VOLUNTEERS, ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDERS / CONSULTANTS NEEDED to make "7 for 1"  A PATHWAY OUT OF POVERTY, A REALITY.

Camden Land and Dream  - An idea for Camden's Children  Contact   

Developed by Michael McAteer for Camden Land and Dream

Re: "7 for 1" organization, a proposed non-profit startup, 
created by Camden Land and Dream                                                

7 for 1 is a derivative of the Big Brothers, Big Sisters concept, a group effort with an emphasis on building social capital for "at-risk-youth," rather than intense "one-on-one" mentoring, a mission so admirably and successfully carried out by the Big Brother / Big Sisters of America. 7 for 1 addresses the marginalization and social isolation of urban populations, intervening at the earliest age possible to prepare urban youth for social bridging and inclusion into the mainstream of society.

The purpose of 7 for 1 is to build a solid financial footing for participating childrens future and an immediate network of social capital for poor at risk youth by alleviating the responsibilities and demands of being a Big Brother or Sister by offering an alternative: A personal GROUP with interests in a child's welfare.

The objective is to begin an experimental project in Camden, New Jersey. Camden is officially the poorest city in America,  with a high crime rate and a large "at risk" youth population.

BENEFITS

Offers 7 times the social capital than one big brother.

Alleviates stress of keeping appointments with child, since each person in the group has 6 possible replacements if the need to cancel should arise.

Being a 7 for 1 group participant is 1/7 the time and stress of obligation of being a Big Brother/ Sister, while giving the child 7x more diverse connections to the mainstream.

Each group member is required to contact the child once per week, and meet with the child only once every 7 weeks.

However the group is free to set their own norms in the interest of the child, going out as a group or a few. Once a month a parent or guardian must be invited to accompany an outing at the groups expense. The ultimate responsibility in approving each group member to interact with his or her child resides in the parent or guardian.

Each 7 for 1 adult pledges to find an acceptable replacement if he or she should need to leave the group.

Each participant must be able to contribute $20 per week to the child's future welfare, to be put in trust with a responsible fiduciary. This equals $140 / per week, with $35 per week, ( more or less, depending on the age of the child) going to the child as an allowance, since there is nothing more volatile and potentially trouble causing than a youngster with no spending money.

Some attrition in the group, at a slow pace, may be desirable, providing the departing adult maintains some interest and contact with the child afterward. This could result in a ever expanding social capital network for the child.

The child will be taught the manners and discipline of remembering important dates such as group member birthdays and "thank you" cards.

The remaining approximately $105 / per week is to be put in trust for the child's education, or if foregoing a formal education, to be released to him with interest in increments: 50% at age 25; 50% at age 30. A child entering the program at age ten should have $39,360, not counting interest by age 18. By age 25, with interest, should have enough for a down-payment on a house. The child / adult must have abided by an honor code during the term leading up to distribution of funds to be eligible

A child entering at the age of ten may have had 21 group members come and go by age 18. We consider this an upside, since the child will be well schooled by 7-1 foundation in the art of communicating to maintain good relationships with those who can be included in his helpful and expanding social capital network.

It is presumed that adult group members will come from communities and institutions usually unattainable from those at the bottom of the socio-economic scale.

It is also presumed that the majority of participant children will be racial minorities, while the 7 for 1 group will be of a different race and culture, therefore generating cross racial and cultural understandings for the 7 and the 1.

FEATURES

The actual group members will be responsible for meeting minimal financial requirements. However, prudent fiduciaries must be approved by the 7 for 1 board of directors, to include representatives of respected foundations and trust managers.

7 for 1 for one will monitor and adjust program for effectiveness." Best Practices" will be an evolving eternal process.

7 for 1 responsibilities are to promote and market the program to communities and individuals of means to be of help to at risk youth, to verify financial status of group participants and institutional affiliations, and forward all information to parent or guardian. All 7 adults must pass rigorous background checks as required by law and implemented by law enforcement agencies.

7 for 1 will pass on all information to parents and guardians applying to program on behalf of child. The ultimate vetting and approval of the 7 adults rests in the hands of the parent or guardian. If a parent or guardian wishes afterward for any group or member not to have further contact with the child, 7-1 will inform the relevant party.

7 for 1 will host orientation programs for all new participants

7 for 1 will hold occasional seminars for participants to update them on "Best Practices" and keep in constant contact through e-mail and newsletters.

7 for 1 for one will not solicit group participants for donations or fees. The organization finances are a separate financing challenge, not to be commingled with mentors contributions to child. Instead 7-1 will do its best to finance it's promotional and administrative operations through foundation grants, fund raising events and donations from individuals.

A goal is to make a persuasive moral argument to schools, foundations, corporations and individuals in Suburban communities for participation, while gaining their faith by assembling a board of impeccable integrity, a qualified independent advisory board and effective management team. This to be supplemented by free publicity through press releases, "in-house" promotions within participating organizations and disseminating of information within major companies, as well, in the hope they will urge qualified employees to join a group.

Funds will be managed in a transparent manner in strict accordance with all Federal, State and local law applying to the mission of 7 for 1.

SUMMARY

7 for 1 will stimulate the participation of those adults who are willing to supply social and economic capital to needy children, who find a once every 7 week commitment "do-able."

7 for 1 will include parents and children in events and circumstances outside their usual sphere implicitly off limits to them, more effectively than any other organization in existence today.

With 7 for 1 's financial fiduciary element, the American Dream will be in the hands of untold numbers for whom it is out of reach.

7 for 1 for one is easily replicable in any city or rural area where there are children in need in proximity to enough caring adults who can provide social and economic capital.