College Matters AIM High Education Initiative The Aim

College Matters! AIM High Education Initiative The Aim High Education Initiative, a partnership among urban schools, local businesses and Center for Companies That Care, ensures that vulnerable, low-income high students graduate from college and are prepared for tomorrow’s workplace. © Center for Companies That Care, 2007

The Situation Students’ Situation Of students who enter 9 th grade at a Chicago public school, only 6% will go on to finish college by age 25 Employers’ Situation 2/3 of employers currently say public school students don’t have the basic cognitive skills to succeed Every industry is predicting severe labor shortages by 2015 (blue collar and white collar) 80% of the fastest growing jobs will require at least two years of college © Center for Companies That Care, 2008

The Solution AIM High A long-term, structured mentoring program, matching teams of employees with individual, urban high school students to ensure they graduate from college, and are prepared for tomorrow’s workplace. A partnership between • Center for Companies That Care (facilitator, coordinator, program designer) • Community of Caring Businesses (sponsors, mentors) • Schools serving low-income students © Center for Companies That Care, 2008

Goal Every student in the program will defy expectations, overcome demons in their environment and graduate from high school and college © Center for Companies That Care, 2008

Program Overview • Each student participates in the program from 9 th-12 th grades supported by a business mentor and business sponsor • Center for Companies That Care, in partnership with the schools, designs and facilitates program curriculum • Employers may sponsor a student, mentor a student or both – Sponsors and mentors each make four year commitment – Sponsoring is $5000 per student annually – Mentoring takes 45 hours per year per team, excluding internship © Center for Companies That Care, 2008

Program Pillars • Kick-off and goal setting • Work Readiness – Includes an internship in Years 3 and 4 • Academic Support – Includes weekly emails • College Bound – Includes a 3 -5 day bus trip to visit colleges • • Cultural Awareness Community Service A Day in the Student’s Life Recognition © Center for Companies That Care, 2008

Program Costs • • $4852 per student annually Costs include: – Staff – Venue, food, and tickets for AIM High events for students, mentors and families • Program development and execution • Fundraising • Recruiting • • • Kick-off Cultural events Recognition Career Fair Community Service Day in the Student’s Life – Materials and Incentives – Bus trip to visit colleges for rising juniors • Incentives to motivate students such as prizes for speaking contest • Materials, including computers © Center for Companies That Care, 2008

It Takes a Village Roles and Expectations © Center for Companies That Care, 2007

“Villagers” Funders Employers Families Center for Companies That Care Mentors Schools Students © Center for Companies That Care, 2008

Expectations of Mentoring Employers • Provide team of 3 -5 employees per student for four years – Communicate the program to recruit mentors – Back fill teams when turnover occurs • Join Community of Caring – $250 annually • Provide background checks of each mentor – $30/mentor • Participate in at least one fundraiser per year in support of AIM High • Provide an internship for mentees during their junior and senior years – Can be at the mentoring employer or at another employer • Identify internal program “owner” © Center for Companies That Care, 2008

Expectations of Mentors • • • Delegate responsibilities among team members Email student at least once a week Ensure at least one mentor attends all AIM High events Attend mentor training Develop the student’s trust and “be there” © Center for Companies That Care, 2008

Expectations of Funders Student Sponsor • Financially sponsor a student for four years – $5000 per year Event Sponsor • Provide venue and food for an AIM High event during the year © Center for Companies That Care, 2008

Expectations of Schools • Assign an educator to coordinate the program • Select students for the program • Provide transportation and chaperones for students to attend all AIM High programs • Coordinate logistics for students to attend programs – Permission forms, etc. • Provide students with access to computers and internet to email mentors • Lead weekly before/after-school AIM High class • Plan and execute – A Day in the Student’s Life – Graduation Trunk Party for seniors © Center for Companies That Care, 2008

Expectations of Students • Email mentors at least once a week • Attend weekly after/before-school AIM High class • Attend all AIM High programs © Center for Companies That Care, 2008

Expectations of Center for Companies That Care • • • Develop four year AIM High curriculum Plan and execute all AIM High programs Recruit employers to participate Raise funds to cover all costs of program Train mentors Evaluate program from student and mentor perspective and continuously improve • Update mentors and sponsors regularly • Expand the program nationally © Center for Companies That Care, 2008

In the Students’ Words Student interviews http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=od 58 p. H 4 p 5 jo © Center for Companies That Care, 2008

Why AIM High Succeeds A long-term, structured, mentoring program, matching teams of employees with individual, urban high school students to ensure they graduate from college, and are prepared for tomorrow’s workplace. • • • More comprehensive than other programs Combines proven strategies -- mentoring and internships Business mentors provide missing role models Easy for businesses to participate Significant attention paid to each student Involves students’ families © Center for Companies That Care, 2008

Why Participate? • • • Talent pipeline Diverse pipeline Retention Teambuilding Reputation for being socially responsible Helping individuals and communities become economically selfsufficient and contributing citizens © Center for Companies That Care, 2008

“Will you partner with us? It will be worth it. ” - Victoria Woodley, Assistant Principal Woodlawn High School campus © Center for Companies That Care, 2008