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Sponsored by: Our Piece of the Pie
October 22, 2021 Giving Guide 2021

Our Piece of the Pie

MISSION:

To empower youth with the key competencies needed to overcome barriers and succeed in education and employment.

Our Piece of the Pie’s (OPP®’s) unique model is centered on the personal and consistent relationship developed between each youth and a caring, committed, and proactive adult staff member, a Youth Development Specialist. The Youth Development Specialist works together with the young person to identify their goals and create a plan to address needs across personal, workforce, and academic development.

The OPP pillars of success for youth are Youth Development, Academic Achievement, and Workforce Readiness. It is the organization’s belief that young people need support to develop skills and succeed in personal, academic, and employment goal setting. OPP incorporates best practices and uses real-time, integrated, youth-level data to hold itself accountable.

There is a strong organizational ethos that young people are not “the problem,” but rather the solution – and that offering them opportunities to learn and grow will enable them to succeed.

GOALS

As a part of OPP’s Theory of Change, the organization will be focusing on:

  • Leadership: Strengthen Board Ambassadorship and Engagement.
  • Management: Strengthen staff capacities at all levels of the organization.
  • Programs: Codify practices that are research-based and grounded in “best practice” among youth development organizations nationwide.
  • Finance and Development: A Business Plan that aligns the Theory of Change and the earned and contributed revenue sources for a five-year period (FY2023 -FY2027).
  • Culture: Strengthen Youth Leadership, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Frameworks and strive to become a Deliberately Developmental Organization

  • Internal Monitoring for Continuous Improvement: Utilize a Customer Relationship Database (CRM) that is aligned with the TOC metrics.

  • Evaluation: Undertake a preliminary assessment of its operations, programs, services to determine the efficacy of a full programmatic evaluation

FUNDRAISING EVENTS/OPPORTUNITIES

OPP hosts a Champions of Youth event each fall to celebrate the successes of youth and recognize partners who have made a long-term commitment to the journey. Ways to support OPP events can be found at www.opp.org (attend an event, donate an auction item, sponsorships).

GIVING OPPORTUNITIES

OPP seeks support from the community throughout the year for the following purposes: emergency needs of youth, program expansion and/or enhancements, staff development, general support, and the Future Fund to prepare for both planned growth and unexpected needs in the near future. Youthful business casual and professional clothes that are new or gently used and backpacks/school supplies are also welcome. For more information, contact Karen Kakley Karen.kakley@opp.org or call 860.763.7371.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

For more information about volunteer opportunities please visit our volunteer page www.opp.org for complete descriptions and an interest form.

POST-PANDEMIC

OPP had an opportunity to offer our services in a 99% virtual environment and learned that this model worked well for some of our service areas, but, that youth thrived better in person for some of their goals. As a result, we will continue to offer our supports to youth through a hybrid delivery model and continue to assess the results annually.

Shian, Hartford, CT, came to OPP prior to the pandemic. “In 2020, I got kicked out of my house, I was in trouble with the authorities, I had no job, no money. I was food insecure. I was skinny—I think that scared me the most, I thought I was going to die. Everything was so uncertain.” After couch-surfing for several months, Shian found Our Piece of the Pie on Facebook. “It said they offered support in helping people like me find jobs and assistance in other life areas. I called OPP right away.”

Shian was immediately matched with her YDS (Youth Development Specialist) and the pair set forward to create a success plan for Shian. With the help of OPP, she was able to get her Social Security card, which turned out to be a four-month process because of the COVID-19 crisis. She began a job at Walmart, improved her credit score, bought a car and was able to earn and save enough money to be eligible for her own apartment. “I never took myself seriously enough until the pandemic because now I had all this time to work on me. I decided to hone in on my skills and improve my life.”

During the pandemic, Shian started her own business and launched a jewelry, accessories, crafts, and cosmetics company. “It’s flashy, nice and sassy—it’s all about fun.” That’s exactly what Shian needed, an escape where she could create and express herself. Currently, Shian is working toward her bachelor’s degree. “I want to help people, especially kids. I want to give back. Who knows, maybe I’ll even become a YDS here at OPP.”

ABOUT US

Year established: 1975

Annual revenues (most recent fiscal year): $8.9M

Total number of employees: 68

GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA(S):

Greater Hartford and Eastern CT

TOP FUNDING SOURCES:

Government agencies: 49%

Private and Public Foundations: 47%

Individuals: 4%

CONTACT:

20-28 Sargeant St., Hartford, CT 06105

860-761-7300

www.opp.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Hector M. Rivera Jr., MSM, MBA President & CEO
Smitesh Davé, Chair: Travelers

Erin Bolduc, Vice Chair: Travelers

Sue Rickard, Secretary: Executive Technology Consultant

Jeffrey Myshrall, Treasurer: Pue, Chick, Leibowitz & Blezard

Dwight Bolton, Governance Committee: D H Bolton, LLC

Dr. Noel Casiano: Adjunct Professor, CCSU, School of Education and Professional Counseling; Program Coordinator Ana Grace Project/ Klingberg Family Center; Director of Research & Quality Assurance, Youth Challenge of CT

Meghann Michalak, Chair; Development Committee: Travelers

Rashani Swaby: Pratt & Whitney

Nate Swaim: The Hartford