DID YOU KNOW that one in four students drops out? That’s one every 26 seconds or more than 1 million students a year! Students at risk of dropping out feel disconnected and lack the social-emotional skills to be productive at school. Bullying and other disruptive behavior are common side effects of their isolation.

75% of 5th and 6th graders with poor behavior, poor attendance and low achievement will not make it to the 12th grade.

Research shows that it’s 6th grade where students begin to show signs of future risk for high school drop-out. It’s right before the move to middle school where many are lost who don’t have the necessary social-emotional and academic skills to succeed. So, we want to turn these lives around BEFORE THEY BECOME A STATISTIC.

Urban Tech wants to mobilize these 5th and 6th graders to become better students by and Young Peer Leaders for their 3rd and 4th grade school-mates, using a rich technology learning environment.


PROJECT ENGAGE ignites their imagination with interactive, engaging web-based applications that teach them how to work in teams, negotiate and resolve conflict, develop greater self-control and discipline and actualize their potential through goal setting. The 5th and 6th graders build self-concept and critical-thinking skills as they mentor and teach the essential life and social skills to the younger grades. They develop ownership of their learning, motivation to achieve their own educational goals, and they see first hand the impact of their efforts.

Together we can make a difference.

Like you, Urban Tech knows that education is key to achieving goals in life and we are driven to provide the tools to stem the dropout epidemic and with your help, we can achieve our very important goal NOW.

Implementing the Young Peer Leaders Program could quickly curb the high dropout rate and change the lives of thousands in your community and nationwide.

How you can help:
Our goal is to raise $50,000 to launch PROJECT ENGAGE in up to 20 schools and after-school programs, extending the walls of the classroom to maximize learning and to reach and engage the growing number of students who have already dropped out and need educational support.

Please donate today and then reach out to your friends and family who CARE about our collective future.

For a donation of $25, you can directly help a student in a partner school or after-school program. For a donation of $2500 you can help implement the Young Leaders Program in YOUR COMMUNITY in a school or after-school program that you choose. Just let us know right away in the “Comments” section after you make your donation. We’ll reach out and personally update you with our progress. Urban Tech is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, your contributions are deductible to the full-extent of the law.

Our Track Record and Success:
The Young Peer Leaders Program is a part of Urban Tech’s widely acclaimed Youth Leadership Academy® (YLA) which provides groundbreaking technology designed and implemented to equip students with the practical skills necessary to become productive, self-fulfilled and achievement-oriented adults. The life skills taught in YLA are the tools needed to make healthy lifestyle choices, to effectively present oneself in the workplace, to manage one’s income resourcefully, and to make positive life goals and decisions. YLA was also designed to teach computer skills, and to address a range of important issues including school dropout, drug awareness and teen pregnancy. YLA empowers young people by opening the doors to education and career options, and by raising the self-esteem of young people so they are comfortable pursuing new opportunities. It encourages participants to become self-sufficient and instills behaviors such as punctuality, the spirit of teamwork and cooperation, and the ability to accept constructive criticism.

In the last 17 years, we have:

• INCREASED SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
• INCREASED STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
• INCREASED READING, WRITING, AND MATH SCORES
• IMPROVED HOMEWORK PREPAREDNESS AND CLASS PARTICIPATION
• IMPROVED DIGITAL LITERACY
• INCREASED GRADUATION RATES

Evaluators have said that Teachers, Principals and Parents are excited about how quickly they see results when using our technology to awaken students and empower them to become lifelong learners and leaders in their communities.

YLA's social skills and leadership building program has been recognized for excellence by: Kellogg Foundation (1997), PBS (1999), The Ford Foundation (2000), Harvard University (2000, Innovation Award), NYC Department of Education—Region 8 (2004), Verizon Foundation (2005), NYC Department of Education (2005, 2011), and the U.S. Department of Justice (2011).

Please donate whatever you can to engage 2000 Young Peer Leaders today.

THANK YOU!!!