Our Piece Of The Pie Inc

OUR PIECE OF THE PIE, INC. (OPP) IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN 1975 DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING YOUTH WITH THE KEY COMPETENCIES NEEDED TO OVERCOME BARRIERS AND SUCCEED IN EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT. OPP'S UNIQUE MODEL IS CENTERED AROUND THE PERSONAL AND CONSISTENT RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPED BETWEEN EACH YOUTH AND A CARING, COMMITTED AND PROACTIVE ADULT STAFF MEMBER. THAT RELATIONSHIP HELPS PARTICIPANTS IDENTIFY AND OVERCOME BARRIERS, ACCESS PROGRAMS WITHIN BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, WORKFORCE READINESS, AND ACADEMICS, AND TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, A COLLEGE DEGREE AND/OR VOCATIONAL CERTIFICATION AND REWARDING POST-EDUCATION EMPLOYMENT. LAST YEAR, OPP WORKED WITH OVER 1000 YOUTH THROUGHOUT OUR PROGRAMS, SUPPORTING THEM ON THEIR PATH TO ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT WWW.OPP.ORG.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT - YOUTH DEVELOPMENTS SERVICES FOCUS ON THE BUILDING OF HEALTHY HABITS AND SKILLS THAT PREPARE YOUTH TO DEMONSTRATE AND ACHIEVE COMPETENCE, CONFIDENCE, AND CONNECTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY. USING COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT TOOLS, SKILL ACQUISITION STRATEGIES AIMED AT BUILDING RESILIENCE AND REDUCING RISK FACTORS, INCLUDING BARRIER IDENTIFICATION AND REDUCTION, STRENGTHENING SELF-ESTEEM AND CONFIDENCE WHILE SUPPORTING YOUTH WHEN PROBLEMS ARISE, CONNECTING THEM TO OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES, AND IMPROVING POSITIVE NETWORKS THROUGH CONNECTING WITH TWO OR MORE ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

EMPLOYMENT WORKFORCE READINESS PROGRAMS ASSIST YOUTH WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERIENCE AND DEVELOP IMPORTANT WORK READINESS SKILLS FOR LONG TERM EMPLOYMENT. SKILLS BUILDING FOCUSED ON CAREER COMPETENCY DEVELOPMENT TRAINING (SOFT SKILLS, RESUME WRITING, JOB SHADOWING, SERVICE LEARNING, ENTREPRENEURIAL AND BUSINESS SKILLS, SUBSIDIZED/UN-SUBSIDIZED INTERNSHIPS, EMPLOYMENT PLACEMENT, AND EMPLOYMENT RETENTION.EMBEDDED ARE ALSO FINANCIAL CAPABILITY SERVICES TO HELP YOUTH LEARN ABOUT BANKING, SAVINGS, CREDIT, MANAGING DEBT, AND BUDGETING. MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOUTH HAVE REAL-TIME ACCESS TO A CONTINUUM OF DEVELOPMENTAL WORK READINESS EXPERIENCES THAT INCLUDE HANDS-ON "WORK-TO-LEARN" YOUTH BUSINESSES IN ARTS, DIGITAL MEDIA, CARPENTRY, ALLIED HEALTH, MANUFACTURING, AND OTHER POST-SECONDARY CREDENTIALED EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. ALL OF WHICH OFFER YOUTH THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS WHILE BUILDING THEIR RESUME.

EDUCATION EDUCATION SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH DISTRICT-ALIGNED, DIPLOMA GRANTING PUBLIC SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS THAT INCLUDE OPPORTUNITY ACADEMY AND THE LEARNING ACADEMY BLOOMFIELD. ADDITIONAL ACADEMIC SERVICES AND SUPPORTS ARE PROVIDED TARGETING ACCESS TO INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED CREDENTIALS, AND POST-SECONDARY BRIDGING. THE FOCUS IS SUPPORTING ACADEMIC PATHWAYS THAT LEAD TO EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT DIPLOMA/GED ATTAINMENT AND POST-SECONDARY CREDENTIALING AND RETENTION.

DATA AND ACCOUNTABILITY OPP INCORPORATES BEST PRACTICES AND USES REAL-TIME, INTEGRATED, YOUTH-LEVEL DATA TO ENSURE SERVICE QUALITY AND PROGRESSION AND AGENCY-WIDE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR RESULTS. DATA AND INFORMATION IS ACCESSIBLE TO STAFF AND STAKEHOLDERS FOR ANALYSIS SUPPORTING IMPROVED SERVICES, OPERATIONS, POLICIES AND OUTCOMES FOR YOUTH IN HARTFORD. AS A LEARNING ORGANIZATION, OPP ALSO PARTICIPATES IN VARIOUS LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL DATA COLLABORATIVES. ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY - THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY LEADS THE ORGANIZATION'S ENGAGEMENT IN THE CORE CAPACITY-BUILDING ACTIVITIES/STRATEGIES. THE GOAL IS TO LEVERAGE THE INSIGHT AND EXPERTISE OF ALLIES/PARTNERSHIPS AND USE EVIDENCE-BASED PROCESSES AND IDENTIFY MEASURABLE GOALS TO STRENGTHEN OUR HUMAN CAPITAL AND ULTIMATELY OUR ORGANIZATIONAL HEALTH. WORKING WITH OUR COMMISSIONED ALLIES, OPP STRIVES TO ENGAGE IN ACTION PLANNING TO PRIORITIZE OUR KEY GROWTH AREAS (PRIORITIES) AND USE OF RESOURCES (INCLUDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE).