Reach Potential Movement » BLOG

Sunnyvale Leaders Launch Mentoring Initiative

Rob — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 15:11:32 +0000

There’s something stirring in Sunnyvale “in a very cool way,” as Captain Doug Moretto of Sunnyvale Public Safety will often remark at Challenge Team meetings. Community leaders are coming together to steer youth away from drugs and juvenile delinquency through the Sunnyvale Youth Mentoring Initiative.

Public Safety officers, business leaders and Reach Potential Movement’s Mentoring Coordinator, Angie Garcia-Stonehocker met with two focus groups of Sunnyvale youth this week to hear their thoughts on everything from what they would desire out of their mentoring program to the challenges they face navigating school, pressure from gangs, home life and the most common complaint of being “bored.” Though many students were unfamiliar with the concept of having a mentor, the idea of having an older person that they can build a friendship with over lunches and various activities energized both the students and adults.

In January 2010, Barack Obama proclaimed the month to be National Mentoring Month. “As tutors, coaches, teachers, volunteers, and friends, mentors commit their time and energy to kids who may otherwise lack a positive, mature influence in their lives. Their impact fulfills critical local needs that often elude public services. Our government can build better schools with more qualified teachers, but a strong role model can motivate students to do their homework. Mentors are building a brighter future for our Nation by helping our children grow into productive, engaged, and responsible adults.”

Community leaders launched the Sunnyvale Youth Mentoring Initiative on May 26th at the Sunnyvale Challenge Team which draws city, education, business, nonprofit and faith leaders at the Department of Public Safety from 7 to 8am the last Wednesday of the month. Dr. Ben Picard, Sunnyvale School District’s Superintendent encouraged everyone at the end of the Challenge Team meeting that the group of forty leaders were “really starting to gel as a team.” The Sunnyvale Youth Mentoring Initiative is being coordinated by the Challenge Team’s Mentoring Advisory Group and Reach Potential Movement. “Our team effort has been a model of collaboration,” said Rob Schulze, Reach Potential Movement’s Coordinator. “We have a motto that our team has no bench, everyone plays!”

If you would like to be a part of the Sunnyvale Youth Mentoring Initiative by helping plan group outings for youth and their mentors, gather business sponsors or be a mentor yourself, please contact Reach Potential Movement. Click here to learn more about being a mentor and to download an application.

Kick, Lead, Dream Soccer Camp

Castro 5th Graders go to Stanford!

Rob — Tue, 25 May 2010 19:51:30 +0000

Dr. Judy Crates, Principal of Castro Elementary in Mountain View, has a vision for her graduating 5th graders to enter middle school knowing what life options are available to them in a few years. For many under-resourced youth, the economic and cultural pressures to start working to support their family or to join a gang are more real than plans to graduate from high school. Breaking through these walls to rigorous academic achievement and higher education is a challenge for many educators. “Most of our students don’t know what’s on the other side of the wall,” shares Dr. Crates.

On May 20th, Reach Potential Movement partnered with Castro Elementary to inspire and challenge 53 fifth graders and several of their parents to DREAM FOR COLLEGE by spending a day at Stanford University with several Latino undergrads and alumni as they toured the campus. One parent had always wanted to see the University but assumed there was a literal wall around Stanford and that this was her chance to have special access to see the university.

The day following their visit to Stanford, the students participated in “College Spirit Day” at their school. Each student received a t-shirt from the alma-mater of the person who sponsored their participation in Dream-4-College Week (with the exception of Stanford now that 53 Castro fifth graders want to go there!). The students continued discussion and learning about the life opportunities that a path of rigorous academics during their middle and high school years will provide them.

For students to keep breaking through the walls that can barricade their college dreams, a parent education workshop will follow where we will inspire, challenge and support parents to do the same for their children as they enter middle school.

Reach Potential Movement commends all our sponsors for championing our cause to inspire our “first generation to college” fifth graders to reach and dream. Let’s continue to empower under-resourced kids and youth, and we’ll all reach our highest potential together!

Dream for College Project

Dream for College Project

Rob — Tue, 04 May 2010 22:44:12 +0000

Dream for College Project: Inspiring first generation to college 5th graders

On May 20^th, Reach Potential Movement will partner with Castro Elementary school in Mountain View, CA to inspire 50 mostly Latino fifth grade students with an up close college experience at Stanford University. Click here if you would like to sponsor a student with a $20 donation. Our project will provide:

A college field trip to engage students with the journeys of Latino undergrads and alumni from Stanford who’ve overcome cultural and economic challenges to graduate from college.
A parent education workshop to enlist parents to support for their child’s academic preparation through middle and high school to keep them on a path for college.
A college T-shirt and a book, Wiley’s Way/El Camino de Wiley, to inspire a college going mentality.

