Aiming @ Achievement

1. Aiming @ Achievement • Social Entrepreneurship Project • Radha Samtani

2. Problem • According to the U.S. Department of Education, Florida’s public schools are among the worst in the nation. With dropout rates that are equivalent to four times the nation’s average, and one of the lowest student retention rates in the country; Florida’s students are in dire need of support. Despite this fact, looming budget cuts spurred by the recent economic downturn have led state legislators to propose harsh cutbacks in school districts that will be only further crippled by these changes. • In no school district have these cut backs been more evident than the Alachua County School District; the very county that is also home to the state’s leading university – the University of Florida. In a stark contrast to the elite and polished environment of UF’s campus, east Gainesville is a withering community of disadvantaged families, largely African Americans, who have felt the brunt of the country’s economic woes. With skyrocketing unemployment rates, crime, and many high school dropouts, students who live in this environment can find little reason to hope for a brighter future.

3. Solution • To find a solution for these children it is best to start with a non-profit organization. This organization can include UF undergraduates that are highly motivated and scholars themselves. UF students can then create a game plan to have a career day for elementary school children. These young kids can see how a job and being education is beneficial to them, and through the help of UF hopefully they will want to pursue school. Furthermore, we can establish continuity by opening up tutoring sessions with these children in the fall and spring semesters.

4. What to do... • The outcomes for our project are both simple and specific. In short, the objective is to expose these young students to a diverse group of successful careers, in hopes of inspiring them to start early in planning to not only graduate from high school, but to also continue on to a professional field. Our second objective is to expand an existing after school program in these same east Gainesville schools in order to supplement educational programs, such as arts and crafts, that have been removed due to budget cuts. And also, to ensure that these young students receive one on one tutoring and mentoring to improve basic reading and grammar skills.

5. Funding • There are two options for funding: • Since there will be volunteers from various organizations on campus, I feel a portion of their dues can be contributed to helping our non-profit organization. • Funding is also available through grants that our Financial Coordinator will work on. • There are also many grants available through on campus organizations, if our volunteers have access they may apply for these. • For example, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars offers a grant to one of their members who presents a proposal that possesses the most need in their community.

6. Three Boards • Executive Board • Compiled of three faculty members from three completely different departments • Directors Board • President, Vice President, Secretary, Financial and Public Relations Coordinator • Volunteers Board • various members from different organizations on campus

7. Organizations • After School Gators • American Medical Student Association • Gators for Non-Profit • National Society of Collegiate Scholars • Student Honors (UF) • AKD, AED

8. Goals • The Professional Outreach Day will be composed of a series of fun activities for the students at each of the participating professional schools. At each location, the children will participate in hands on demonstrations, see presentations from faculty, and hear directly from a diverse group of college students; particularly minorities that are currently enrolled in the various programs. • The students will be divided into groups of approximately 20 and will be lead by a teacher from their respective schools, and also by a UF student volunteer. The student volunteers will receive a schedule of when to arrive at each college location and will act as a team leader and guide for each group for the entire day. At noon the students will return to the central auditorium for lunch and also to view a brief inspirational film. After lunch the students will finish up the rest of the scheduled day, and will return to the central location for a wrap up and review of the day

9. Transition • To ensure continuity it is important to recruit new Directors at the end of each academic year. Once the new directors are chosen they can then go on and pick a new set of volunteers.

10. Why this Project Should Be in Action • As UF students we are fortunate to receive such a valuable education. I feel it is our duty to educate students in need, especially starting off at a young age.