SUBURBAN BALANCE

In 2024, Suburban Balance held numerous educational forums centered around topics such as education, equity, race relations, career education, college, and the importance of voting. These non-partisan forums were held to build positive relationships with the surrounding communities and school districts, and to also learn about school boards and mayoral candidates running for elected offices. A "Get out the Vote Educational Rally" was held and provided information on voter registration, voting deadlines, polling stations, sample ballots, a plan to vote, and an opportunity to hear from the candidates during the non-partisan candidate forum. Other forums included education forums on what it takes to run for school board, educational and social advocacy series, several educational equity strategy meetings with the Suburban Balance equity team, a virtual informational and educational platform for education that was replayed for new members, and a platform for youth to participate in educational advocacy. Suburban Balance also launched a mental health initiative to help support children and parents who struggle with mental illness. This initiative was launched through the educational programs called LIFT HIM UP and LIFT HER UP for girls.

50 High school Seniors are graduating out of Suburban Balance and heading off to college or into a certification program or workforce development training program. Suburban helped connect students to paid internships in the careers they are pursuing. Suburban Balance successfully built a relationship with a major school district in Kansas which resulted in the non-profit launching the C.A.R. E. program (college and career access readiness education) to help build the competencies of students to help them navigate applying for college and we have helped connect them to job training and workforce development program called CARE which offers mentors to help support college students through college completion. The organization started recruiting C.A.R.E coaches and now have 10 C.A.R.E. coaches apart of the program. C.A.R.E is an initiative to help change the trajectory of declining college enrollment rates and declining college graduation rates amongst black students. This is a huge accomplishment. Also, over 100 high school students attended the launch and now the program is reaching over 200 students. 99% of students are heading to college or into a workforce development program. Suburban Balance is also building the mindset, behaviors and skillset to teach students about entrepreneurship and starting their own business someday. Exposing them to financial literacy, our motto is the earlier the better.