On the Horizon
Hot from Our Small Business Incubator: Thanksgiving Pie
We're helping businesses expand by providing them with affordable space in a state-of-the art commercial kitchen. Pie Country is one of those businesses.
If you're looking for a great Thanksgiving pie - a standard apple, or a more unique pear, fig and walnut - try one (or a few) from Pie Country.
Building Educational Opportunities
Every parent knows that a great high school education is the key to lifelong opportunities. And while the city's schools are far from perfect, there are many schools that offer a high-quality education.
We also know that the best high schools - those that graduate at least 80% of students - turn away hundreds of qualified kids each year because the demand for high quality high schools far outpaces the supply.
We created Project STEP to steer and prepare more middle-school students in the Bronx to qualify for the most selective high schools.
Since 2002, Project STEP has served over 450 middle-school students. This year, we're working with over 40 8th graders to guide them through the enrollment process. Our outcomes are great: Last year, 72 percent of middle school students who participated in the program were accepted to a high performing school.
Project STEP Director, Nicole Jennings, with students at this fall's high school fair.
WHEDCo’s Project STEP (Students Toward Educational Promise) is an after school program at PS/MS 218 for middle school students (in 6th through 8th grade) that combines critical thinking, social activism and academic enrichment.
In addition to a service learning project component, eighth graders and their parents receive comprehensive and in-depth support for the high school admissions process in the form of high school fairs (also open to 7th graders), one-on-one sessions with WHEDco staff and exam preparation for the Specialized High School Admissions Test.
Click here for a list of high schools attended by former Project STEP participants.
In 2004, after a career in and out of the corporate sector, during which she found herself unemployed more than once, Jacqueline Buchanan decided to make a career of childcare. Jackie joined WHEDco's Home-based Childcare Microenterprise Network, which helps women start and grow successful home-based childcare businesses.
According to Jackie, "You may be able to get a job, but you never know how long that job will last, but if you start your own business and do what you have to do, you'll be alright."
WHEDco creates lasting employment by helping build successful businesses.
Jackie has been living without fear of unemployment for the past 7 years, as have hundreds of other Network participants. Since 2008, these 250 network members cared for 3,100 children, collectively generating $25.8 million!!
Four of the five children Jackie cared for this summer.
Especially in today’s struggling economy, we know it is more effective to help a person build a business than it is to provide job training. WHEDco’s training and network result in long-lasting and family-supporting businesses, high quality childcare and peace of mind for working parents. Further, revenues generated from the businesses are spent in local neighborhoods, boosting local commerce.
We’ve helped Jackie, and hundreds of other women annually, start and grow their businesses while improving educational opportunities for the children in their care.
We teach valuable skills, so our graduates pass health and safety standards and know how to prepare financial statements. We also ensure quality by tracking graduates’ performance in frequent home visits.
The average network participant earns about $37,000.
“Having a program like WHEDco’s to turn to for help is really beneficial. I wouldn’t have any idea of what to charge, how many kids I can handle. The training helps with these things and with marketing your business and with business finances. WHEDco has helped me tremendously in being a successful business,” said Jackie.
The proven success of this program has paved the way for our newest initiative, the Childcare Improvement Project (CIP), which provides intensive training to unlicensed childcare providers who want to gain licensure and the new customers it brings.
