Key 2 Success Youth Advancement Organization
When Youth Succeed, We All Succeed!
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Challenges We Seek To Solve: There are three distinct problems that we seek to address: Limited avenues to practice “put into action” basic learned reading and math concepts outside of the school setting. Lack of exposure and awareness of STEM particularly in the health and medical fields while building awareness in positive health and nutrition practices. Little opportunities to positive social interaction including: access to speakers/ mentorship and networking, creativity and entrepreneurship, employment and leadership, support groups, as well as, other stress reducing and knowledge building activities i.e. field trips, art, and impact (social discussion) clubs Residual Challenge - Community Engagement and pride which will further community success and positivity in the areas in which our youth reside by involving school, families, libraries, and other stakeholders.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
"Math Camp!"
Learning activities that maximize exposure and repetition in areas of math with our action based and youth -facilitated activities!
Where we work
External reviews

Photos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsNumber of students with good social and leadership skills and self-discipline
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, Ethnic and racial groups, At-risk youth, Low-income people
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Total number of classes offered
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, People of African descent, People of Latin American descent, At-risk youth, Low-income people
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
We were established to support youth of all ages in underserved areas particularly those in the Maywood, Melrose Park, and Broadview communities along with underrepresented youth from Proviso Township High School. We envision youth with an increased desire to learn, be creative, and healthy through our unique and game driven programs! To fulfill our mission we developed three strategic goals including inspiring, empowering, and exposing youth to positive opportunities and experiences!
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Our strategies are directly aligned with our goals. We accomplish our goals by developing programs that inspire youth through unique and creative learning activities!
We empower youth by helping them become more confident and with the belief that they have increased their knowledge and awareness as a result of the learning activities we provide! We expose youth to positive and enjoyable social, creative, and leadership opportunities as the foundation of our design and implementation process!
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We are well capable of meeting our goals due to management and leadership. Our Founder and Executive Director
who holds a Master's Degree in Social Work has ample research, program development, and management experience. She offers a lot as a Social Entrepreneur as her education, as well as, personal experiences have enhanced her skills and understanding of her power to help others! Her power to help not only individuals with support, but also influencing the mezzo and macro - systems involved in the social change process and being a change agent in the community, as she does with Key 2 Success: Youth Advancement Organization.
She has knowledge of health sciences (college level sciences) with her Associate in Science Degree directly pertaining to the science awareness activities she develops and oversees in the organization.
Key 2 Success' Board of Directors is composed of highly successful and knowledgeable professionals in the education field relating directly to the very programs being offered. Also, we value youth input. We measure take pride in measuring our program outcomes and tracking this data to influence and enhance programming for the best youth learning experiences possible.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
So far we have measured over 80% in program survey responses by participants who agree that our summer programs actually inspire, empower, and expose each to new learning and social experience and opportunities! We have partnered and collaborated with the very schools our students attend and surrounding area colleges/universities to ensure optimum opportunities to positive and influential professionals and students. This extraordinary measure of impact is what makes Key 2 Success: Youth Advancement Organization a premier youth based learning organization!
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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Who are the people you serve with your mission?
Key 2 Success: Youth Advancement Organization is a 501c3 nonprofit that supports youth and all their stakeholders! Offering positive social engagement opportunities and academic reinforcement to underrepresented youth is our passion! This is accomplished by providing creative, age appropriate academic and social activities that support successful outcomes. At the core of our mission is increasing youth desire to learn and the skills to maintain a healthy lifestyle. We serve underrepresented youth from ages 3 yrs. - 18 yrs. with our diverse learning and social programs/activities.
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How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Paper surveys, Constituent (client or resident, etc.) advisory committees,
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals,
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What significant change resulted from feedback?
A recent change we have made was adding more game - based learning opportunities, as well as, more program choices/offerings!!!
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With whom is the organization sharing feedback?
The people we serve, Our board, Our funders, Our community partners,
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How has asking for feedback from the people you serve changed your relationship?
Our relationship has strengthened over time from the feedback we collect from the people we serve and their parents. We are so humbled and grateful for their input and directly utilize feedback to inform program development! We would not be the unique and innovative organization we are today without this critical feedback.
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We act on the feedback we receive,
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback,
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Key 2 Success Youth Advancement Organization
Board of directorsas of 02/22/2022
Ms. Corita Key
Key 2 Success: Youth Advancement Organization
Term: 2016 - 2024
Caroline Gibson
Key 2 Success: Youth Advancement Organization
Thea Poulakos
Key 2 Success: Youth Advancement Organization
Dasia Key
Key 2 Success: Youth Advancement Organization
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 03/02/2021GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.