Kaizen Center

Mission Statement

Our mission is to eliminate mental and socio-economical poverty, by mentoring individuals and families toward continuous improvement, to grow within their home and community. Kaizen Center provides a safe haven for learning and releasing the stress of everyday struggles. We emphasize the achievement of self- empowerment through education, physical & mental fitness, the arts, and positive social interaction in a safe and positive atmosphere. The Kaizen Center believes through education, opportunity and accountability, we can instill a sense of discipline and a code of ethics to inspire others to lead exemplary lives as leaders in the community.

Mental:
Encourage scholastic competence and maximize self-actualization.

Physical:
Condition the mind by raising self-esteem and body by increasing self-control.

Spiritual:
Acknowledge that all good things come from deity.

The Kaizen Center is a place where adolescents can find safe haven from everyday stress and learn, through education, rigorous Martial Arts training, training in "The Arts" (Visual, Performing, and Fine Arts) to strive for perfection of character, personal responsibility and overall success in life.

Solutions to the Problem

Too many people live in a perpetual state of failure. Though potentially crippling, failure doesn't have to remain a long-term condition. Temporary failures can be seen in the form of Poverty, Homelessness, Hunger, Stress and Unemployment. The Kaizen Center is organized exclusively for educational purposes to empower individuals and families with tools and skills to overcome their temporary negative conditions. We believe that through education, opportunity and accountability we can instill a long-term sense of discipline and ethics. The resulting opportunities for success are endless.

Stats (Census.gov)

Planned Activities

After-school programs providing tutoring and homework assistance.
Partnering with other Martial Arts groups to provide affordable programs.
Introduce college graduates as role models for young at-risk students.
Hold a "Kaizen Center Day" where local schools aim for perfect attendance.
Host drug education seminars. Welcome members of the community (doctors, nurses, police officers, etc.) to attend and address the dangers of drug use.
Organize job skills seminars for high school juniors and seniors.
Encourage children in the disciplines of studying and finishing school.
Host “Opportunity Days" where students get career advise from local businesses.
Employ the “Getting Along for Success" program, dealing with development in the areas of Awareness, Coping, Social Interaction and Group Interaction.
Martial Arts and Fitness Training
After School Enrichment Program
Job Training
Life Skills Training
Wellness Training
Public Health Training
Dance
Music
Performing Arts
Computer & IT Training
Veteran Empowerment
Character Training and Development System
a) Good Attitude
b) Good Habits
c) Good Self-control
d) Good Manners
School Safe/Street Safe System
a) Conflict Avoidance
b) Stranger Alert
c) 5 Rules of Personal Safety
d) Trust your Intuition
Verbal Judo (Anti Bulling Program)

Outcomes and Evaluation

This proactive education will result in sustained progress in areas such as:
Increased self efficacy
Improve self control
Enhance communication skills
Improve Interpersonal skills
Improve Problem solving skills
Improve school grades
Improve substance abuse awareness
Reduce childhood & adult obesity
Reduce adolescent violence
Achievement of a healthy work/life balance.

No one can turn around the lives of hundreds of children in an instant. The Kaizen Center can help at-risk students turn themselves around and learn to succeed. This will be accomplished by an ongoing and healthy mentoring effort, setting incremental goals and developing the habits to acquire them.

We are what we represent

There are hundreds of students out there who need the guidance and support of a mentor. How then can we tailor our efforts to become a role model and possibly even a mentor to them?

We must first distinguish ourselves as a role model. A Martial Artist can use his skills to motivate the students and serve as a role model to these teens and a mentor to some.

We will identify ourselves as a role model to all of the students in our community. Being a role model requires many things. A large part of the job is being known and respected for who you are and how you got there. A role model is a person who sets an example, a person other people may emulate. Being a role model does not necessarily require one-on-one, extended contact. A Martial Arts Instructor can provide mentorship to the masses.

We can fulfill our duty as a role model in many ways. We can become a valuable solution to the problem. By being a good citizen and exhibiting ethical behavior, we are able to show the world and students in the community what it takes to achieve personal and professional success. We will establish partnership with the school districts and local agencies, keeping in mind that presentation is everything and we are what we represent. Every time we speak at an assembly, we have the opportunity to become a role model for the students. Being seen and heard, in person or even in the local paper, will reinforce our status as role models.Professional athletes are judged harshly by society for any indiscretion because they are considered role models to millions of young people. Teens know who the athletes are even though they have not personally met. The same is true for the Martial Artist. The Martial Artist wears a badge of honor that distinguishes him from the average public figure within the community. This makes the Martial Artist a role model. When the Martial Artist talks to young people, they carry the prestige of their accomp-lishment as a Black Belt. In or out of the Dojo (Karate School) environment, the Martial Artist epitomizes the ideals of a successful professional. Many teens may think of a Martial Arts Instructor as one of very few credible role models. As teens mature, they begin to forget about fanciful ideas of being rock and sports stars and begin to look around for realistic opportunities. That's what a Martial Arts environment will represent to them. Karate is not a seasonal sport; it is a way of life, designed to perfect the character of its practitioners.

Being a role model is incredibly rewarding but also requires dedication, caring and personal contact. No one person can be the sole role model to hundreds of students at the same time. Many people in your community want to help with the mentoring process in different ways. By working together with local business, government agencies, Church members, teachers, parents and others in your community, our success could have even more of an impact.

Here are some ways we plan to help young people get involved in our program:

(Embrace the three tenants of Karate by developing the members Mentally, Physically and Spiritually)

1. Partner with Martial Arts groups to provide affordable Martial Arts program to young adults and kids. Focusing on the inner-city kids in poverty areas.

2. Offer after school program for scholastics. Providing tutoring and homework assistance and development of core scholastic competence.

3. Solicit College and High school graduates and seniors to become peer role models to young students at risk:

These events could focus on the concept of creating a mentoring buddy system. Within the structure of these events, members could be paired up looking out for each other, making sure school attendance is good, homework is turned in, passing grades are maintained and help is sought early, if needed. These events are important tools of the program.

4. Provide spiritual counseling to enhance the member's morality, ethics and faith.

5. Develop confidence, competitive characteristics by promoting and participating in The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and local Martial Arts and scholastic competitions.

6. Publicize student success stories in local papers, newsletters or school papers. Invite professionals and athletes to speak at meetings and in schools.

It is a fact that success in lowering the dropout rate, use of drugs and alcohol is achieved by combining a variety of tried-and-true methods. The Kaizen Center will encourage peer culture and a pervasive, positive, structured atmosphere. Martial Arts training and culture has been known to positively influence the teen dropout rate and drug use. There is generally a family atmosphere among students. Students bond together, tend to work out problems together and are supportive of each other.

Nobody can instantly turn around the lives of hundreds of young people in a single effort. Kaizen's dedication and care can help at-risk students begin to turn themselves around and succeed. The name of the game is setting incremental goals. We will be sure to refer teens with serious problems to the appropriate agencies for professional help.

Some ways to expand community involvement in helping teens stay in school, stay off drugs and plan for the future might include:

1. Raise student's expectations of the myriad of opportunities available to them if they stay in school, stay off drugs and plan for life.

2. Be sure that schools know what the Kaizen Center expects of its members.

3. Show respect for teachers and community leaders. They can make terrific partners for our crusade.

4. Be a role model and mentor.