Aspiring Philanthropist Program
Social entrepreneurs are becoming more common as nonprofit leaders strive to solve the pressing needs of society. The PEERS Network recognizes that these leaders need access to other entrepreneurs to think with and learn from as they continue to work toward addressing social challenges. To support nonprofit leaders operating as social entrepreneurs in San Diego County, The PEERS Network has partnered with the Fieldstone Foundation to create the Aspiring Philanthropist Program. This program offers an opportunity for a nonprofit executive director to work with an executive coach, attend the nonprofit schools at either Stanford or Harvard and work with a mentoring group of PEERS members for one year.
Social entrepreneurs are becoming more common as nonprofit leaders strive to solve the pressing needs of society. The PEERS Network recognizes that these leaders need access to other entrepreneurs to think with and learn from as they continue to work toward addressing social challenges. To support nonprofit leaders operating as social entrepreneurs in San Diego County, The PEERS Network has partnered with the Fieldstone Foundation to create the Aspiring Philanthropist Program. This program offers an opportunity for a nonprofit executive director to work with an executive coach, attend the nonprofit schools at either Stanford or Harvard and work with a mentoring group of PEERS members for one year.
|
Our 2015/2016 APP Fellow: Robert Coleman
Robert is the President & CEO of San Diego Second Chance, a nonprofit that has provided job readiness training, job placement, behavioral health treatment services, and sober living housing for adults and youth for over 23 years. Since assuming leadership in 2010, Robert has focused the organization’s efforts on cutting-edge reentry services to reduce recidivism. His relationships with all local law enforcement agencies has gained Second Chance a reputation as the “go to” place for effective, evidence-based programs with measurable impacts.
|
The Aspiring Philanthropist Program customized a comprehensive leadership development program for Robert that included focused mentorship from a subgroup of PEERS members, admission into the Harvard Executive Program for nonprofit leaders and more than 12 months of access to PEERS members. All of which was supported through work with his personal Executive Coach.
The primary outcome from Robert’s participation was design and development of a new nonprofit project, The Second Chance Academy. Second Chance Academy is a program of Second Chance in collaboration with the University of California, San Diego Department of Psychiatry. The Second Chance Academy is committed to ensure all training programs are based in the very latest scientific research and the training is practical and relevant to practitioners in reentry programming, resulting in reduced recidivism and safer communities. Second Chance Academy disseminates knowledge and skills to professionals operating in the world of reentry program delivery, to inform about successful reentry approaches, as well as support the implementation of these innovative approaches with quality, fidelity and sustainability.
The primary outcome from Robert’s participation was design and development of a new nonprofit project, The Second Chance Academy. Second Chance Academy is a program of Second Chance in collaboration with the University of California, San Diego Department of Psychiatry. The Second Chance Academy is committed to ensure all training programs are based in the very latest scientific research and the training is practical and relevant to practitioners in reentry programming, resulting in reduced recidivism and safer communities. Second Chance Academy disseminates knowledge and skills to professionals operating in the world of reentry program delivery, to inform about successful reentry approaches, as well as support the implementation of these innovative approaches with quality, fidelity and sustainability.
Program Outcomes Included:
Second Chance Academy Prospectus
Second Chance Academy Prospectus
- Development of a comprehensive Prospectus for the Academy
- Brand development; Messaging; Marketing
- Review of startup Round 1 funding requirements
($200,000 in funding committed) - Full budget analysis and Round 2 funding underwriting for first three years of operation.
- Development of the business plan outline
- Understanding the various market segments and the
potential dollar amount earned from each segment.
Sequencing of development into each market segment. - Engagement of consultants to carry out the business plan
- Trademarking the name and other IP related matters.
Our 2014/15 APP Fellow: Renato Paiva
Renato became the founding Executive Director of Access Youth Academy after previously serving as Assistant Coach for Squash at Harvard University and USC. Originally from Brazil, Paiva competed as Brazilian Junior Champion and a top junior in South America. He represented his home country on the national team as its captain, and graduated from Ruy Barbosa University with a business degree.
