Keys To Be The Change Inc

Programs: The mentors optimizing reading excellence literacy program - focuses on mentoring students in elementary, middle and high school who are below grade level in their reading ability. We work 4 days per week for 5 hours per day in two elementary schools and one high school helping to increase star test scores among reluctant readers who are scoring at least 6 months behind grade level. We also provide peer to peer reading mentors 3 days per week at marathon middle school, poinciana elementary and horace o'bryant elementary school. Our high school youth leaders volunteer to read with "littles" after school to show them that reading can be fun! This program builds self esteem, self confidence and again teaches the older students the importance of "giving back" to community. The other benefits of this program are to create drug and alcohol free after school programs for our youth. This program is implemented from november thru april.

kids win: pathways to success - this is a mentoring program designed to help middle and high school students who are not achieving to their potential academically and/ or socially within the school system. This is a partnership between school administrators, guidance counselors, the key west police department, the united states coast guard and the office of the state attorney. The mission is to engage underperforming students who are truant and or failing at least one core subject and match then up with a mentor with the goal of reducing truancy and improving grades. The mentors help the students develop positive personal relationships, develop life skills, offer support and encouragement, improve time management skills, help students feel loved, develop a sense of trust with an adult, help set goals, improve grades and attendance and help the mentee make healthy lifestyle choices with the goal of preventing drug and alcohol use. Thirty students are enrolled in this program which has been expanded to the middle school this year. Mentors meet weekly for 30-55 minutes during an elective period or lunch. Our current success rate is 66%.

youth leaders/prevention - middle and high school students are involved in educational, cultural and skill building activities that empower them to make positive changes in their lives and in the community. This program has approximately 150 students in monroe county. They meet weekly to discuss events and issues. They participate in monthly prevention programs as addressed by the national organization, students against destructive decisions (sadd). They provide peer to peer messaging on their respective campuses to raise awareness of the negative effects of drug and alcohol use. They participate in community events and learn the importance of giving back to their community. They attend civic events such as veteran's day, unity day, martin luther king day celebrations, wounded warrior welcoming and farm share acitvities. This program is primarily utilitzed to build leaders for the future and to promote empathy in our society. Students who volunteer during the year and show a continued interest in the program are given the oppoprtunity to travel to florida state university and attend a major leadership conference sponsored by peace jam international. Students work side by side a nobel peace laureate for the weekend and learn how one person can make a major difference in the lives of others as well as society as a whole.

farm to school program - this initiative allows students to meet weekly with a farm to school coordinator who teaches our youth to plant, water, weed and learn about growing their own organic food for sustainability purposes as well as healthy eating habits. The students integrate math and science concepts which include growth areas and square footage by plant type, measuring both plant growth and rainfall, calculating time needs for harvesting vegetables while learning the role nature plays in the process of growing food both positive and negative. Aquaponics has been introduced to the schools throughout the county as well. This teaches our youth to grow food and fish without soil in a very small area. Aquaponics is the most sustainable form of gardening and is easily adopted in our marine environment of the florida keys.