DREAM FOR COLLEGE NEEDS STATEMENT

In June of 2009, The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) revealed in their report, Educating California: Choices for the Future[1], that Californians are experiencing two significant shifts that will change our state’s social and economic landscape. The first shift is our state’s retiring baby boomers that will be leaving the California workforce in mass between 2010 and 2030. 35% of our state’s 55 to 59 year olds are college graduates. In contrast, only 26% of California’s 25-29 year olds have college degrees and this percentage may drop in light of our state’s second major shift— 49% of California’s public school students are Latino and yet 12 percent of Latinos age 25 and older had received a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2005.[2]

The convergence of these two demographic shifts could further reduce state revenues that fuel education for tomorrow’s worker. PPIC projects that “by 2025, 41 percent of jobs will require at least a bachelor’s degree— but only 35 percent of California adults will have college diplomas. To put it another way, if current trends persist, the state will face a shortfall of one million college graduates. Though California Latinos have made strong gains in education from generation to generation, those gains show up mainly in high school graduation rates. U.S.-born Latinos attend college and graduate at far lower rates than other U.S.-born residents.[3]”

Can California afford the economic and social costs of not preparing our children for the world ahead? Only 60% of ninth grade Latinos will graduate from high school[4] and even more sobering is that only 14% will qualify for entrance into California State Universities (CSU) and 4% will be eligible to apply a University of California School (UC). While 81% of Latinos who apply for UC schools are accepted, only 38% will enroll and attend a UC University[5]. 49% of Latino four-year college students will not graduate[6].

These statistics are in stark contrast to California’s Asian and non-Latino White communities. Latinos often face significant economic as well as cultural pressures to enter the work force and help support their family during their high school and college years. PPIC concludes that the programs that show promise in keeping children in schools include career technical education and early college commitment programs in which middle school students learn about college entrance requirements and funding opportunities, and commit to a rigorous set of courses in high school.[7]

Reach Potential Movement believes that families need to have a vision for college before their children enter middle school so that they are thoroughly prepared for college prep classes when they enter high school. Our Dream for College Project teaches students the math of attending classes, turning in their homework and excelling in school will either multiply or divide their life opportunities and employment outlook. Employees with college degrees experienced 7% unemployment in 2009 compared to an unemployment rate closer to 14% for California workers with just high school diplomas. The 25% of Californians who did not graduate from high school experienced unemployment rates closer to 22% with an average annual salary of $18,734 compared to $27,915 for high school grads and $53,039 for college grads. The wage gap between college graduates and those with high school diplomas increased from 40% in 1980 to 90% in 2008.[8]

[1] Educating California: Choices for the Future, Hans Johnson, The Public Policy Institute of California, 2009 http://www.ppic.org/main/publication.asp?i=891

[2] Latinos and College Access: Ensuring Young Latinos Can Achieve the American Dream, Senator Robert Menendez. Latino Leadership Link.

[3] Educating California: Choices for the Future, Hans Johnson, The Public Policy Institute of California, 2009 http://www.ppic.org/main/publication.asp?i=891

[4] California Dropout Research Project, UC Santa Barbara, 2009

[5] University of California Application, Admissions and Enrollment of California Resident Freshmen for Fall 1989 through 2008

[6] Rising to the Challenge: Hispanic College Graduation Rates as a National Priority Andrew P. Kelly, Mark Schneider, Kevin Carey, American Enterprise Institute, 2010

[7] Educating California: Choices for the Future, Hans Johnson, The Public Policy Institute of California, 2009 http://www.ppic.org/main/publication.asp?i=891

[8] Ibid

Día del Niño & Día del Libro Celebration!

Rob — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:02:47 +0000

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon (4/25), Castro Elementary, Open Door Church (Mountain View) and Reach Potential Movement celebrated Día del Niño (Day of the Child), a holiday celebrated around the world, especially in Latin countries and a newer holiday: Día del Libro (World Book Day).

Approximately 1000 kids, youth and adults enjoyed a ”Reading Brings You the World” Carnival, free books, Castro’s Folkloric Dancers, amazing food, music, piñatas, and the Stanford Mariachi Band! The literacy carnival promoted the joy and importance of reading within a Latino cultural celebration.

Thank you to all the Castro Elementary parents, Open Door Church members and Reach Potential volunteers for all your hard work and preparation. It appears that our collaborative effort will turn into a much anticipated annual celebration in Mountain View!

Literacy festival

Help Us Go to the Final Four!

Rob — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:17:13 +0000

Hi friends!

Reach Potential Movement has a unique opportunity! Razoo selected us to participate in their annual March Goodness Campaign where 96 nonprofits have the platform to share their cause with the world. We can win over $11,000 to help kids READ & DREAM! Please consider voting for us by giving $10 to our Bookshelf in Every Home literacy project.

