1. www.operationkeys.blogspot.com / email: operationkeys@gmail.com
Cell: 804-248-0053
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

2. Saving our At-Risk students
Today’s teens live in a world of fear, uncertainty, and alienation. Every teacher, youth leader, school
administrator, lawmaker, businessperson, and civic leader needs to be concerned about the high number
of youth who are at risk in our nation.
 According to the National Institute of Health, fifteen to twenty percent of our youth have some
form of learning disability that causes significant difficulty in listening, speaking, reading, writing,
reasoning, or mathematical ability, and all of these affect their success in school, family,
friendships, daily routines, spiritual growth, and life in general.
 Over 8 out of 100 young people ages 16-24 are high school drop-outs.
 The unemployment rate for youth ages 16-24 is 10.3 percent for young men, 9.9 percent for
young women, 8.1 percent for white youth, and 21.9 percent for black youth. (Bureau of Labor
Statistics, July 1999)
 America is considered the richest nation in the world, but 20 to 25 percent of our youth under age
18 live in poverty. (Current Population Survey, March 1999)
What Can We Do?
There is no simple cure-all for the problem of at-risk youth. Every person who is concerned about
America’s young must begin where they are, assesses the needs of youth in schools, churches, families,
and communities, and begin working to help them overcome the obstacles that threaten them right now.
Operation KEYS offers a number of resources for teachers, parents, and youth leaders who want to help
teens avoid the pitfalls of drug abuse, gang activity, pregnancy, crime, and low performance in school.
You’re the Boss, Money skills, and the Entrepreneurship Program is a curriculum tool that uses proven
education methods to achieve these positive outcomes for youth:
 Increase economic literacy and create future financial freedom
 Increase self-esteem
 Improves math, reading, and writing in school
 Inspires at risk youth to stay in school and excel
 Combats Involvement in negative activities, such as substance abuse, gangs, and violence
 Reduces the likelihood for premarital sex, teen pregnancy, and sexual transmitted diseases
 Inspires the desire for higher education, with a plan, and without the dependence of school loans
 Increases career opportunities and options for entrepreneurship

3. Why Teach Financial Literacy?
The average high school student in the US is only able to score 52.4% on a survey measuring knowledge
of basic personal finance. — The Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy
The number of 18 to 24-year-olds declaring bankruptcy has increased 96% in the past 10 years.
— Richmond Credit Abuse Resistant Education Program
Although 43% of parents feel schools should do more to educate kids about money, only 21 states
currently require schools to provide personal finance education and only 7 states require students
to take a personal finance course in order to graduate. — National Council on Economic Education
Why Teach Business Skills?
Across the US, a survey of 13 to 18-year-olds revealed that 68.6% would like to become entrepreneurs. —
Junior Achievement
Approximately 75% of youth surveyed feel they do not receive adequate business and entrepreneurship
training in high school. — Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership
93% of high school students feel it is important for Americans to have a good understanding
of business economics, but 60% made an F on a basic economics quiz. — Harris Interactive
Together We Can Do More...
If you believe today's young people need financial literacy education and real-world business skills,
the Operation KEYS program is here to help. Your patronage and support will allow us to provide financial,
business, and entrepreneurship education to young people, as well offer financial programs for adults.
We are also seeking partners to help with our public relations and community outreach goals, making sure
that students and parents in our community know that it was their generous gifts that provided the
opportunity to allow others to receive a quality financial or business education that they benefit from.
Together, we can reach the under-served communities and population groups, helping students to see
their potential to succeed and increasing their ability to achieve economic stability and well-being. Please
contact Operation KEYS to discuss ways that you can have a positive impact on the lives of children and
teenagers through a tax-deductible donation to our program partners at Agape International Ministries.

4. Financial Literacy, Business Skills, Entrepreneurship, and Basic Leadership Course Overview
This exciting curriculum provides middle, high school, and college students with a practical look at business
ownership. Using a real-world approach, students learn the stages of a business start-up and are also
prepared with a working business plan to begin, not a “someday” entrepreneurial venture, but for today.
As they progress through the units, students conduct real-world business research, write business plans,
develop marketing materials, learn to manage personal and business finances, develop leadership skills,
teamwork, and communication skills. The lessons are simple, and can be altered for adult classes as well.
Basic Philosophy:
 The Building blocks of entrepreneurship are career skills and also used as everyday life skills.
 Entrepreneurship is relevant today – It is essential for future employment and education choices.
 Most teenagers are interested in money and are inspired by the opportunity
to earn their very own income. (Black Enterprise Magazine often has articles of teen millionaires).
 A high percentage of successful contemporary entrepreneurs have displayed interest
and started business enterprises even before graduating from high school or college.
A Basic Approach:
 Content of proposed curriculum should apply to practical real-world situations.
 Learning involves “head” knowledge as well as practical “hands-on” knowledge.
 Learning should be student-focused and student-directed as much as possible.
 Internet research and computer activities are a vital part of the learning process.
 Evidence of understanding will be an actual business plan each student will develop,
showing his or her own ideas for a realistic business that could be started today.
Educational Standards Addressed:
 Business and Entrepreneurial Principles
 Business Management and Business Law
 Business Ownership
 E-Commerce Entrepreneurship
 Marketing Essentials
 Applied Technology
 All SCANS competencies (Secretaries Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills).

