Goals and progress
Community investment | Our program in action
Juma Ventures
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Summary: Juma Ventures works to break the cycle of poverty by ensuring that young people complete a four-year college education — through real employment, matched savings and academic support.
Having an original idea is one thing — pulling it off is another. Since 1995, we have partnered with Juma Ventures, an innovative organization that helps hundreds of youth gain the confidence and skills to get into college, successfully complete their education, and prepare for successful careers. We provide Juma with a range of support, from grants and marketing advice to employee volunteers.
“We really feel that Gap Inc. is invested in our work and the success of the youth we serve,” says Alexandra Armenta, Juma’s development manager. “Whatever we need, we don’t hesitate to go to them. When we said we needed support for marketing, they came back and said, ‘Tell us more.’”
Juma’s strong track record stems from its comprehensive approach. One of its biggest innovations has been providing youth with job experience through a social enterprise model. Juma owns and operates concessions businesses at six Bay Area sports stadiums, including AT&T Park, Candlestick Park and the Oakland Coliseum.
The youth who operate coffee carts and sell food in the stands face the typical customer service challenges, as well as the need to multi-task, communicate professionally with co-workers and supervisors, and manage their time. “These are critical skills that young people don’t necessarily get at home or at school,” Armenta notes.
Juma also provides a deep level of educational support. Youth in the program undergo an academic assessment, develop an education plan, get help with SAT preparation, and take an eight-month course to support them in navigating the college application process. Juma also focuses on financial literacy and helps youth build up their savings.
“I had a dream as a kid to go to college in Chicago,” says Cruz Ramirez, a Juma alumna. “With the help of staff, I was able to pull together a bit of my personal life and raise my grades. Not only was I accepted at the university of my dreams, but I was also able to get it all together financially and emotionally.”
Juma’s innovation extends beyond its programs to its planning and evaluation. “We’re pretty far along in becoming an organization that’s truly data-driven,” Armenta says. Of the seniors in San Francisco in 2008, 96 percent transitioned to post-secondary education, and 100 percent of the class of 2009 is on track to follow in their footsteps.
