Strategic Investing
By focusing on targeted, high-need areas within Miami, Orlando and Tampa, the Foundation’s investments are working to align high-quality early learning systems for high-poverty, minority and first-generation students to rigorous K-12 educational programs that provide academic support and clear pathways to postsecondary education preparedness and success. This work is improving academic preparedness and fostering college-going and completing cultures while supporting increased access and academic support within postsecondary education that facilitate student entry, persistence and completion. The Foundation’s strategic investments in the Talent Development Network, the SEED School of Miami and Take Stock in Children are helping create a college-going and completing culture and preparing more students for success beyond high school.
Talent Development Network
The alignment of industry needs and academic curriculum have come together with the launch of The Talent Development Network in Miami, Florida. Led by members of the One Community One Goal Academic Leaders Council – institutional leaders from Barry University, Florida International University, Florida Memorial University, Miami Dade College, St. Thomas University, University of Miami and Miami-Dade Public Schools – the Talent Development Network extends paid internships within South Florida’s growth industries to postsecondary students, offering them workforce experience without sacrificing financial stability.
Helios Education Foundation’s $100,000 investment in this effort will directly impact student success by building the program’s leadership and academic support team, facilitating the development of a research-based strategy for a regional internship effort and intentionally fostering an internship culture in South Florida.
Helios Education Foundation’s $100,000 investment in the Talent Development Network is helping impact student success, build the program’s leadership and foster an internship culture in South Florida.
The SEED School of Miami
A nurturing social and emotional environment is key to ensuring student success, regrettably not all students experience this supportive environment on their path to postsecondary education. The SEED School of Miami, with $1,000,000 in funding from Helios, has built on the success of SEED schools in both Washington, DC and Maryland to launch a college-preparatory, public boarding school designed for at-risk, underserved students in Miami, Florida. The SEED school serves students in sixth through twelfth grades who attend the school 24 hours per day, five days per week. The SEED model provides a rigorous academic program, life skills curriculum, and college transition and support services. The public boarding school structure of SEED seeks to mitigate the overwhelming challenges that at-risk, low-income students often face by virtue of their environment.
The SEED model provides a rigorous academic program, life skills curriculum, and college transition and support services.
Take Stock in Children
With an over $4 million investment from Helios, Take Stock in Children is working to break the cycle of poverty for low-income, academically qualified students in Florida by providing opportunities for a postsecondary education. To date, over 24,000 students in Florida’s 67 counties have been identified as Take Stock participants. These students are supported by Take Stock in Children personnel, volunteers and mentors through middle school and high school and through their transition into college. Take Stock in Children brings together not only students and school personnel, but community volunteers, philanthropists, religious groups, civic organizations, the social-services sector and for-profit businesses, all working to change lives and strengthen communities through education.
