Education
(Replay) Education Equals Opportunity Too: Teaching Life Lessons
Walter and Julie Larkins are co-Chief Executives for Education Equals Opportunity Too, a Long Beach based foundation, that prides itself on building bridges between business and students in order to teach them important life lessons.
According to their website, the Education Equals Opportunity Too Foundation (E=O2™), “…has developed a unique and effective approach with the vision of challenging and motivating young people to make a lifelong connection between education and opportunity as a means to achieving and sustaining their American Dream.”
Education Equals Opportunity Too works with academically and socially “at risk” students in LBUSD schools. This year, the group worked with 120 students, 60 from two schools, 30 girls and 30 boys. The students were exposed to real life business experiences and skills.
On June 23, 2016 the Education Equal Opportunity Too foundation saw the fruits of this school year’s labor. 36 students graduated from the yearlong mentorship program that challenges and motivates them.
The Mission of Education Equals Opportunity Too
The (Education Equals Opportunity Too) foundation takes a business approach to an “at risk” intervention, offering academically and socially “at risk” 8th grade students an incentive to enhance their future studies: a laptop, printer, flash drive, and backpack is earned by the student if they have fewer referrals to the principal’s office and are promoted to a minimum 3.5 GPA by their graduation. In addition, they will develop essential communication skills and establish networking relationships that will benefit them over a lifetime. Why a laptop? Computers and access to the Internet are the tools of the 21st century, providing students with access to a world of information; and Information is power. The E=O2™ program is a plug-in to an existing Male and Female Academy that is established as a club at the Middle School.
For Students, Education Equals Opportunity Too is a game changer
Alumni of Education Equal Opportunity Too Spoke forcefully of their experiences and their success. Alofaifo Faleono describes his student life before E=O2 as “average”. “Like I got regular Cs and Bs. But this program helped me realize the bigger picture.”
For Faleono, the bigger picture was realizing he could get a better future. “It was kinda like a newsflash for me.”
Jaishon Forte was taught to work well with his friends. “It gave me real life situations and it taught me to stay unpredictable throughout a lot of things.”
Alofaifo Faleono
Jaishon Forte
Education Equals Opportunity Too and the Parents
For parents, there was a special feeling that went with the success of their children. One of the most moving moments of the graduation evening came from Jaishon Forte’s father. He spoke from the heart about Education Equals Opportunity Too and its impact on his children who are enrolled in it.
“To see a blessing bestowed on my children. Somebody going out of their way to come and give back. That in itself, we can talk about all day.”
The heartfelt emotions were raw. “What I instill in them is to make sure that they replicate the formula. Make sure you pay attention to what you learn. Because what you learn, you’re going to have to pass it back…..They’re affected by the program and that touches me.”
More on Education Equals Opportunity Too
If you want to get involved or donate to Education Equals Opportunity Too, you can find more information on their website www.eequalso2.org. Co-Chief Executive Walter Larkins provided his email addresses as well: walter@eequalso2.com and wlarkins3@gmail.com.
