During the 2008-2009 school year, OppenheimerFunds support allowed the YMCA to continue to maintain and grow the FutureWorks program to nine sites in the New York City metro area, including three new sites solely for Middle School youth. Overall participation jumped from 96 to 117 students and attendance rates remained 70% or higher at each site.
FutureWorks not only exposes students to a multi-faceted exploration of business and entrepreneurship, but it also allows them the opportunity to learn about different life skills such as leadership, goal setting, written communication, public speaking and decision-making. The program continues to make excellent progress in servicing students to achieve three key objectives: educational enrichment; career development and social development. In general, FutureWorks participants also track further along in the YMCA’s College Access Spectrum, a list of steps and activities that have shown to be key activities and experiences needed to successfully gain entry into College, than do teen participants in the YMCA general program.
Additionally, in conjunction with OppenheimerFunds’ continued efforts to increase collaboration amongst our partners the YMCA joined with NFTE to create a YMCA-specific training based on NFTE’s teacher instructor training course, meeting FutureWorks goal to increase the number of staff with formal FutureWorks and NFTE training. Seven YMCA staff members were certified in January as NFTE/FutureWorks trainers.
For more information on the YMCA FutureWorks Program, visit their website at: www.ymcanyc.org.
The FutureWorks Program introduces teens, ages 13 to 18, to entrepreneurship by teaching them the skills, attitudes and values necessary to start their own businesses. Through their participation, teens gain the knowledge and tools necessary to pursue higher education and set meaningful career and life goals.