Houston

Houston Chapter Community Outreach Committee

PREPARED FOR LIFE
After eight years of research, including the evaluation and funding of many children’s programs by the Holthouse Foundation for Kids, community leader, philanthropist and entrepreneur Michael Holthouse and his wife, Lisa, have founded Prepared 4 Life (P4L), a not-for-profit organization that is developing innovative after-school programs for middle-school youth in Houston. In conjunction with the successful “After School All-Stars” initiative and other community partners, Prepared 4 Life focuses on building assets in middle-school-aged kids by integrating life skills, character education and entrepreneurship with engaging, experiential, fun after-school activities.

Prepared 4 Life has partnered with pioneers in the field of social-emotional and academic development to create a solid team of agencies and institutions with proven abilities to transform the youth of Houston’s community into future contributing members of society. Some of these organizations and initiatives include Search Institute (40 Developmental Assets), Baylor College of Medicine, Arise Life Skills, Houston Independent School District, Harris County Department of Education (CASE), Junior Achievement and After-School All-Stars. Together they are committed to creating and sustaining an after-school movement capable of transforming the lives of middle-schoolers in Houston and across Harris and surrounding counties.

HOW DOES PREPARED 4 LIFE WORK?
Once a middle school is identified and qualified, a full-time, trained Prepared 4 Life site leader is assigned to the campus. This leader partners with the school principal, teachers and a team of partner-providers to create the most successful after school environment possible. The Prepared 4 Life leader serves as the “after-school principal,” mentor, team leader, trainer and coach and coordinates all services provided to the school. Prepared 4 Life provides an “on-campus” after-school solution packaged as pure fun! Students select their own activities based on their specific interests. Every activity is infused with Prepared 4 Life’s unique life skills, character education and entrepreneurialism curriculum to provide them with life’s most important lessons, including but not limited to:

  • Empowerment (self-sufficiency)
  • Positive personal values
  • Commitment to life-long learning
  • Empathy
  • Constructive use of time
  • Healthy social interactions
  • Goal setting
  • Character and integrity
  • Organizational skills

As a partnership with the Prepared for Life organization, the AABE-Houston chapter will work with a selected school to serve as “e-mentors”. Sara Speer Selber, President along with several middle-school-aged kids, can provide further information. She will provide a description of how the AABE members are involved and provide mentorship to the young talented entrepreneurs. This is another wonderful opportunity for the AABE members to give back to the community and assist in preparing the minds of the youth for the real world.

Contact Prepared 4 Life for more information.