In 2010, Paiva was named Development Coach of the Year by U.S. Squash, and was honored as 2011 Coach of the Year by the U.S. Congressional Caucus on Youth Sports in Washington, DC. He has overseen the development of squash on the West Coast, serving as California Junior Squash Team Coach, winning five consecutive urban squash team titles and leading the only urban squash squad to compete in the prestigious U.S. High School Squash Nationals at Yale University, obtaining the #11th ranking in the nation (Access Youth Academy in 2011 and 2012).
Renato became the founding Executive Director of Access Youth Academy after previously serving as Assistant Coach for Squash at Harvard University and USC. Originally from Brazil, Paiva competed as Brazilian Junior Champion and a top junior in South America. He represented his home country on the national team as its captain, and graduated from Ruy Barbosa University with a business degree.
In 2010, Paiva was named Development Coach of the Year by U.S. Squash, and was honored as 2011 Coach of the Year by the U.S. Congressional Caucus on Youth Sports in Washington, DC. He has overseen the development of squash on the West Coast, serving as California Junior Squash Team Coach, winning five consecutive urban squash team titles and leading the only urban squash squad to compete in the prestigious U.S. High School Squash Nationals at Yale University, obtaining the #11th ranking in the nation (Access Youth Academy in 2011 and 2012).
Access Youth Academy Program Description
Mission Statement: Transforming the lives of underserved youth through academic enrichment, health and wellness, social responsibility and leadership through squash.
Since 2006, Access Youth Academy has been committed to ensuring that each one of its underprivileged youth participants, from The Preuss School at UCSD, excel in their academic pursuits, and become the first member of their families to attend the college or university of their choice. AYA’s blend of intense academic oversight, physical fitness through the racquet sport of squash and service to others stands to prove that each student’s future is based on effort to succeed rather than disadvantaged background.
About the students:
For the past seven years, Access Youth Academy has been making a positive, meaningful impact on the lives of its students. Some academic results include:
Mission Statement: Transforming the lives of underserved youth through academic enrichment, health and wellness, social responsibility and leadership through squash.
Since 2006, Access Youth Academy has been committed to ensuring that each one of its underprivileged youth participants, from The Preuss School at UCSD, excel in their academic pursuits, and become the first member of their families to attend the college or university of their choice. AYA’s blend of intense academic oversight, physical fitness through the racquet sport of squash and service to others stands to prove that each student’s future is based on effort to succeed rather than disadvantaged background.
About the students:
- 42 students currently enrolled in the program
- All participants meet federal economic assistance known as “Free or Reduced Lunch”
- 42 students supported within the Access program from 7th grade until high school graduation
- 20 alumni now attending schools such as Columbia, Dartmouth, UCSD, & Amherst
- 100 percent of students belong to ethnic minority groups
- 5 full-time staff members: Executive Director, Academic Director, Development Coordinator, Events & PR Coordinator, & Operations Manager
- Volunteers provide tutoring in mathematics, sciences, language arts, social sciences and health and wellness
- Individual mentors assigned to each student to provide stable role models and guidance
- Students are transported to and from the facility 5 times per week, 10 hours total split between squash training and academics and weekend community service projects for 44 weeks of annual programming
For the past seven years, Access Youth Academy has been making a positive, meaningful impact on the lives of its students. Some academic results include:
- 3.5 GPA average, the most successful urban squash program academically
- 99% attendance rate for 2011-2012 academic year, highest of all urban squash programs
- 100% high school graduation rate and 100% college acceptance rate
- $2.5 million in scholarships have been earned by Access students
- 82% of AYA students perform better academically than their non-Access peers
- 11 national titles at the National Urban Squash & Education Association (NUSEA) team and individual tournaments
- First urban squash program to compete in U.S. High School Squash Team Nationals at Yale University
- Girls Under 17 Team ranked 11th best in the nation by U.S Squash Association
