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WhizKidz

ENTREPRENEURIAL INTERNSHIPS INVESTED IN THE CITY HEIGHTS COMMUNITY  -  WhizKidz is an innovative program in which recent high school graduates participate in a year-long internship program with the San Diego Futures Foundation. WhizKidz combines advanced information technology and business principles training with entrepreneurial work experience. After completing classroom instruction, WhizKidz interns reinvest their training back into the community by planning and implementing customized IT projects for small business owners in City Heights.

WHIZKIDZ BENEFITS YOUTH

WhizKidz interns develop IT skills through actual business- based experience , thereby increasing their present employment outlook as well as potential lifelong earnings. While entry and midlevel IT jobs are high demand occupations throughout the world, the job market for such workers is projected to increase 38% by 2012. This sector includes fast growing industries such as Internet marketing and service providers, data processing services; web portals; and publishers for software, telecommunications, and print media.. According to a 2006 study conducted by the University of California t Berkeley, WhizKidz interns may expect to enter the workforce earning around $18.00 an hour with health and other benefits.

WHIZKIDZ BENEFITS SMALL BUSINESSES

After WhizKidz interns have attained an advanced level of IT technology training, they will apply their knowledge to real-world business projects. City Heights is home to over 800 small businesses who will be offered opportunities to integrate information technologies into their businesses. Businesses will be presented with an array of IT services such as web design, automated systems and on-line marketing. After meeting with WhizKidz teams, participating businesses will select the project most beneficial to their needs.

 WhizKidz interns will work in teams supervised by their instructors to develop and implement IT projects. They will participate in every aspect of project management including research, assessments, presentation, planning, development, implementation and project evaluation.

WHIZKIDZ BENEFITS THE CITY HEIGHTS COMMUNITY

WhizKidz provides high demand occupational training which benefits the community by offering increased opportunities for youth. Vibrant, efficient small businesses add to the quality of life in neighborhoods by providing needed services and wanted products conveniently close to home. WhizKidz is also designed to encourage young adults to stay active in their community as leaders and volunteers. By experiencing the effect their contributions make, interns will realize their abilities to create positive change. WhizKidz comes full circle when disadvantaged youth are successful in the workplace and give back to their community to create more opportunities and growth. WhizKidz encourages successful interns to consider making community betterment as an option to community abandonment.

WHIZKIDZ PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The program objectives for WhizKidz are as follows:

• Provide advanced level information technology training to recent high school graduates increasing their employability and earning potential

• Provide low-cost technology services to small business in City Heights for the purpose of increasing productivity and profitability

• Instill community involvement and volunteerism as a values through intern program

• Develop future community leaders and entrepreneurs through the internship experience

• Sustain the WhizKidz program through an adequate number of cycles to effect measurable quality of life improvements in the City Heights Community

WHIZKIDZ BASIC INFORMATION

The first cycle of WhizKidz internships will begin in June 1, 2008. Internships are 20 hour per week. Technology training is on- going and constitutes approximately 25% of the internship. Four interns will be selected for the first cycle in April, 2008. The first cycle is intentionally designed as the pilot phase where systems and practices will be worked out for subsequent cycles. The current plan is to double the number of interns for the second cycle which will begin in March, 2009 with first cycle interns participating as instructors and mentors with the new class. For more information on WhizKidz, please contact Tracie Umbreit, Education Program Manager, at tracie@sdfutures.org. Please check back for updates on WhizKidz interns and their projects throughout the year.

WhizKidz is funded through the generosity of Zero Divide and Bank of America.