Helping Kids Dream With Their Eyes Open
Project SUCCESS is a youth-development organization that continuously works with middle and high school students to help them develop life-skills that can transform their lives. Through our goal-setting workshops, theater experiences, and special programming/services, students learn to make choices and plan for their future. Project SUCCESS wants students to prepare to face their futures with enriched imaginations, increased confidence, positive outlooks, clearly defined goals, and well-planned strategies for success.
Keywords: Project SUCCESS youth development Minneapolis St. Paul
Interview Q&A
How long have you been in business?
Project SUCCESS was founded in 1994 by Adrienne Diercks, current Executive Director. She conducted a theatrical workshop at the renowned Guthrie Theater, for a group of high school students. The powerful experience received such a strong, positive response from the students and the Guthrie Theater that it became the starting point for an in-depth discussion of the play's relevance to students' own lives and the choices they anticipated making for the future. The first class of 200 seniors were guided to set and achieve personal goals, and encouraged to prepare a clear plan for their future beyond high school.
What is your primary product or service?
Currently in our 17th year of operation, Project SUCCESS now partners with 17 schools (we added 7 school partners in 2008) and serves over 10,000 students in the Minneapolis (6th through 12th grades) and Saint Paul (7th and 8th grades) Public School districts. Students experience three inter-linked program services that are delivered continuously for as many as seven years of their life: in-class goal-setting workshops, theater experiences, and special programming/services.
How do you differentiate yourself from other businesses in your category and area?
Project SUCCESS is dedicated to helping students develop life skills, set and reach goals, and act on their dreams. Project SUCCESS is unique in its commitment and ability to work with each and every student continuously in and out of the classroom for as many as seven years by facilitating goal-setting workshops, offering 6-8 theater experiences annually and providing special programming/services.
How many locations do you have and do you have plans to expand?
Project SUCCESS serves 10,000 students and their families in 17 public middle and high schools in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, with plans to continue expansion.