Mission

We guide and support at-risk children to develop fundamental educational skills.

Above all else, we move these children beyond the basics and prepare them for productive and meaningful lives.

Guiding Principles

Five principles guide and govern our actions at all times. They define ‘what we stand for’ and ‘what we won’t stand for.’ They include:

Respect: We treat ourselves and others with dignity, kindness and respect.
Positive Energy: We approach our work with a positive attitude and energy. We are forward-thinking. We look for the good.
Task Focus: We remain focused on completing the most important tasks. We get the job done.
Collaboration: No one of us is as smart as all of us. We work together as part of a great team.
Continuous Improvement: We use proven systems and methods, yet we’re always looking for innovative and efficient ways to get things done.

Description of the Organization

Our organization has its beginnings in the spring of 1999 as a coat donation project in one inner city Detroit Public School. For two years, we ran pilot programs with groups of students in one school, testing ideas to measure the interest level of the children. Motivated by the response of participating students, in February, 2002, we incorporated as a non-profit for the sole purpose of reaching more children.

Today, Beyond Basics has established itself as a strong, viable organization, with a solid structure, philosophy, and mission. The organization today:

Has 1,500+ plus volunteers
Has 25 staff members supporting our daily school programs and our office
Runs programs within 4 public schools in Detroit
Published 5,000 books written by the children we serve in the 2007-2008 school year and over 50,000 since our incorporation.

It is through the students' own vocalized desire and interest, and our yearning to help, that we plan continued growth so that we can help even more children burdened by extreme poverty.