EIF's Signature programs include high school advising, workforce readiness, and intern programs.
-In EIF's high school program, on-campus HEAs provide 1:1 sessions, workshops, and on-going personalized communication to assist students with the completion of essential financial aid, college enrollment, test preparation, certification, military, and workforce entry process.
-EIF's workforce readiness program offers a custom-made curriculum for students preparing to enter the workforce, such as training on resume writing, interviewing, workplace expectations, and professionalism.
-EIF designs and implements summer youth intern programs for the cities of Dallas and Richardson, Texas. The programs involve the coordination and placement of hundreds of high school students with paid internships and/or summer jobs. EIF prepares participating students with specific face-to-face and online training courses to ensure their success each summer.
The EIF team is a select group of diverse, highly-skilled, and passionate individuals with a wealth of cultural and technical knowledge to support students through the college and career journey. These Higher Education Advisors (HEAs) have similar backgrounds to the students they are advising and experienced many of the same challenges. By creating authentic relationships based on empathy and honesty, HEAs are able to motivate and guide students, providing them with the lifelong gifts of choice and opportunity. EIF is committed to building consistent long-term relationships within the communities and families it serves. EIF recognizes and appreciates the unique qualities of each campus and emphasizes the importance of matching the best HEA with campus leadership and the students for whom they will be serving.
From only three high schools and 6,200 students in 2009, Education is Freedom has expanded to serve 31 high schools, eight middle schools across four school districts, with over 60% of schools EIF serves in Dallas ISD. EIF Advised over 35,698 students in the 2021-2022 school year, including 6,470 seniors.
Our Needs
There has been an increase in technology costs associated with transitioning to a virtual model, including making sure EIF Advisors and staff had the technology required to connect with students and their families, including laptops, internet hotspots, and tech support. Costs also have increased concerning developing, managing, and facilitating EIF's virtual advising platform.
ÔÇßTechnology to support this initiative includes Hardware (Laptops, hotspots) and Software (ticketing system, case management systems, website development)
- EIF is open to receiving in-kind donation computers, laptops, headsets/wireless headphones, sponsor EIF's branded apparel, on-site signage, comfortable seating for on-campus EIF College and Career Centers, phones, Smart Watches, and more.
- EIF is also looking for items to incentivize students to continue to complete the milestones in the college and career going process.
ÔÇßIdeas include gift cards, T-shirts, gift cards for food, laptops, printers, minifridges, gaming consoles, airline tickets, scholarship stipends, and more.
- EIF is looking for volunteers to host short, engaging conversations with our youth/staff about different career fields, education paths, and overcoming challenges in life - successfully and not. In addition, EIF would like to offer our HEAs opportunities to talk with professionals regarding starting/running a small business, mental health, work/life balance, among other topics.
Education is Freedom (EIF) is a nonprofit organization that envisions a world where every young person has the opportunity to pursue a post-secondary education. In our 20th year, we are steadfast in our belief that all underserved students are capable of being prepared to enroll and succeed in a post-secondary program; reducing the dropout rate. To achieve this vision, EIF works directly with diverse middle and high school students, 86% of which are from under resourced communities. Our program is implemented by near-peer college graduates (Higher Education Advisors) that are culturally competent mentors and represent success to the students we serve. The responsibilities of the Higher Education Advisor (HEA) is to become a trusted partner with the students, such that they and their families are not only able to visualize their goals post high school, but also understand and navigate the systems and pathways to get them there. HEAs provide students a range of quality, college, career and life planning tools and assessments, assist them in leveraging private and public scholarships and grants, encourage students to participate in enrichment opportunities such as workforce skills training, job shadowing and internships and educate students on the life and social skills necessary to build the educational foundation which will allow them to reach their goals and become productive members of society.
In addition, EIF offers professional development opportunities to influencers in the lives of students; equipping others to better support the students in attaining life success. Recognizing that positive outcomes for students flourish within a strong support system, EIF strives, using a variety of technology capabilities, to arm families, educators and the community with an abundance of college and career knowledge and resources.
Inequities in education are one of the most pressing challenges we face today. They aren't new - opportunity gaps remain. There are still unacceptable disparities in high school graduation rates, and higher education is still out of reach for too many students, including learners of color, those from low-income families, and those who would be the first in their families to attend college or a career school.
These inequities aren't just holding our children back from achieving their full potential - they're holding our communities back, too. We all benefit when our children have high-quality opportunities to develop their skills, build their knowledge, and then share their gifts and talents with the world. At Education is Freedom, our primary purpose is to help reduce those inequities by helping students visualize a better future for themselves and navigate the systems to make that vision come true.
Organization name
Education is Freedom
Causes
Employment & Workforce Development, Education - Career Prep, Education - Higher Ed
Operating Budget
$3,000,000 - $9,999,999
Counties Served
Dallas
BIPOC Serving
Black or African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latinx, Other
BIPOC Leadership
Both the Executive Director/CEO and Board Chair
Equity Statement
Equity Statement
Address
3000 Pegasus Park Suite 704