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Saving our At-Risk students

Today’s teens live in a world of fear, uncertainty, and alienation. Every teacher, youth leader, school administrator, lawmaker, businessperson, and civic leader needs to be concerned about the high number of youth who are at risk in our nation.

According to the National Institute of Health, fifteen to twenty percent of our youth have some form of learning disability that causes significant difficulty in listening, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning, or mathematical ability, and all of these affect their success in school, family, friendships, daily routines, spiritual growth, and life in general.

Over 8 out of 100 young people ages 16-24 are high school drop-outs.

The unemployment rate for youth ages 16-24 is 10.3 percent for young men, 9.9 percent for young women, 8.1 percent for white youth, and 21.9 percent for black youth. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, July 1999)

America is considered the richest nation in the world, but 20 to 25 percent of our youth under age 18 live in poverty. (Current Population Survey, March 1999)

What Can We Do? There is no simple cure-all for the problem of at-risk youth. Every person who is concerned about America’s young must begin where they are, assesses the needs of youth in schools, churches, families, and communities, and begin working to help them overcome the obstacles that threaten them right now.

Operation KEYS offers a number of resources for teachers, parents, and youth leaders who want to help teens avoid the pitfalls of drug abuse, gang activity, pregnancy, crime, and low performance in school. You’re the Boss, Money skills, and the Entrepreneurship Program is a curriculum tool that uses proven education methods to achieve these positive outcomes for youth:

Increase economic literacy and create future financial freedom

Increase self-esteem

Improves math, reading, and writing in school

Inspires at risk youth to stay in school and excel

Combats Involvement in negative activities, such as substance abuse, gangs, and violence

Reduces the likelihood for premarital sex, teen pregnancy, and sexual transmitted diseases

Inspires the desire for higher education, with a plan, and without the dependence of school loans

Increases career opportunities and options for entrepreneurship

Why Teach Financial Literacy?

The average high school student in the US is only able to score 52.4% on a survey measuring knowledge

of basic personal finance. — The Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy

The number of 18 to 24-year-olds declaring bankruptcy has increased 96% in the past 10 years.

— Richmond Credit Abuse Resistant Education Program

Although 43% of parents feel schools should do more to educate kids about money, only 21 states

currently require schools to provide personal finance education and only 7 states require students

to take a personal finance course in order to graduate. — National Council on Economic Education

Why Teach Business Skills?

Across the US, a survey of 13 to 18-year-olds revealed that 68.6% would like to become entrepreneurs. —

Junior Achievement

Approximately 75% of youth surveyed feel they do not receive adequate business and entrepreneurship

training in high school. — Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership

93% of high school students feel it is important for Americans to have a good understanding

of business economics, but 60% made an F on a basic economics quiz. — Harris Interactive

Together We Can Do More...

If you believe today's young people need financial literacy education and real-world business skills,

the Operation KEYS program is here to help. Your patronage and support will allow us to provide financial,

business, and entrepreneurship education to young people, as well offer financial programs for adults.

We are also seeking partners to help with our public relations and community outreach goals, making sure

that students and parents in our community know that it was their generous gifts that provided the

opportunity to allow others to receive a quality financial or business education that they benefit from.

Together, we can reach the under-served communities and population groups, helping students to see

their potential to succeed and increasing their ability to achieve economic stability and well-being. Please

contact Operation KEYS to discuss ways that you can have a positive impact on the lives of children and

teenagers through a tax-deductible donation to our program partners at Agape International Ministries.

Financial Literacy, Business Skills, Entrepreneurship, and Basic Leadership Course Overview

This exciting curriculum provides middle, high school, and college students with a practical look at business

ownership. Using a real-world approach, students learn the stages of a business start-up and are also

prepared with a working business plan to begin, not a “someday” entrepreneurial venture, but for today.

As they progress through the units, students conduct real-world business research, write business plans,

develop marketing materials, learn to manage personal and business finances, develop leadership skills,

teamwork, and communication skills. The lessons are simple, and can be altered for adult classes as well.

Basic Philosophy:

The Building blocks of entrepreneurship are career skills and also used as everyday life skills.

Entrepreneurship is relevant today – It is essential for future employment and education choices.

Most teenagers are interested in money and are inspired by the opportunity to earn their very own income. (Black Enterprise Magazine often has articles of teen millionaires).

