BIG IDEA PROJECT

To bridge the nation's leadership gap, BIP brings an innovative, experiential learning program to high school students. At BIP, leadership starts with a way of seeing self, others and the world that is based on empathy, generosity and responsibility. Big Idea Project is unique. Led by trained teachers with a proven curriculum, it is integrated into regular classroom studies as students are challenged to identify a problem in their community that they want to impact. High school teachers attend a one-day, in person training to become certified in implementing the BIP curriculum in their classrooms. In groups of three or four, students choose a social issue they want to address and develop a plan to make a difference in that area. With the coaching of a business mentor (a volunteer from the community), the team comes up with positive, innovative solutions. Real work, real solutions, for real life. The students then carry out their Big Idea, positively affecting their community. Throughout this experience, students put into practice the skills and values of Generous Leaders. At the culmination of their project, these teams create a storytelling video that chronicles their journey and their results. The top team from each school is invited to a statewide presentation to vie for college scholarships. By empowering students with choice in their project selections, BIP builds entrepreneurial confidence, activates student passions, and helps them discover their real ability to affect meaningful change. For example, a team of four boys at Legend High School chose to make a deeper impact on a few people. They connected with a single mother and her two children and asked how they could help. The mom was working two jobs and wanted to take a financial and debt management class once a week. The teens started by caring for the children each week so that she could attend the class. They went far beyond babysitting by engaging the younger children in activities such as crafts and cooking and tutoring them. The 12-year-old son had a D in math. After the teens tutored him for a while, he raised that grade to a B and was able play football for his school. This BIP team intentionally became a part of the family. They continue to see them and attend the children's activities. The mother was able to get out of debt and quit one job, and the younger boy has volunteered in the community, following the example of the older boys.

Tricia Halsey is the Co-founder and Executive Director. She has worked with nonprofit organizations and for-profit companies to build organizational capacity, identity, culture, strategy, programs, product and teams. As a business leader, she was instrumental in taking a small business from start-up to recognized expert; designing everything from company identity, messaging, product offering, leadership training curriculum and strategic relationships. As a senior leader in an international nonprofit organization, she oversaw staff and programs in four countries, developed the direction for programs, led staff development and directed process improvement. She holds an M.A. in Leadership and a B.A. in English. In three years operating as a nonprofit, BIP has built strong relationships with schools throughout the Denver Metro area and local and national businesses that serve as a solid base from which to grow the organization throughout the state and nation. Mike Ramsey is the Director of Operations. He has over 20 years of experience with non-profit, student focused organizations, both in the US and abroad. Having helped lead student organizations and events in over 30 countries on 4 continents, Mike has a well rounded skill set for helping to lead a growing organization empowering leaders.

BIP works with a professional consulting firm that conducts evaluation research by surveying participating students and educators. Each year they measure growth in student's empathy, professional acumen, problem solving ability, public speaking ability, and self-efficacy to lead generously. For the 2018-2019 school year: 1. According to a pre and post survey that measures student skill development, 89% of students showed growth in one or more of the eight main leadership and workforce readiness measures. 2. More than 94% of educators agreed or strongly agreed that the Big Idea Project helped their students acquire valuable workforce and professional skills. 3. More than 8 out of 10 students grew in empathy, a foundational skill for leadership and life. 83% of students agreed that as a result of participating it is easier to put themselves in others’ shoes. 4. BIP strengthens student well-being by reducing feelings of isolation. 81% of students said from their experience they learned that other students and their teacher support them and their goals. Nearly 90% of teachers agreed that the program improved their students’ overall well-being. For the 2019-20 school year, BIP expects participation from approximately 900 students and 30 teachers from 15 schools.

Since 2014 Big Idea Project has trained 3,000 high school students from all races and economic levels across the front range of Colorado. These students have directly made an impact on over 36,000 people in our communities. We have trained over 60 teachers to deliver our curriculum and empowered them to be the hero in their classrooms. We have enlisted the help of over 850 professional, business mentors. Who have helped to coach, lead and mentor students. Because BIP has seen demand increase from educators in Colorado and across the United States, the long-term goal is to certify and support Big Idea Project Educators from every state in the country. During the 2019-20 school year, BIP is building a sustainable infrastructure and operations for increased scalable impact. We will continue development of our program implementation to allow for easy teacher and student on boarding.