Urban Alliance Foundation Inc

URBAN ALLIANCE CONNECTS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO EQUITABLE, INCLUSIVE CAREERS THROUGH PAID WORK EXPERIENCES, MENTORSHIP, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. WE WORK WITH SCHOOLS AND EMPLOYERS TO ADDRESS SYSTEMIC BARRIERS TO ECONOMIC MOBILITY FOR YOUNG ADULTS OF COLOR AND TO BRIDGE THE GAPS BETWEEN EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL YOUNG PEOPLE.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS: THIS CATEGORY PRIMARILY REPRESENTS THE FOUNDATION'S KEY VEHICLE FOR BUILDING A MORE EQUITABLE WORKFORCE: WORK-BASED LEARNING. OUR CORE MODEL, THE HIGH SCHOOL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM (HSIP), BRIDGES THE OPPORTUNITY GAP BY CONNECTING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS IN ALL FOUR REGIONS FROM HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED COMMUNITIES - PRIMARILY YOUTH OF COLOR - TO PAID INTERNSHIPS, SKILLS AND DIGITAL LITERACY TRAINING, MENTORING, AND COLLEGE AND CAREER PLANNING ASSISTANCE. RECOGNIZING THE VALUE OF CONNECTING YOUTH EARLIER IN THEIR HIGH SCHOOL CAREERS WITH WORK-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO PREVENT DISCONNECTION, THE FOUNDATION ALSO PROVIDES WORKFORCE READINESS TRAINING AND CAREER EXPOSURE TO STUDENTS AS EARLY AS FRESHMAN YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL IN THE GREATER DC AND CHICAGO REGIONS. THE FOUNDATION ALSO FACILITATES OTHER INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS FOR NON-HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH VIA CONTRACTS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE MODELED AFTER THE HSIP IN THAT YOUTH ARE PROVIDED PAID INTERNSHIPS AND RECEIVE LIFE-SKILLS AND JOB READINESS TRAINING. DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC THE FOUNDATION TRANSITIONED TO VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING.

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT: THIS CATEGORY REFERS TO ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO SCALE AND IMPROVE THE FOUNDATION'S PROGRAMS. THE FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO CONTINUOUS LEARNING, CONSTANTLY REFINING AND FINE-TUNING PROCESSES TO SPUR REAL-TIME, DATA-DRIVEN DECISION-MAKING THAT ALLOWS THE FOUNDATION TO DELIVER PROGRAMMING OF THE HIGHEST-POSSIBLE QUALITY FOR STUDENTS. REPLICATION ACTIVITIES ARE DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE QUANTITY OF YOUTH SERVED BY THE FOUNDATION'S PROGRAMS BY FINDING NEW AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO DELIVER PROGRAMS IN CURRENT AREAS SERVED AS WELL AS BY EXPANDING TO OFFER PROVEN PROGRAM MODELS IN NEW AREAS. PROGRAM QUALITY AND FIDELITY ARE IMPROVED THROUGH EVALUATION ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO IDENTIFY STRENGTHS AND AREAS FOR GROWTH THAT INFORM THE FOUNDATION'S PROGRAM OPERATIONS. EVALUATION ACTIVITIES INCLUDE EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN STUDIES WITH THE URBAN INSTITUTE AS WELL AS SHORT TERM OUTCOME EVALUATIONS THAT ALLOW THE FOUNDATION TO IMPROVE PROGRAM QUALITY AND DELIVER IMPROVED SERVICES TO YOUTH.

YOUTH PROGRAMS: THIS CATEGORY REPRESENTS THE FOUNDATION'S SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAMS. ALL STUDENTS WHO COMPLETE HSIP ARE GUARANTEED LIFETIME COLLEGE AND CAREER SUPPORT THROUGH OUR ALUMNI SERVICES PROGRAM SHOULD THEY NEED IT. SERVICES ARE PRIMARILY CONCENTRATED DURING A STUDENT'S FIRST TWO YEARS POST-PROGRAM TO ENSURE CONTINUED CONNECTION TO AN ECONOMICALLY-MOBILE PATHWAY. ADDITIONAL SERVICES INCLUDE THE ALUMNI INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, EDUCATION, AND CAREER COUNSELING, CONTINUED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOUNDATION HAS MADE ITS PROPRIETARY CURRICULUM AVAILABLE TO OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS ON A LIMITED BASIS, THROUGH STAFF-FACILITATED OR TRAIN-THE-TRAINER OUTREACH MODELS, PROVIDED THAT PROJECT SCOPES AND ORGANIZATIONS ALIGN WITH THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION. THE FOUNDATION'S CURRICULUM WILL BE SELECTED AND MODIFIED, IF NECESSARY, TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PROJECT. THE FOUNDATION RECEIVES REVENUE FOR AN ORGANIZATION'S USE OF THE FOUNDATION'S CURRICULUM, PROFESSIONAL FEES FOR THE FOUNDATION STAFF, AND EXPENSES NECESSARY TO EXECUTE THE PROJECT. DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE FOUNDATION TRANSITIONED TO VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING.