Current day technology has become a critical necessity in the workplace. Unfortunately, due to lack of guidance and economic opportunity, many disadvantaged youths are unable to obtain an education in high-tech skills. Even if disadvantaged youths are able to obtain such an education, personal and social difficulties present barriers to the workplace and often prevent these youths from developing their skills and themselves as professionals. As a result, disadvantaged youths are severely under-represented in the high-tech job sector.
The Foundation's mission is to combat this problem by helping disadvantaged youths overcome personal, social and economic obstacles to obtaining an education in high tech skills and employment in the high-tech job sector, by providing the guidance and opportunities these youths need to succeed.
To further this mission, the Foundation intends to engage in two primary activities: 1) The Mentor Training Program, in which students will complete a 10-week course in network administration and basic job skills and 2) The On-the-Job Training Program, in which students who have completed the Mentor Training Program will sell Cell Phones, service and/or sell T -1 lines and ISP service accounts for a period of one to two years.
ACTIVITY (1): Mentor Training Program
(a) Description and purpose. Through the Mentor Training Program, The Foundation will offer training and instruction in network cabling and basic job skills to disadvantaged youths through lectures, coursework, and hands-on exercises. Specifically, the curriculum will include network administration, Internet concepts and terminology, sales techniques, professional behavior and etiquette, communications skills, problem solving, critical thinking, and life skills. Students also will go on field trips to various high-techs
Sites and will participate in question and answer sessions with high-tech professionals.
The Mentor Training Program will take place over a 10-week period in which students will meet every Saturday. Unless funding allows for greater capacity, 12 students will be enrolled in each 10-week course period. Any necessary computers, books, and other supplies will be provided by The Foundation at no cost to the students.
Upon completion of the Mentor Training Program, students will possess the knowledge necessary to cable a Voice/Data Network. (It is The Foundation's intention that all students who complete the 1O-week Mentor Training Program will continue their education with The Foundation by completing the On-the-Job Training Program.)
Exempt Purposes Met: Through this activity, The Foundation will provide instruction and training to individuals for the purpose of improving or developing their capabilities. Therefore, this activity will further an educational purpose.
Percentage of Time Devoted: 30%
(b) When will the activity be initiated? Ongoing since September 22, 2002
(c) Where will the activity occur, and by whom? Thompson H. Hood
ACTIVITY (2): On-the-Job Training Program
(a) Description and purpose. High-tech employers generally are unwilling or unable to deal with the special needs of disadvantaged youths while they are learning professional etiquette and developing professional attitudes. As a result, disadvantaged youths experience great difficulty in obtaining and maintaining gainful employment in the high-tech job market and thereby suffer serious setbacks to developing personally and socially as professionals and to developing hands-on, high tech skills through work.
In order to remedy this problem, The Foundation plans to create the On-the-Job Training Program, by selling Cell Phones, T-1 lines and ISP service accounts to local area businesses. The sale of these goods and services will be bundled with contracts for service plans that will be staffed by students who have completed the Mentor Training Program. Although sales primarily will be initiated and closed by members of the Board of Directors, former students, and other volunteers, students who show ability in sales will be required to initiate and close sales as part of their on-the-job training. Any and all sales of goods and services will be offered to local businesses at below market rates, and all proceeds generated will be used to fund The Foundation so that it may take on more students.
Through the On-the-Job Training Program, The Foundation will be able provide a nurturing, professional, high-tech work environment, in which a given student's problems can be assessed, addressed and remedied. As students develop professionally, they will be encouraged to find employment in the high-tech job sector at large, so that positions are available for new students who have just completed the Mentor Training Program. No student is expected to remain in the On-the-Job Training Program for more than two years.
Exempt Purposes Met: This activity furthers charitable and educational purposes. First, this activity advances education, and, thus, furthers a charitable purpose. Furthermore, The Foundation has identified a current problem facing disadvantaged youth who wish to obtain and maintain employment in the high-tech fields. This activity will directly address the problem identified by allowing The
Foundation to create an on the-job training environment that will reinforce the training and instruction students receive in the Mentor Training Program and that will enable students to develop the professionalism necessary to obtain and maintain employment in the high-tech job sector at large without remedial attention. Therefore, this activity furthers an educational purpose.
Percentage of Time Devoted: 70
b) When will the activity be initiated? As soon as contracts for goods and services with local businesses are formed.
The Foundation has not yet established a formal fundraising program. The Foundation anticipates that it will seek donations and grants from the general public through mailings and direct communications. The Foundation will also submit grant applications to private foundations. The Foundation does not intend to use a commercial fundraiser at this time.
Thompson H. Hood
Executive Director
The Hood Foundation
