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COMBINING COMPASSION AND ART
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Achieving Financial Stability for Low-Income Youth and Young Adults
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| In Kansas City MO, the numbers are striking: - More than one in four young adults, age 16 to 24, lives in poverty - nearly 13,000 young people (12,890) - Nearly one in 10 - or over 4,800 of this age group are high school drop outs (4,850), - And finally, a significant number are what we call "disconnected." Which means that nearly 5,000 Kansas City young people has no job and is not enrolled in school or college of any kind (4,980)
Young people in this age group who are not working and not in school face a host of negatives - as demonstrated by national indicators that show unemployment rates 4 times higher than the national average of disconnected young adults, as well as great rates of incarceration and life-long poverty.
The research also demonstrates the positive potential - when we can re-engage young people on a positive path by age 26, they are not only more likely to experience career and life success for themselves, their children are more likely to escape poverty - creating the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty.
Carol Smith Vice President Community Initiatives United Way
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| Partnering with United Way of Greater Kansas City - Decade of Difference |
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Everybody likes to make money!
Most
people like to make music!
The two are combined in a hands-on financial education program
presented by Artists Helping the Homeless, in conjunction with the United Way of
Greater Kansas City and the Citi Foundation.
The program for young adults between 18 and 26 brings the basics of
making and managing money from the classroom to a real life business where
participants share in the profits.
In addition, participants earn money and equity by successfully
completing each trimester.
The program starts October 3, 2011, with classes on practical lessons
in personal finance and the beginning steps of an entrepreneurial project. The focus shifts to a musical project
in the second trimester, starting January 2012. The final segment, starting April 2012 brings these lessons
to practice with the production and marketing of a music CD and culminates with
the “Annual Meeting” where the project’s equity is distributed.
The course is designed to provide training in daily personal finance,
as well as skills helpful in getting and retaining a job. Weekly sessions run 2-3 hours, on
Monday and Thursday evening from 5 o’clock to 8 o’clock pm. Small
projects may also be assigned to be completed between classes. Classes will be held in the Artists Helping the Homeless
offices at 3238 Gillham Road in midtown Kansas City. Participants must reside in Jackson, Clay, Platte or Cass
counties in Missouri or Johnson in Kansas.
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| Partnering with United Way of Greater Kansas City - Decade of Difference |
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| Key Results
At-Risk young adults are better prepared for a productive future. Young people on a positive path by age 26 are well positioned for career and life success- while those struggling are likely to face significant and lifelong challenges.
Postsecondary education is a critical pathway out of poverty. Level of education is documented to influence almost every facet of a person's life from earnings to health and civic engagement.
Investment in the future. Parental education is the single most important driver of their children's future income - a benchmark for impact on the next generation.
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