Urban Community Raffle Event

The nonprofit paradigm is one of the most unique sectors to propel liberation in a community in comparison to the public and private sector.  Public sectors can be described to be government agencies, which can often be administered and directed by exclusive political groups with personal interests. Private sectors, such as corporations, are often principled on earning maximum profit; although these institutions have the ability to contribute their profits to bettering communities if they so choose. Ultimately, businesses are not held accountable to do so by community members. 

Nonprofits on the other hand are primarily dedicated to support the greater public and their communities.  Nonprofit entities consist of churches, daycare centers, research institutions, etc.  My passion and career objectives consist of working with nonprofit organizations, as I plan on becoming an Urban City Planner.  My interests are primarily focused on health and education policies within the urban community. Through research I recognize that public schools, specifically in California, are failing underprivileged youth, and disenfranchised communities.  I would like to make the argument that nonprofit organizations can lead the charge in supporting youth’ education through urban community ticket raffles and fundraisers. 

Education should be one of the primary developmental aspects in a child’s upbringing.  Whether children attend public schools, charter schools, or private schools, it is essential for reading to become a significant practice in the learning experience of students.  Reading comprehension allows for community members to articulate themselves efficiently.  Communicating adequately betters the possibility to address community challenges.  I believe all children should be taught the significance of reading analytically.  Today, the literacy rates among minority children in urban communities is far below average in comparison to their counterparts living in suburban communities.  

According to Concordia University-Portland, in 2015, “literacy rates vary greatly between racial and socio-economic groups.  Minorities are still oppressed by lower literacy levels. Literacy continues to be a mechanism of social control and oppression. On the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress 12th Grade Reading Level Assessment (2015), 46 percent of white students scored at or above proficient. Just 17 percent of black students and 25 percent of Latino students scored proficient.”  When one cannot read, they are often disengaged from being fully functional citizens and unable to use critical-thinking skills to solve community problems effectively. Ultimately, this will affect the individual’s ability to obtain white-collard employment, which then limits them from achieving a suitable socioeconomic status.

To attempt to eliminate this crisis in disenfranchised communities, and eventually all communities, nonprofit organizations can be a significant factor in contributing to youth education through raffle ticket events. To improve literacy rates and the overall educational experience of youth in disenfranchised communities, students should be granted free school supplies and literature through raffle ticket events.  Barnes & Nobles is a well establish corporation that has the ability to promote, support, and fund these raffle ticket events.  B&N is an essential corporation that has influenced youth to engage in reading because they contain an abundance of literature.  Through raffle events, B&N can support under-served students by supply nonprofit organizations with raffle prizes such as gift cards, school supplies, and books to raffle ticket winners.  This will give Barnes & Nobles an opportunity to improve its philanthropic status by supporting underfunded communities with academic materials.  The partnership between B&N, nonprofit organizations, and community members, can allow youth to be more engaged in education.

This partnership can also include government agencies to support nonprofit entities such as churches and daycare centers.  Government agencies can also provide grants to nonprofit entities to help support youth with tutoring outside of school grounds.  Tutoring will allow youth to be engaged in after-school programs and keep troubled youth from engaging in negative behavior within their community.  Nonprofit organizations supported by governments have the opportunity to improve youth struggling to read efficiently.  I believe this raffle ticket agenda is a practical approach that can be implemented within nonprofit organizations.

There are two objective outcomes that can be accomplished by this raffle ticket event.  One, literacy rates among minority youth, and potentially all youth, can improve with the distribution of resources provided by nonprofit organizations.  By giving students academic resources (books, backpacks, and tutoring), youth can better their learning experience and Reading Level Assessment Test scores in school.  Two, raffle ticket events can form a meaningful partnership between nonprofit organizations, private entities, government agencies, and community members. This partnership is sure to better the educational experience of students enrolled in underfunded schools.  Nonprofit organization hosting raffle ticket events are blessed with the ability to help urban communities maintain their underfunded education system.  

Endnotes

 

  1. The Room 241 Team. (2018). Crisis Point: The State of Literacy in America. A Blog By Concordia University-Portland. https://education.cu-portland.edu/blog/education-news-roundup/illiteracy-in-america/