Bricks-n-Books Project™ Community-Based Partnership Overview

1. Teaching Skills, Building Lives! Bricks-n-Books Project™ Community-Based Partnership Overview Developed by: Urban Education Solutions LLC.

2. Project Description The Bricks-n-Books™ Project was developed by Urban Education Solutions (UES) for deployment into urban communities nationwide. • Bricks-n-Books™ is a comprehensive alternative education program that combines GED instruction, with occupational skills training in residential construction, and a home improvement service program designed to address the needs of at-risk youth and low-income homeowners.

3. Project Objectives • Teach at-risk youth skills that will qualify them for job opportunities currently beyond their reach, as well as provide a foundation for future educational attainment, and entrepreneurial endeavors. • Provide low-cost improved home health for low-income homeowners. • Develop a self-sustainable social enterprise for the sponsoring organization. • Initiate an effective return on social investment (ROSI) for the community and supporting organizations. • Enrich the community through collaboration.

4. What is Urban Education Solutions? Urban Education Solutions (UES) develops and deploys innovative education and training programs for America’s youth, especially those who are economically, socially, or cognitively underprivileged. Our Mission is to empower every American young person, regardless of socioeconomic or geographic circumstance, with the ability to benefit fully from recent educational and technological innovations and to participate fully in the economic potential of the 21st century. Samuel C. Harrell President/CEO UES formed the National Bricks-n-Books Project as a non-profit, tax-exempt organization as defined by Section 501 (c) (3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code in order to better serve its mission to “Teach at-risk youth skills to build their lives.”

5. Target Market: Low income Communities Bricks-n-Books targets two groups in low-income communities At-risk youth • School-aged individuals who are at-risk of academic failure (dropouts), • 3.8 million dropped out between 1972 and 2004 – 10.5% of school population • They have a drug or alcohol problem, are pregnant or are already a parent and/or have come into contact with the juvenile justice system. Low-income homeowners • Two types of customers: residential and commercial.  • Residential customers are primarily made up of owners of single-family homes • Sixty-six percent of the assets of low-income homeowners is in home equity. • Many low-income homeowners live in homes in disrepair. • Most low-income homeowners are elderly, many of whom could qualify for reverse mortgages that can be used toward home repair. • Commercial customers include apartment complexes and others.

6. Community-based Partnership • Purpose • Offer GED preparation to provide: • The necessary academic skills required in today’s workforce. • A foundation for post-secondary education. • Teach the occupational skills of home construction and repair and renovation to at-risk youth and young adults in low-income communities. • Contribute to a reduction of poverty rate and dependency on social systems. • Improve economic conditions of local communities. • Create self-sustaining programs for partner organizations. • Approach • Partner with non-profit organizations to deploy Bricks-n-Books™ at local levels to: • Minimizes cost while serving the maximum number of participants. • Repair and/or refurbish low-income houses. • Leverage local education agency (LEA) resources within local communities to ensure optimum exposure and success.

7. Dual Component offering Educational Instruction Overview – • 12 months/40 hours a week • Occupational skills in home construction • GED preparation • Leadership development Home Improvement Services Overview– • Revenue generating self-sustainment feature of the educational program • Labor pool • Handyman service • Home improvement and renovation • Interior and exterior design

8. Educational Instruction Highlights Educational Instruction – 12 months/40 hours a week • Occupational Skills Training and Instruction – 20 hours per week: • State and industry certified instruction • Curriculum coverage full range of basic construction skills, including use tool usage, general safety—OSHA • On-site construction training will coincide with the Bricks-n-Books™ home improvement services. • GED Instruction – 16 hours per week: Graduates of the program will earn a GED credential, using curriculum approved by the local school district, taught by state certified teachers • Leadership Development – 4 hours per week: Includes volunteerism in community services. Supplemental activities include, speakers, workshops and mentor opportunities, career counseling, team building sessions, crisis management, entrepreneurship, small business management, and life skills. • Initial costs are covered by public / private funding sources (See Slide # 14) • Participants receive a stipend during in-class education instruction. • Transportation and childcare or eldercare assistance offered as necessary.

9. Home Improvement Services Highlights Bricks-n-Books™ Home Improvement Services • A revenue generating activity operating as an extension of the educational component • Participants enrolled in the educational component are automatically enrolled in Home Improvement Services.  • Current functions include: • Pre-Apprenticeship Labor Pool – localcontractors can hire Bricks-n-Books™ participants – Fee per hour dependent upon prevailing rates of local area. • Home Improvement Services – • Handyman Services - performing simple tasks such as minor drywall repair, painting, furniture moving, and basic maintenance repair for local apartment complexes and homeowners – Cost per hour depends upon the local area. • Home Improvement Services -performing a wide range of related tasks, including exterior projects, such as siding, gutters, or window replacement, and interior tasks, such as constructing wheelchair ramps and converting bathrooms, turning basements into recreation rooms or attics into spare bedrooms – Fee per home dependent upon prevailing rates of local area. • Participants are paid a minimum wage during home improvement activities.