1) Click on Reach Potential Movement 2) Donate $10 to our project 3) Follow Razoo’s promptings and share your donation with friends through facebook, email, etc..

On behalf of the schools, families and kids that we serve… THANK YOU!

Class Adoptions Counterpunch School Cuts

Rob — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:23:01 +0000

RPM is matchmaking community groups with Castro Elementary classrooms where teachers need the extra support. With class sizes increasing at Title One schools (over 50% of students are at or below the poverty line) across California, community groups can partner with Reach Potential and low-income schools to make sure kids thrive and do not fall behind.

No related posts.

Reading Volunteers Needed!

Rob — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 23:36:38 +0000

“30 hours of tutoring helps the typical student advance one grade level in their reading… what a difference you can make!” (readingpartners.org)

San Miguel Elementary in Sunnyvale is looking for members in our community who can devote ONE HOUR a week to assist teachers in improving the early literacy skills of 1st grade students who are a year behind in their ability to begin reading. Reading volunteers will work with a small group of children (5-6) and will receive step by step lesson plans, training and support from a teacher each week.

Help a child read!
·     No experience necessary
·     Tues, Weds & Thurs mornings – 8:15-9:15 or 9-10am
·     Weekly commitment through May preferable
·     Join a team environment that’s impacting kids

For specific questions and more information, please email
Rob Schulze at our CONTACT US PAGE. Thank you!

Soccer Coaches and Volunteers Needed

Rob — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 23:31:26 +0000

Childhood obesity has been on the rise for two decades.

At-risk kids lack affordable after-school and recreational activities.

Juvenile delinquency is often the result of kids being bored…

… and having a lack of positive mentors in their life.

And RPM keeps hearing from kids (and community champions that work with under-resourced kids) that there is a huge need for affordable neighborhood soccer leagues. With the WORLD CUP coming this summer, we would like to connect with anyone interested in committing 3-4 hours a week to coach soccer to kids. We are also looking at providing free soccer clinics in low-income neighborhoods.

Please contact Rob Schulze at our CONTACT US PAGE if you are interested in coaching soccer or helping us administrate soccer leagues and clinics. Thank you!

2009 Video Highlights

Rob — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:25:44 +0000

Hey RP Movers!

2009 has been a great year of empowering people to reach their highest potential! Many thanks to Barry for putting together our 2009 highlights and for all of you who have given an hour of your time or some of your resources to transform lives. Click here to watch and we look forward to greater impact in 2010!

A Lunch Hour a Week Impacts Lives

The Gift of Time

Rob — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:17:25 +0000

A few days ago I (Rob) was given a huge gift by three principals of three Title One (over 50% low income students) elementary schools in Northern California. Despite the challenges they each experience in educating more students with limited resources, each principal gave me the costly gift of their time which allowed me to better understand the strengths and needs of our California public schools.

Two of the principals lead schools in Woodland (near Sacramento) where the school district has recently made the difficult choice to close two of their ten elementary schools due to state budget cuts. The impact on the remaining schools is larger classroom sizes— from 20 to 32 students per classroom at the 1^st through 3^rd grade levels. The challenge and pinch they feel is adding so many students and yet having to decrease their resource staff numbers this past year. No longer can they call upon an adequate number of specialists and aids that can provide additional support to their teachers and students.

One principal shared his concern is not only for his school but also for the youth in his community. He sees his students and older students hanging out after school with not a lot to do. He and others see a growing gang problem in Woodland, partly because there are not enough affordable and constructive activities for kids and youth to pursue when they are not in class. He highlighted a couple of churches have recently provided some free activities but they’re only once or twice a week. His dream? “Youth intramural leagues around town,” he said with enthusiasm.

When asked what their greatest “felt need” was, they each had a similar response. Without hesitation, one principal replied, “The gift of time. These kids need more adults, whether they are paid or volunteers, to give these kids the gift of their time.”

Our early literacy projects and classroom adoption programs are a direct result from listening to principals and teachers. They exist to provide children with needed resources and attention from caring youth and adults. RPM hosted our second Bookshelf in Every Home early literacy project in Mountain View yesterday. Abundant Life Christian Fellowship members turned out in force and brought with them nine students from Eastside Prep in East Palo Alto. Watching these youth laugh and pour into the 1^st graders from Castro Elementary along with adults of all ages was a beautiful picture of the “gift of time” at work.

To all our amazing friends who have volunteered or given to Reach Potential Movement this year— we want you to know how thankful we are for each of you this Thanksgiving! Thank you for giving kids and youth your most costly gift—your gift of time. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!