Individual Development Account (IDA) program
(Letters of Commitment for the grant due May 21, 2012. Go to “contact” tab to request the template for the Letter of Commitment)
Beyond Careers is pursuing a five-year federal matching grant from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Community Services (OCS), Assets for Independence (AFI) called Beyond Careers Matched-Savings Program. This is an opportunity to help high school students and freshman in college to leverage their earned income at a rate of 2:1 to pay for their post-secondary education and thereby increase the graduation rate at 2 and 4 year institutions.
To strengthen this program, we are looking for foundations, businesses and community partners to assist us. Contact Beyond Careers by going to the “contact page” to let us know your interest in being a financial supporter for this program.
Comerica Bank is the financial institution partner for this program. We have the support of U.S. Congressman Al Green, State Representative Jessica Farrar, State Representative Alma A. Allen and Ronald C. Green, City of Houston City Controller. Some of the current partners with Beyond Careers on the IDA program are the Houston Hispanic Forum, Neighborhood Tax Centers: FreeTaxCenters.org, SER-Jobs for Progress, and others. With multiple stakeholders in the community working together, puts this program in a strong position to be considered for the grant.
My Degree Counts publicly launched on April 2, 2012 at a Press Conference led by the Honorable Annise Parker, Mayor of Houston. The Center for Houston’s Future and its collaborators are encouraging those students that have stopped out to return to school to finish their degree!
- Goal: at least a 1% increase in # of 2-year and 4-year college degrees by end of summer 2013 for the greater Houston region (the ten-county MSA)
- A 1% increase equals an additional $4.2 billion in total per capita income annually
http://www.futurehouston.com/cfhf.cfm?a=cms,c,382
Beyond Careers Financial Education workshops
Beyond Careers will provide financial education workshops specifically for high school students seeking post-secondary education or trade school (vocational training).
(1) Cost planning for post-secondary education or trade school methods to increase funding for post-secondary education. The educational services are open to students, parents and the community.
a. Personal and family budget planning, financial planning skills; and basic economic decision-making skills.
The program will focus on students in the Dual-Credit (Early College High Schools – ECHS) Programs, Co-Op students, and those in school and working half days to increase their financial and economic education by outlining how to build wealth and foster significant improvements in individual and family self-sufficiency.
The goal is to increase relationships with:
o Alief Independent School District (AISD),
o Houston Independent School District (HISD),
o Spring Branch Independent School District (SBISD),
o Stafford Municipal School District (SMSD),
o Fort Bend Independent School District (FBISD); and
o Other School Districts
Beyond Careers receives $20,000 grant from The Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation
http://beyondcareers.org/press-release-2/
Spotlight
Beyond Careers Advisory Board member, Rita Woodward, is being spotlighted.
Rita has been a dedicated member of Beyond Careers’ Advisory Board for seven years. She brings to the organization her skills of referrals to other organizations, potential collaborations and partnerships for Beyond Careers. Rita was featured in the Houston Chronicle on December 26, 2011. Please see the link to the article. http://www.chron.com/default/article/Falkenberg-Grandmother-is-the-ultimate-school-2426018.php