About Us

Established in 2007

S.E.E.D., formerly known as Youth Financial Services NFP, was originally founded and created to address the socio-economic need for the provision of financial literacy to underrepresented and disadvantaged youth, ages 15-24 years.  After serving our community and identifying additional needs we've extended our programming to include job readiness, entrepreneurship, economic development, and early learning.

Our Goals

Educational Enrichment:
By way of our Youth Financial Services (YFS) and From "U" University programs we seek to re-introduce missing educational and enrichment opportunities back into the school system and communities of underrepresented and underserved children, youth, and young adults of Chicago’s South and South Suburban area.  

​It is our goal to cultivate equity in education, by filling in the gap as it pertains to gifted and accelerated early learning and support.  In addition to providing educational enrichment to underserved and underprivileged youth and young adults in the areas of financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and business professionalism.

Economic Development:
In expansion of our foundational programming S.E.E.D. has set its sights on creating social-economic opportunities for our community as a whole.  With new programs and development on the way that provide job-readiness training, career exploration, guidance and assistance to aspiring local entrepreneurs, and job creation for those that live in the communities we support.​

FOUNDATION, JOURNEY, & IMPACT

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S.E.E.D. (Services in Education & Economic Development) and it's programs under Youth Financial Services & From "U" University were created out of need.  Our founder DeAndra Dyson initially created the organization as a way to provide educational enrichment that would deter youth and young adults from choosing the wrong route to what society deems "success".  It started with the idea of using money as a motivator to show youth that its not how much money you have or make, but rather what you do with it.  From there, programs and services grew as she sought ways to meet the additional needs of our children, youth, and families. 

​Since 2007, S.E.E.D has provided financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and business professionalism enrichment to over 600 youth and young adults of the Chicago area.  With the desire to grow, evolve, and have a broader socio-economic impact, we began to extend our programming.  In 2016 we added early childhood education and development to our mission and enrichment programs.  Under this extension, From "U" University, has provided support to over 200 families educating them in the areas of; the importance of 0-5 learning and the benefits of parent involvement, early signs of giftedness, and access to advanced and gifted early learning opportunities.  Overall, S.E.E.D. programs have added value to over 800 hundred children, youth, young adults, and families.​  As we continue to evolve and expand, we have recently began implementation of our job readiness and development program, as well as our entrepreneurial support & mentorship program.