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Two of Greater Cincinnati’s Most Respected Youth Organizations Joining Forces to Support Regional Model for Student Success
JCG and CYC merge to expand and enhance services to young people with barriers
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John Pepper, CYC & JCG Founder and Visionary poses with students at South Avondale Elementary
Why these two organizations? Why now?
The boards of JCG and CYC believe that the merging of the organizations strengthens the resources needed for youth to graduate from high school and transition to career or post secondary opportunities. The natural alignment of missions and youth outcomes, the power of a collaborative community approach and the strong program outcomes position the merger to be a regional leader in helping young people to be successful in life. The boards also recognize that the merger positions the organizations to grow programmatically, organizationally and financially.
What is the community need for an organization like this?
Successful kids are the key to a successful community. By keeping young people on the right track in school, on target to graduate with successful transition to career or college, it contributes to a strong vibrant community. Today’s jobs have an increasing need for more than just a high school diploma and young people need to be prepared to take the next step that fits their interests and dreams to be successful in life. The merged entity will have 55 years of combined youth advising experience that has reached more than 160,000 young people over their history resulting in high school graduation rate of 95% or greater and successful transition to jobs or college at rates of 80% or more.
How many kids will be served? And what is the service area?
The combined organizations will serve more than 3,500 youth with barriers in Cincinnati and Hamilton County Schools.
What is the financial benefit? Community? Organization?
The merger strengthens the ability to sustain and grow core programs by building on each other’s expertise and talents. The new organization expects to gain efficiencies with infrastructure costs such as financial audits, accounting and technology. The community benefits with a stronger resource to help students graduate from high school and transition to jobs or post secondary education opportunities. Most importantly, young people will benefit from an assortment of services housed under one organization that can meet their needs.
The facts of not graduating from high school have consequences to community:
- Median annual income
- Dropouts: $25,000
- Graduates: $43,000
- Percent of U.S. prison population
- Dropouts: 75 percent
- Graduates/GED: 25 percent
- Unemployment rate
- Dropouts: 15.4 percent
- Graduates: 9.4 percent
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Alliance for Excellent Education
Who will be the leader of the combined organization? Who are the key players?
Members from both boards will comprise the board for the new organization. Jane Keller, current President and CEO of CYC will be the President and CEO of the new organization. Barbara Siebel, current President and CEO of JCC will retire and transition to the new organization as Strategic Consultant to help ensure a smooth and successful transition of JCG programs to the new organization.
What is the name of the combined organization?
The new organization is a union of JCG and CYC. The task of naming the merged organization has begun with a branding consultant who has provided their time pro bono. The team is made up of JCG and CYC members to help with the thought process. We expect a recommendation by mid July.
Will there be staff reductions?
The programs and services between the organizations complement each other and the current staff delivering those services will continue to support their schools and students as they currently do today. In fact, there are more students in need of service than the organizations can currently service.
How many kids are served by both organizations?
The new organization will serve more than 3,500 students.
Will there be future opportunities for collaborations/mergers?
As the new organization evolves, the board will continue to explore collaborative options with other youth-focused organizations and support our community’s goals.
Where will the new organization be housed?
At the present, there will be two locations with the expectation of having one location in the future. It is expected that space can be rearranged in the space occupied by CYC in the Mayerson Academy.
How will schools be affected?
Schools will receive the same programs and services that they have received in the past. Our efforts will be focused on making this merger smooth for our partner schools and the services received by young people.
Will young people see an immediate benefit to merger?
The current programs have been designed to meet the needs of youth of different ages with different needs or barriers. We don’t expect this to change, however, we do recognize that a new organization with a suite of programs should be able to provide a singular, simpler touch point to help youth and their families. We will also explore how we can better develop plans that follow youth from elementary to high school to make graduation a reality for young people.
Who should be contacted for further information regarding the transition?
For further information, feel free to contact Jane Keller or Barbara Siebel. They look forward to talking with you.
Barbara Siebel: bsiebel@jcgemail.org or 631-4400, ext 10
Jane Keller: jkeller@cycyouth.org or 475-4195
