Established in 2007Youth Financial Services NFP was founded and created to address the socio-economic need for the provision of financial literacy to underrepresented and disadvantaged youth ages 15-24 years. Over the years Youth Financial Services NFP 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, Youth Financial Service NFP 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, Youth Financial Services NFP and From "U" University has added value to over 800 hundred children, youth, and families.
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Our GoalsYouth & Young Adults:
Youth Financial Services is focused on motivating and encouraging youth to lead productive and successful lives, through inspiration, guidance, and knowledge. Our main objective is to increase youth awareness and knowledge in the areas of personal financial responsibility, business professionalism, and entrepreneurship. All of which are needed to survive and compete in the world today. Early Learning: From "U" University was founded on the belief that learning starts at birth, with parent involvement being the foundation of early childhood development. 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. Ensuring every child has access to resources and opportunities that benefit their developmental and educational needs. As well as create new and innovative methods and models that will lead to increased access to quality early education, for all, with a focus on underserved and disadvantaged communities. |
Our Team
Phil Sanders
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Becca Crawford
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Sam Williams
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Why Gifted & Talented Early Learning Advocacy?In addition to everything else we do, we advocate for gifted and talented early learners because no one else does. They are an underrepresented and underserved group in the early education system. Especially in communities with high populations of low-income households and/or people of color.
Though gifted and advanced early learners display higher than normal learning abilities, their socio-emotional capacity is often different than that of their peers. More often than not giftedness is overlooked in young children, because testing typically doesn’t occur until after 5 years old. Thus, from birth-5 years, many gifted and accelerated children displaying socio-emotional differences end up mislabeled, if not worse, misdiagnosed. Within the conversations we’ve had with over 100 parents and families 1 out of 5 people know or are closely related to a child that has been deemed gifted and/or was mislabeled/misdiagnosed. One of our goals is to capture the potential of as many early learners as possible by providing non-traditional gifted and accelerated early learning opportunities that can be used by all. Along with educating parents and the community about early signs of giftedness, resources, and support. In the hopes of preventing early learners from being mislabeled/misdiagnosed due to their socio-emotional needs. |
About.S.E.E.D. (Services in Education & Economic Development) and it's programs under Youth Financial Services NFP & 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 additional needs were brought to her attention. Now programming includes youth development in financial literacy, business professionalism, and entrepreneurship. Along with early education and development support, services, advocacy, and parent engagement.
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