Our mission at Act on Poverty (AOP) is to help high school students from disadvantaged situations launch themselves into a career and avoid a life of poverty. We do this by 1) helping kids formulate a career plan that reflects their interests and skills, 2) mentoring kids as they navigate trade schools or college, 3) providing financial help, generally in the form of scholarships, and 4) helping kids launch themselves into the working world.
Help us help kids!
Our experience is that some kids leave High School in a disadvantaged position related to pursuing a good career. They may have poor or no family support. They may have stumbled in high school through emotional, drug, or alcohol problems. They may have grown up in poverty.
Disadvantaged kids face three challenges as they leave high school. They can be plan-less, mentor-less, and/or fund-less.
Plan-Less Kids
The most critical component of success for a student leaving high school is a plan for the next step. With a plan for a career path and a passion for its execution, a host of resources come into focus. High school counselors, trade school or college counselors, teachers, and industry people often give guidance and coordinate resources. But without a plan, things stall and drift. Others don’t know how to help.
At AOP, we are focused on helping students adopt a plan while in high school. We support high school classes that address this theme, even teaching an 18-week class at one high school. At other schools, we participate in classes that focus on career planning. We bring real-world experience to students through class participation or working one-on-one with kids. The goal is to help kids formulate a plan they believe in that captures their interests and skills.
Mentor-Less Kids
Some kids get little support from parents or guardians as they leave high school. AOP mentors try to support kids, encouraging them to stay on track and achieve their goals. All successful people have help attaining their success. AOP mentors are all volunteers from the working world, giving back to their communities. They aim to mentor students from graduation until they launch themselves into a career.
Fund-Less Kids
Many kids from disadvantaged situations don’t plan for success because they don’t see a financial avenue to get an education or go to trade school. AOP provides scholarships to kids to encourage them to take the next step. We help students navigate other financial opportunities that are available, including FAFSA. Recognizing these kids with a scholarship can be inspirational for them. It is a tangible, direct way to say, “You can do this!”
Friends of Various High Schools
We currently work with four High Schools in the Denver metro area. We see a significant need out there to help schools and students. Schools are rightly focused on getting kids a High School Diploma. Getting kids to plan for a specific career is secondary, which makes sense. This is where volunteers from the working world can be of assistance. We have found that the High Schools are grateful for the help.
HELP US GROW TO HELP MORE KIDS
We can use help in two ways. We raise funds and spend 100% on the kids. No salaries, no offices, no overhead. We would put your donation to good use. Secondly, we give our time to get involved with youth and do what we can. Would you like to get involved in teaching or mentoring? Please contact us! We are a 100% volunteer organization. If you have been a parent, a worker, a coach, or a teacher, we could use your help!