts required by each student
• increased referrals to their business due to our coordination and growing relationships with local Chambers of Commerce

By reaching our goal of listing 15,000 small, women and minority businesses in our directory, we are are confident that we will drive more customers to their doors or websites; but more importantly, we can assure financial empowerment for those youth motivated to learn, earn and stay the course of positive lifestyles with your financial sponsorship support.

Finally, reaching our goal assures we pay out to youth a collective $600,000 (15,000 businesses/nonprofits) at minimum. Now that's YOUTH EMPOWERMENT  

Online Directory Created for Our Students To Learn & Earn:

www.ujamaaclub.org

www.kansassmallbizdirectory.com