Who
Are We?
Education
Is Our Future, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping
high school students become successful, productive citizens by utilizing a Stay
In School approach as they are mentored through real-time, on-the-job
work experiences. Officially recognized on March 15, 2002 and approved for
business by the Internal Revenue Service on July 17, 2002 the philosophy of the
company is clearly stated in our name….EDUCATION.
Our belief is that education is a cornerstone to our lives—and
that our program will enrich the lives of our students and the people that they
meet.
We
at Education Is Our Future are committed to helping young people realize their
potential. We all know how hard it is to predict the future or pick a career
when you’re eighteen (18) years of age. By working with these young people we
allow them to learn more about themselves. We expose them to cultural,
environmental, and social issues—encouraging
them along the way.
Exposure
to challenging situations is the breeding ground for knowledge and we support it
through positive mentorship. Every decision we make, not only for ourselves, but
also our families, our careers, the politicians we elect, or our land-water-air
management practices are based on various levels of knowledge and experience
that we have been exposed to. This exposure may come in many ways—through
formal education, the media, training or lessons-learned through experience,
just to name a few.
Education
Is Our Future, Inc. focuses on three of these categories—formal
education, training and lessons-learned through experience. And the
beneficiaries of this education are our high school and college interns. By
emphasizing Stay In School we implement Work Force
Development techniques. We challenge students up to, and slightly
beyond, their potential to develop them academically, culturally and socially.
We enjoy
working with young people and have the patience and understanding to help
develop their potential, their skills and their citizenship. By working
alongside professionals, professionalism rubs off. We believe the positive mentoring provided to these students
will be invaluable in their later lives. We work as a team to build a product; a
product that is fun to build but requires establishing objectives, meeting
deadlines and providing deliverables—operations
and time-management skills that, in the work place today, are demanded.
We Specialize In Work Force
Development
There
are no grades—no pass or fail—but
students must perform. And their performance is measurable, both qualifiable and
quantifiable. For the past six (6) years a few professionals have taken a bold
stance in providing salaried work opportunities for high school students through
a recreational newspaper called Arizona Outdoor Journal. What makes this
operation unique is that the newspaper’s entire working staff is students—students
who receive focus and day-to-day direction from key mentors—a
publisher, a managing editor and an art director.
These
students serve apprenticeships with Arizona Outdoor Journal. For most
it’s 18 months, but for some it’s only a 6-12 month program. During their
apprenticeships the students work 12-15 hours per week during the school year
and 30+ hours during the summer months. The types of students vary; they’re
all “want-to-be’s”—some
want-to-be journalist, others photographers, editors, accountants, business
majors, graphic designers, web masters, publishers, marketing majors……or
even engineers.
Students
are selected from various high schools within the state. Most are selected by
their geographical proximity to Arizona Outdoor Journal’s office
located in Glendale; however, students have assisted in the publication from as
far away as Flagstaff to pursue potential career opportunities in
photo-journalism. Pre-employment questionnaires have been developed and are left
with career counselors at the various high schools and interested students are
selected based on this questionnaire, their career goals, their “skills” and
the needs of the publication.
The
needs of the publication are not unique but they are all encompassing—because
ultimately the students run the operation. They do the editorial checking;
layout and design; they create the ads and handle circulation and distribution;
they do the payroll and bookkeeping; they create the marketing material and they
even write the stories—although the
majority of the feature stories are subcontracted to freelance or professional
writers.
At first
brush one may think this is a kid’s publication. But it’s not. The
publication is mature and sophisticated
enough to hold the public’s interest. It is not viewed as a “light” or
“kids” publication and the founders are true to course not to allow this to
happen. The publication reports on important issues such as, the Rodeo-Chediski
fire-recovery efforts, gun control, and land and wildlife management practices
as well as the fun stuff—like 4x4ing,
fishing, hiking and rock climbing. Arizona Outdoor Journal newspaper has
been well received by the public mostly because it provides educational and
recreational information—something
that, to-date, is almost non-existent in the Arizona printed-media market. Arizona
Outdoor Journal has identified more than 75 recreational topics to report on
thus keeping the students working while keeping the public “tuned in” to the
issues and the “fun-to-be-had” in Arizona’s great outdoors.
The
organization, Education Is Our Future, Inc. dba Arizona Outdoor Journal,
is poised for success. Its four issues a year will soon grow to 10 and with it
will be its popularity with the public. When the 6-8 students per year grow to
12-15 the staff will be at full compliment—and
at full workload to support a monthly publication.