5. In each lesson, there are four basic elements to be covered:
1. We Connect (5-10 minutes)
 Introduces the lesson topic
 Captures students’ attention by building upon familiar knowledge and experience
 Develops curiosity about the subject to be presented
 Draws students into the learning process
2. We Explore (10-20 minutes)
 Provides information and facts related to the new concept
 Emphasizes the most significant aspects of the concept
 Encourages class interaction, thinking, and reasoning
 Prepares students to do something with this new knowledge
3. We Practice (25-45 minutes)
 Provides instructions for participatory activities and classroom projects
 Encourages and provides for explanation of ideas, relationships, and connections
 Requires students to organize and synthesize their learning in a tangible way
 Is student-driven and student-focused
4. We Apply (5-15 minutes)
 Summarizes and reinforces the lesson
 Asks questions and causes students to consider and discuss possible further applications
of the concepts learned
 Begin to set up the next lesson
 Celebrates progress and encourages learning to continue
Are you ready to get your student started?

6. We Are Looking for Youth Mentors
Are Your Available?
Mentoring is a vital component of the Operation KEYS program. While the ideal goal may be to
have one mentor for each student, a ratio of one mentor to two or three students will be more
beneficial. Research shows that the mentor-mentee relationship is a powerful key to reaching at-
risk youth. Would you be interested in making a great positive impact on a child’s life and future?
Building a Mentor Bank
Where are mentors found?
Everywhere! For the purposes of this program, mentors with business experience are preferred,
but it is not required. Anyone with time, talent, and the desire to help, can be a great mentor.
Here are a few examples of people who would make good mentors:
 Business owners or managers
 Community leaders
 Public school, college, or university teachers / professors
 Members of service and community groups
 Professionals, such as lawyers, doctors, engineers, and architects
 Retired people and senior citizens
What characteristics am I looking for in a mentor?
 Empathetic
 Encouraging
 Supporting
 Concerned
 Understanding
 Trustworthy
 A person with integrity
 Comfortable with themselves and young people
 Comfortable with differences between themselves and their mentees
 Willing to commit time
 Able to treat mentees with respect
 Able to communicate effectively with mentees
 Able to set high standards
There are of course some negative traits to avoid as well:
 Intimidating
 Lack of concern
 Biased behaviors (sex, roles, race)
 Disapproving attitudes

7. OPERATION KEYS, EMPOWERING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
WITH BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURIAL, & MONEY SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE!
Innovative, fun, inspirational programs where youth can learn entrepreneurship and financial skills
 Learn to earn, save, manage, and invest money!
 Students will leave with: A Smart Start to Business and Money Workbook
 Students will leave with a completed Business Plan and the CEO of their own Futures!
Our Financial Literacy Educational Services Include:
 Money Skills
o Money Skills Classroom Curriculum: 10 Weeks (Financial Fridays) *
 Entrepreneurship Education (*Money Skills Program required)
o Jump Start to Business Workshop (Phase 1) 16 Weeks
o Smart Start to Business Workshop (Phase 2) 8 Weeks
o You're the Boss Classroom Curriculum (Phase 3) 16 Weeks (Management focus)
o Entrepreneurship (Phase 4) 9 Weeks
 Management Training (6 week Management and Business Professional Focus)
 Other Educational Support
o Online Clubs
o Online Educator's Café
o Blog / Facebook / Social Media
5-day Business Start-Up and Personal Finance Summer Academies
Games, Activities, Guest Speakers, Field Trips and MUCH MORE!!
(Discounts available for multiple enrollments and for school or youth organization groups)
Future Sessions Also Available for Adults:
 Setting Your House in Order
 A.C.T.S. (ADULT COMPUTER TRAINING SESSIONS)
 Operation G.O.O.D. (GET OUT OF DEBT)
 About My Father’s Business (Entrepreneurial Network)
 Business Management in the Local Church
 Business Professionals Certification Course