System for Education Empowerment and Success

SEDES aims to accomplish the following goals in the Houston area:

Increase English language skills among non-English speakers.
Increase Job Skills among at-risk individuals.
Increase high school and/or high school equivalent diploma attainment among at-risk individuals.
Reduce high school dropout rates among at-risk adolescents.
Reduce teen pregnancy rates among at-risk adolescents.
Reduce substance abuse rates among at-risk adolescents.
Reduce criminal activity rates among at-risk adolescents.
Increase awareness and leadership skills among at-risk adolescents.

In order to achieve its goals, SEDES implements the following strategies:

Accelerated English as a Second Language.
Basic Electrical Training (residential and commercial).
Personal and Small Business Financial Literacy.
High School Equivalent Diploma (GED) preparation classes.
Personal Enrichment workshops.
Youth Empowerment and Awareness interventions delivered as an extra-curricular class in local Youth Detention Centers and high schools to increase high school graduation rates; and reduce school dropouts, teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, and criminal activity rates; increase awareness and leadership skills among at-risk adolescents.

SEDES instructors have more than 40 years of combined experience working with youths and adults in a classroom and community setting. The administrative staff has, on average, over ten years of experience in managing adult and youth education and prevention programs, holding credentials such as Master's and Bachelor's degrees, as well as technical certifications. All the administrative staff has over five years of experience teaching in a classroom setting. Their experiences go beyond youth awareness, including ESL, Basic Electrical Training, Financial Literacy, High School Equivalent Diploma (HSED), and other job skills training. All the personnel is bilingual (English-Spanish). The organization's infrastructure is ruled by a Board of Directors, a Director who reports to the governing body, and a Community Advisory Board meeting with the Director quarterly.

In the past ten years, SEDES has served over 9,000 individuals – mostly economically disadvantaged men and women (youths and adults) living in the southeast area of Houston. About 75% of post-tested students demonstrated educational gains, as evidenced by increased standardized test scores. About 70% of ESL graduates obtained a better job, continued to get a technical degree, or pursued a college degree at the local community college. Moreover, almost 60% of the HSED participants obtained their diploma; 71% of those who received it also was able to find a better job and/or enrolled in post-secondary education.

SEDES is looking for opportunities for increasing its capacity to serve more individuals.