We
Promote “Stay In School”
What
makes Education Is Our Future noteworthy is its approach. It uses “outdoor
fun” depicted and acted-out in Arizona Outdoor Journal to sell its
message of Stay In School. All kids relate to fun—and
most relate to Arizona’s great outdoors. To be a part of Arizona Outdoor
Journal you must be in school. And the Stay In School message
carries over into its scholarship program. Any student who works with the
publication for at least six months and graduates from high school is eligible
to qualify for the scholarship program which provides financial aid should they
continue their education. As stated earlier, Education Is Our Future promotes
education and a Stay In School message so students are encouraged
to achieve their potential.
In
implementing this employment and scholarship program new interns must always be
arriving as “old” interns move on—hopefully,
towards a higher level of education. As seniors graduate from high school they
also graduate from the publication and must hire their own replacement. Acting
as an employer they must hire someone to be their replacement, which in and of
itself can be a life-changing experience for an 18 year old.
They
ask themselves; what does an employer look for?—good
grades, physical appearance, attendance, communication skills and/or other
documented, acquired skills. Deciding who to hire is difficult. They must review
the new intern’s employment application, transcript(s) as well as perform a
one-on-one interview. It becomes a lesson in life not only for the student but
also the new intern. This process, however, is not performed without support.
Before a new intern is hired a staff professional helps out—thus
mentoring and critiquing the student on their selection process.
Along
with these direct academic-related benefits there are character-building values
to be gained by the students who work for Arizona Outdoor Journal. The
publication, by its format and focus, teaches social and environmental
responsibility to young people who will inherit the quality of our land, air,
water and wildlife—which are
constantly being affected by the decisions we make today. Education Is Our
Future further expands educating today’s youth through community service,
adventure and personal experience. Student’s viewpoints are broadened, their
interest in environmental and wildlife issues are piqued and many times their
lives are transformed through community involvement, volunteerism, teamwork,
compassion and a sense of duty.
Our
students have worked with personnel from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the
Arizona Game and Fish Department, the Arizona State Parks Department, the
National Park Service, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the U.S.D.A. Forest
Service, the Arizona State Trust Land Department, some Native American Tribes
and many privatized organizations that are aware of, and wish to preserve, our
natural resources for future generations. Collaborations with these
organizations provide additional insight to the students so they can better
understand the balance between wildlife, man and the conservation and
preservation of our natural resources. Our students will become better informed,
more rounded individuals capable of making big decisions that may help shape
Arizona’s future.
Catch
Our Passion
Education
Is Our Future’s primary message is Stay In School and focuses on
the Work Force Development of high school students throughout the
state. Within five years, and with the appropriate start-up capital and on-going
support, Education Is Our Future will be providing job opportunities and
scholarship awards to more than 100 students per year.
As
stated earlier, the program budgets for each student to work an average of 12-15
hours per week during the school year and 30+ hours per week during the summer
months. All employment opportunities pay above minimum wage so your financial
support is needed. We do not want to lose any of our students to another
less-career-oriented job simply because it pays more. We place their education
first—above the needs of the publication and ensure their work schedule does
not take away from academic commitments.
As
depicted, our 2003-04 proposed budgets are on a slow growth path and the funding
needs will escalate for at least 4-5 years. The number of students required to
support the publication will be 12-15 each year; however, the number of students
attending a college or trade school will continue to grow for 4-5 years until
some students begin graduating. Education Is Our Future will continue to support
them both socially and financially, until graduation, as long as they maintain
passing grades and wish to continue in their education.
As
anyone can see, it takes a certain level of financial commitments and human
efforts to achieve the lofty goals set for Education Is Our Future—and
these goals need not apply to only the publishing business. Education Is Our
Future can be viewed as a pilot program for other company’s to follow. The
program provides real-time work experience and training to high school and
college students regardless of their career path. Education Is Our Future has
already been approached by other 501(c)(3) organizations to assist them in the
recruitment of high school- or college-level talent to support the needs of
their organizations. This hiring practice can easily be adopted or wrapped into
Education Is Our Future’s program as the need arises.
Our
growth will provide many welcomed challenges for both the staff and students but
without the proper financial support it will take more than the five years
predicted to reach our true potential. Our advertising and subscription dollars
can only support a portion of our operational costs so the philanthropic giving
by corporations, foundations and individuals will be required to support the
growth and tremendous educational goals of our program.
Thank you for the opportunity to introduce Education Is Our Future to your organization. Won’t you join us? Joining us provides a two-fold benefit, with intrinsic benefits to you as a donor or sponsor. You will be providing an educational and recreational service to the people of Arizona through Arizona Outdoor Journal. And together we will be making a difference in the lives of many Arizona youth—youth who may eventually help shape the future of Arizona.
Contact
Information: Phone (623) 435-9669 —
Ask for Bill!!
Donations are fully tax deductible. Tax ID Number: 86-0953995
Make Checks Payable To:
Education Is Our Future, Inc.
P.O. Box 5307
Glendale, AZ 85312
