Juma Ventures: Program Overview

"I have followed the development of Juma Ventures almost from inception, and watched as it repeatedly pioneered social innovations from social enterprise, to youth employment generation to career and college preparation to saving and asset-building. As someone who has an international perch from which to observe the growth of the asset-building movement worldwide, it delights me that Juma has led in the development and integration of youth Individual Development Accounts and financial education into a holistic youth development strategy. That is why CFED chose Juma as one of twelve partners nationwide to participate in the groundbreaking Saving for Education, Enterprise and Downpayment (SEED) Initiative, and why today Juma continues to be at the forefront in building assets and futures for at-risk kids in the Bay Area, the state and the nation."

Bob Friedman
General counsel, founder and chair of CFED's board




"I have followed the development of Juma Ventures almost from inception, and watched as it repeatedly pioneered social innovations from social enterprise, to youth employment generation to career and college preparation to saving and asset-building. As someone who has an international perch from which to observe the growth of the asset-building movement worldwide, it delights me that Juma has led in the development and integration of youth Individual Development Accounts and financial education into a holistic youth development strategy. That is why CFED chose Juma as one of twelve partners nationwide to participate in the groundbreaking Saving for Education, Enterprise and Downpayment (SEED) Initiative, and why today Juma continues to be at the forefront in building assets and futures for at-risk kids in the Bay Area, the state and the nation." Bob Friedman General counsel, founder and chair of CFED's board	Program Overview Juma offers three core program components, coordinated through case management support. Together, this framework provides youth with a unique set of comprehensive services. Juma approaches this youth work with a social justice philosophy, integrating the exploration of questions of power, privilege and equity into the curriculum and activities. Juma youth have opportunities to develop and practice leadership in their work with Juma, both individually and through a youth advisory board. The combination of programs with personalized case management services and life skills classes aids youth to develop their capacity for success in school, community, home, and adulthood. The key components of the Juma program model are: Job skills training and part-time employment at social enterprise concessions businesses at major sports venues. College preparation services that enable youth to acquire the life skills and academic grounding needed to access a college education and to prepare them to be successful in completing college. Financial literacy education and asset building that teach youth money management, including budgeting, debt/credit management, and banking services. Juma youth also learn healthy savings habits while accumulating financial resources for college through both employment and Juma's matched savings program. High-Impact Results Juma's program helps close the achievement gap by increasing the college-going and completion rate of low-income youth of color, including juvenile offenders and foster youth. Juma partners with youth to increase their work readiness, financial literacy and asset base, working together toward the singular goal of breaking the cycle of poverty by ensuring that these young people complete a four-year college education. Juma Ventures' recent outcomes and accomplishments include: 100% of Juma's 2009 Bay Area high-school seniors graduated from high school (compared to Oakland's graduation rate of 46% and San Francisco's graduation rate of 73%). For the third year in a row, over 80% of Juma's graduating high school seniors in the Bay Area (San Francisco and Oakland) are college-bound (compared to the prevailing college-going rate for low-income high-school graduates of 52%). Among 2009 high school graduates, 89% are currently committed to entering institutions of higher education, and Juma staff are working with the remaining undecided youth to encourage them to pursue a college degree. Two years after completing Juma's program, 97% of Juma youth are still working and/or enrolled in academic or vocational training; with 53% working and enrolled in school; 24% working only; and 20% enrolled in school/vocational training only. (source: BTW Consultants independent evaluation of Juma program, 2006) Within the highest-risk youth group, those who had been convicted of a crime prior to entering Juma's program (11% of participants), 13% had relapsed into criminal behavior at some point during the two-year follow-up period. This recidivism rate is dramatically lower than the rate for youth offenders in California, where 91% of youth commit another offense within three years of release from the Division of Juvenile Justice. (source: BTW Consultants independent evaluation of Juma program, 2006)