A high percentage of successful contemporary entrepreneurs have displayed interest and started business enterprises even before graduating from high school or college.

A Basic Approach:

Content of proposed curriculum should apply to practical real-world situations.

Learning involves “head” knowledge as well as practical “hands-on” knowledge.

Learning should be student-focused and student-directed as much as possible.

Internet research and computer activities are a vital part of the learning process.

Evidence of understanding will be an actual business plan each student will develop, showing his or her own ideas for a realistic business that could be started today.

Educational Standards Addressed:

Business and Entrepreneurial Principles

Business Management and Business Law

Business Ownership

E-Commerce Entrepreneurship

Marketing Essentials

Applied Technology

All SCANS competencies (Secretaries Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills).

In each lesson, there are four basic elements to be covered:

1. We Connect (5-10 minutes)

Introduces the lesson topic

Captures students’ attention by building upon familiar knowledge and experience

Develops curiosity about the subject to be presented

Draws students into the learning process

2. We Explore (10-20 minutes)

Provides information and facts related to the new concept

Emphasizes the most significant aspects of the concept

Encourages class interaction, thinking, and reasoning

Prepares students to do something with this new knowledge

3. We Practice (25-45 minutes)

Provides instructions for participatory activities and classroom projects

Encourages and provides for explanation of ideas, relationships, and connections

Requires students to organize and synthesize their learning in a tangible way

Is student-driven and student-focused

4. We Apply (5-15 minutes)

Summarizes and reinforces the lesson

Asks questions and causes students to consider and discuss possible further applications of the concepts learned

Begin to set up the next lesson

Celebrates progress and encourages learning to continue

Are you ready to get your student started?

We Are Looking for Youth Mentors

Are Your Available?

Mentoring is a vital component of the Operation KEYS program. While the ideal goal may be to have one mentor for each student, a ratio of one mentor to two or three students will be more beneficial. Research shows that the mentor-mentee relationship is a powerful key to reaching at-risk youth. Would you be interested in making a great positive impact on a child’s life and future? Building a Mentor Bank Where are mentors found? Everywhere! For the purposes of this program, mentors with business experience are preferred, but it is not required. Anyone with time, talent, and the desire to help, can be a great mentor.

Here are a few examples of people who would make good mentors:

Business owners or managers

Community leaders

Public school, college, or university teachers / professors

Members of service and community groups

Professionals, such as lawyers, doctors, engineers, and architects

Retired people and senior citizens What characteristics am I looking for in a mentor?

Empathetic Encouraging Supporting Concerned Understanding Trustworthy A person with integrity Comfortable with themselves and young people Comfortable with differences between themselves and their mentees Willing to commit time Able to treat mentees with respect Able to communicate effectively with mentees Able to set high standards

There are of course some negative traits to avoid as well:

Intimidating Lack of concern Biased behaviors (sex, roles, race) Disapproving attitudes

OPERATION KEYS, EMPOWERING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE

WITH BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURIAL, & MONEY SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE!

Innovative, fun, inspirational programs where youth can learn entrepreneurship and financial skills

Learn to earn, save, manage, and invest money!

Students will leave with: A Smart Start to Business and Money Workbook

Students will leave with a completed Business Plan and the CEO of their own Futures!

Our Financial Literacy Educational Services Include:

Money Skills o Money Skills Classroom Curriculum: 10 Weeks (Financial Fridays) *

Entrepreneurship Education (*Money Skills Program required) o Jump Start to Business Workshop (Phase 1) 16 Weeks o Smart Start to Business Workshop (Phase 2) 8 Weeks o You're the Boss Classroom Curriculum (Phase 3) 16 Weeks (Management focus) o Entrepreneurship (Phase 4) 9 Weeks

Management Training (6 week Management and Business Professional Focus)

Other Educational Support o Online Clubs o Online Educator's Café o Blog / Facebook / Social Media

5-day Business Start-Up and Personal Finance Summer Academies Games, Activities, Guest Speakers, Field Trips and MUCH MORE!!

(Discounts available for multiple enrollments and for school or youth organization groups)

Future Sessions Also Available for Adults:

Setting Your House in Order A.C.T.S. (ADULT COMPUTER TRAINING SESSIONS) Operation G.O.O.D. (GET OUT OF DEBT) About My Father’s Business (Entrepreneurial Network) Business Management in the Local Church Business Professionals Certification Course