"Today only one-third of our students graduate from high school ready for college, work and citizenship. The others, most of whom are low-income and minority students, are tracked into courses that won't ever get them ready for any of those things - no matter how well the students learn or how hard the teachers work. In district after district across the country, wealthy white kids are taught Algebra II, while low-income minority kids are taught how to balance a checkbook. This is an economic disaster. "- Bill Gates - April 17, 2005.

Skills For Living is directly addressing this challenge in the families we serve. The schools in the S4L neighborhoods consist of low-income students and up to 46% of the students drop out. The students are not receiving the curriculum, guidance, support they need to succeed. Equally important, for them to function in society, they must be able to understand what they read and be able to analyze issues.

S4L's Future Leaders program has four objectives for every student:

1. Graduate from high-school and attend college,
2. Be aware of his/her career options and associated college educational requirements,
3. Take personal responsibility for the future and
4. Understand financial concepts and value of planning.

We offer three creative and motivating programs -

• Real Life is an academically demanding
15-module course for high school students, culminating in an interactive Game of Real Life.
• SOAR - Summer Of Awesome Reading is a summer
book club program for middle school students with emphasis on fun, reading comprehension and critical thinking.
• STAR - Success Through Active Reading is a
weekly, September to May, group program for 4th through 8th grade. It is held at the same time and locations as the 20-20 Power Workshops. Students who successfully complete STAR participate in the S4L Holiday Toy Celebration.

How do volunteers help this program?

Volunteers in the SOAR and STAR are needed for 2 hours each week to lead the program. High school and college students are encouraged to volunteer.

Please see the Real Life section for more information on this exciting opportunity.

How do I get involved?

The first Monday of each month, Skills For Living holds a New Volunteer Orientation meeting at S4L offices 7660 Woodway, Suite 599, Houston, TX 77063. You can attend this meeting or call our Volunteer Coordinator to arrange an orientation at a different time. In either case, please call Cate Thuo at (713) 782-9974 or email her at Cate@Skills4Living.org to let her know you are interested in volunteering.