COMPREHENSIVE MODEL

 

Juma takes an innovative approach to supporting low-income high school youth in their dreams of going to college and graduating with a four-year degree. We provide a comprehensive, results-oriented program that empowers low-income youth to transcend challenging circumstances, fulfill their inherent potential, and positively impact their communities while creating more sustainable local economies.

 

This is how we do it:

 

 

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UNIQUE, HANDS-ON JOB EXPERIENCE

 

Juma’s core insight is that the world’s greatest social service program is a job. At a job, you learn to show up on time, take personal responsibility and become a leader.

Juma employs hundreds of youth as vendors, ice cream scoopers and baristas at its 13 social enterprise operations at major sporting venues nationwide. Employment opportunities are offered year-round and provide training and hands-on skill building in customer service, work readiness and personal responsibility. Students receive on-going, on-the-job training and supervision from adult staff and high-performing youth are promoted into leadership positions. On average, our youth earn $1,000 per year.

Juma serves as a learning laboratory for youth to gain skills, confidence and work experience, laying a foundation for future employment and an independent adulthood.

EARNING POWER
In 2014, Juma employed 694 students who earned more than $925,000 in wages and saved over $230,000 for college.

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COLLEGE SAVINGS AND FINANCIAL CAPABILITY

 

Research shows that even small amounts of savings can help level the playing field for low-income youth, increasing both their aspirations and their likelihood of college matriculation.

TIME-TESTED RESULTS
Fifteen years ago, Juma pioneered and ran the first youth Individual Development Account (IDA) program in the country for youth in pursuit of higher education. Today, Juma operates one of the largest and most successful youth IDA Programs in the country.

HOW IT WORKS
Juma opens a college savings account for each student in our program, and provides those students with financial education to ensure they have the knowledge and skills to invest in their future. Juma matches every dollar a student saves two-to-one, turning $1,000 into $3,000 for tuition, textbooks or other educational expenses.

DOLLARS SAVED
Juma has opened more than 3,000 matched savings accounts and put over $5 million dollars into the pockets of young people in support of college dreams. We have incentivized savings and seen dramatic results, putting our students on a path to success in the financial mainstream.

Since the IDA program was established in 1999, Juma youth have saved more than $1.6 million in their IDA’s and earned over $3.7 million in matching funds.

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EDUCATION AND CAREER GUIDANCE

 

College Access and Retention support services encourage students to attend and stay in college. Juma youth develop an education plan that ensures that youth are working toward completion of credits they need to eventually enroll in post-secondary education.

Working together with Juma’s Youth Development Coordinators or our local nonprofit partners, Juma youth determine individual goals for higher education and a plan to reach those goals. Youth participate in college and career tours, as well as, SAT prep courses and they receive assistance with college and financial aid applications and after-school tutoring. Youth are supported through college completion.

As Juma has expanded into New Orleans, Seattle and Santa Clara, we have partnered with local high-performing college access organizations through a collective impact model to build on each others’ strengths and common goals for students and to allow us to focus on providing youth employment and financial capability.

REAL IMPACT
In 2014, 98% of Juma youth graduated from high school and 66% enrolled in post-secondary education. 70% of our college students are on track to graduate within 6 years.