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About Social Media Academy
The Social Media Academy is a pioneering after-school initiative dedicated to closing the advanced digital skills gap, offering comprehensive, real-world education in digital marketing, content creation, and data analytics. We aim to make these essential skills accessible to everyone, with a particular focus on empowering young individuals from low-income communities to become digital innovators and leaders.
Our program is distinctive for its practical application: students undertake marketing projects for local businesses, applying their new skills in real time to produce tangible results. This not only enhances their learning experience but also positively impacts local families and businesses. The real-world success of these projects builds students' confidence and proficiency, preparing them as digital creators and strategists. Through this immersive experience, they are poised to innovate and lead in the digital domain, driving change in a world where income no longer dictates access to advanced digital opportunities.
Mission
Our mission is to bridge the advanced digital skills divide by teaching young people to digitally market small businesses within their own neighborhoods. We provide tuition-free, high-quality, real-world training in social media marketing, content creation, and data analytics, thereby opening doors to limitless technological possibilities.
Vision
A world where advanced digital skills are accessible to all individuals, enabling economic empowerment and community transformation.
Our theory of change
Equipping young individuals with advanced digital skills like social media marketing, content creation, and data analytics offers a transformative pathway to bridging the skills digital divide, fostering economic empowerment, and catalyzing change in communities worldwide.
The Problem
A STUDENT’S FAMILY INCOME IS THE #1 PREDICTOR OF THEIR ABILITY TO ACQUIRE ADVANCED DIGITAL SKILLS, ESSENTIAL FOR UNLOCKING UPWARD MOBILITY IN THE TECH SECTOR. (1)
Only 53% of families earning less than $30,000 have broadband at home, versus 95% of families with incomes above $75,000 (2).
Advanced digital skills can elevate hourly earnings from $19 to $43, but the absence of broadband access and technical knowledge causes these lucrative opportunities to vanish for low-income students (3). This digital disparity not only hinders their ability to acquire advanced digital skills but also blocks access to high-paying, stable careers, perpetuating a cycle of digital illiteracy and economic stagnation (4).
Our Solution
WE HOLD THE CONVICTION THAT ADVANCED DIGITAL SKILLS TRAINING IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT FOR ALL STUDENTS, IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR FAMILY'S INCOME OR THE ZIP CODE INTO WHICH THEY ARE BORN. ACCESS TO THIS CRITICAL EDUCATION SHOULD BE AN EQUALIZING FORCE, NOT A PRIVILEGE FOR THE FEW.
The Social Media Academy realizes this belief by offering comprehensive, tuition-free training in essential digital domains such as social media marketing, content creation, and data analytics. Our hands-on curriculum immerses students in real-world digital marketing projects for community businesses, fostering technical proficiency and a strong sense of civic engagement.
Participants in the Academy build a substantial professional portfolio, demonstrating their skills and real-world application. This experience not only prepares them for the digital economy but also sets them apart as formidable candidates for competitive college programs and diverse career paths in the global marketplace.
What Makes Us Unique
The Social Media Academy, a cornerstone initiative of Charity Services Midwest, redefines the approach to digital education and empowerment. Here's what distinguishes our program:
Tuition-Free Advanced Digital Education
Accessibility is a key feature of the Social Media Academy, offering tuition-free education to selected students. Our curriculum, focused on social media marketing, content creation, and data analytics, ensures every student has the opportunity to excel in the digital realm, regardless of their socioeconomic background. This initiative not only opens doors for those who may not have the financial means to acquire such education but also ensures that high-quality, advanced digital training is accessible to a broader audience, reducing the digital skills divide.
Empowering Students with Practical, Real-World Experie
The Social Media Academy differentiates itself by directly involving students in the marketing of local small businesses. This not only provides immediate, tangible results that benefit the community but also gives students real-world experience that enhances their learning and application of digital skills.
Professional Portfolio Development
Through real-world project engagements, our program is designed to help students build a robust professional portfolio, demonstrating their capabilities and experience. This portfolio serves as a powerful tool in their academic and professional journey, giving them a competitive edge in the tech sector and beyond.
Unlocking Global Opportunities
Our students emerge with more than just digital skills; they gain a passport to the global job market. The digital marketing skills our students acquire are not just relevant but essential across all industries globally, opening up a world of opportunities and career paths previously inaccessible to them.
These unique features position the Social Media Academy as a leader in digital education, committed to empowering students with the skills they need to succeed in a digital-first world.
Our Values
⭐️ Our Commitment to Digital
We believe that access to advanced digital skills training is a fundamental right, not a luxury reserved for the few. We are dedicated to dismantling the barriers that tie a student's potential to their neighborhood's zip code. We ensure every student, regardless of their family's income, can access, engage with, and excel in the tech world. Our aim is to cultivate a new generation of tech-savvy leaders, ready to innovate and lead in the digital age
🎓 Student-Centric Innovation
At the Social Media Academy, our students are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to designing and delivering educational experiences that prioritize their needs, aspirations, and success. Every decision we make is guided by the impact it will have on our students, ensuring they receive the utmost benefit from our program. We strive to not only meet their expectations but to exceed them, fostering an environment where each student can excel and lead in the digital age.
🚀 Embrace the Digital Challenge
We see challenges as stepping stones to excellence. At our academy, we teach students that every hurdle is an opportunity to grow stronger and smarter. We're committed to fostering resilience, demanding the highest commitment, and guiding students through adversity, believing firmly in the transformative journey of personal and professional development.
🌐 Community and Business Empowerment
Our academy thrives on the principle of collective success. We believe in the power of community and collaboration. We forge partnerships with local businesses, enhancing their digital presence and expanding their reach, while offering our students invaluable, real-world experience. This collaboration nurtures the community's economic health and cements our students’ roles as key contributors to local prosperity.
✨ Cultivate Diversity and Innovation
We value the uniqueness of each individual and believe in the strength of diverse ideas and perspectives. By fostering an environment where authenticity and innovation thrive, we prepare students to become creative leaders in the digital realm.
Charity Services Midwest breaks the Cycle of Poverty
with community programs that build a bridge to a better tomorrow.
At Charity Services Midwest, we're committed to breaking the cycle of poverty through impactful community programs. Our Fresh Produce Pantry and delivery service provide essential nourishment, fostering health and unity within the community. We're also excited to introduce our latest initiative, the Social Media Academy, designed to equip the youth of Greater Kansas City with advanced digital skills, opening doors to future career opportunities and empowering them to be active creators in the digital world. Together, these programs embody our dedication to nurturing community pride and fostering sustainable growth.
Charity Services Midwest is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with Tax ID 85-4352320.
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National Office: 4050 Pennsylvania Avenue, Kansas City, MO | T 1.816.359.0190
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Charity Services Midwest is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with Tax ID 85-4352320.