10. Tracking and Reporting Process The progress of both the program and participants is monitored in real-time the and results are reported to all stakeholders • Including goals, services, service delivery, participant outcomes, and participant perceptions of program services, using the following tools: • TraxSolutions™ by nFocus – entire operation will be fully integrated. • Student profiles, including completed grade levels and behavior issues. • Tracking from enrollment through completion and after-exit activities. • Program costs and other important operational data. • The Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) by Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) – Computerized adaptive assessment. • Assess academic capabilities from the beginning of the program. • Used quarterly to assess student academic progress. • The outcomes from participants’ MAP assessments will then be input into TraxSolutions.™ • The government’s management information system (MIS), if federally funded. • Common measure defined by the Employment and Training Administration in the Training and Employment Guideline Letter (TEGL) 17-05.

11. Collaboration is the Key Bricks-n-Books™ is deployed into local communities through 501 (c)(3) non-profit community-based organizations (CBOs) that partner with the National Bricks-n-Books Project, the developer of the Bricks-n-Books™ Project. Community-based partners (CBPs) are encouraged to collaborate with existing organizations within their respective communities that offer many of the education and social services needed to assure program success. “It takes a village to raise a child.” Social Enterprise Venture 31% ROSI First Year As a social enterprise venture, Bricks-n-Books™ is designed to • make use of public and/or private funding for initial startup and stabilization, with the long-term goal of creating a means to ensure self-sustainment and a positive return on the social investment (ROSI).

12. Sustainment Overview FIVE STEPS TO SUSTAINED SUCCESS: Working together, local community-based partners and National Bricks-n-Books Project apply for initial funding from public/private funding sources. Upon funding availability, recruited participants are enrolled. Each enrolled participant receives the prescribed educational instruction. Each participant is enrolled in and works for Bricks-n-Books™ Home Improvement Services. Gross profits from revenues generated by the home improvement services are released to the Bricks-n-Books™ Project office for use in the recruitment and enrollment of new participants. The Bricks-n-Books™ Project The funding To sustainment process

13. Program Costs and Expenses On average, the cost for 30 participants for year one of this project is $615,538 ($20,518 per participants). The cost for additional years most likely will be higher as more participants are enrolled. However, the cost per participant will be less. Bricks-n-Books™ First-year Startup and Operations Budget At an average medium income of $25,496 per year, 30 gainfully employed citizens represents potentially $764,880 in taxable income, annually. There is also a reduced dependency of social services 31% RSOI First Year Stop the leak! $2,000 per participant per year, paid to National after first year. Funds distributed over three stages: 1) Startup, 2) Implementation, and 3) Life cycle. One-time investment = lifetime of return

14. Tax-deductable Contribution -- $615,538 to $665,538 Deployment Process • Three Stages of Deployment • Stage 1 : $50,000 – $100,000 Initial cost of setting up area – One month period • National startup consulting services • Apply for grant(s) to fund program • Form community collaborations • Setup steering committee • Promotion and advertising • $50,000 – setup home improvement service – Optional in first year • Stage 2 : $565,538 –First of 12 month of instruction • Goal – 30 participant min. ($20,518 each) • Depending upon number of participants grant will support • Stage 3: Second of 12 months of instruction • All issues worked out ,with instruction provided as planned through to the end of the program • Funding available from public/private sources Bricks-n-Books™ 1st Year Capital Requirement

15. Benefits • Youth – new opportunities to qualify for jobs, resulting in increased income levels and the self-esteem derived from meaningful employment and educational attainment. • Low-income home improvement customers – the opportunity to have their homes repaired at a fraction of the cost of other services, while contributing to the advancement of young people in their communities. • The community – can take pride in investments made in their community, resulting in increased tax-base and self-sufficiency of young adults, as well as the corresponding decrease in government assistance payments. • Construction trade unions – a pool of pre-qualified apprentices from which to draw, resulting in a reduced costs of turnover, while increasing the number of dues-paying union members. • Higher education institutions – program ensures that a greater number of local students will be qualified for post-secondary education. • Community-based organizations – providers of Bricks-n-Books™ have a program that is self-sustaining.

16. Together, CBP and National seeks program funding from public and private sources. CBP provides program management and administration at local level. CBP forms collaborations within local community. Mitigate program costs and garner community commitment and support. National provides ongoing support services No buy-in is required Startup funding built into grant application. Roles and Responsibilities Community-based organizations (CBO) partner (e.g., CBP) with the National Bricks-n-Books Project to deploy the program into their local communities. Community-Based Partner (CBP)

17. Contact Information When you teach skills that build lives, the sky is the limit! Urban Education Solutions, LLC c/o Samuel C. Harrell, President/CEO 8987 E. Tanque Verde Road, #309-125 Tucson, AZ 85749 (520) 400-8306 / (520) 844-8404 (fax) scharrell@UESolutionsOnline.com