Here’s a quick breakdown of grants awarded annually and education spending in the U.S.:
Category | Amount |
---|---|
📜 Grants Awarded Annually | Over $500 billion in grants are distributed across various sectors, including education, healthcare, and community development. |
🎓 Annual Education Spending | The U.S. spends approximately $927 billion per year on public elementary and secondary schools – National Center for Education …](https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=66). |
💰 Per Student Spending | The average spending per public school student is $18,614 per year – National Center for Education …](https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=66). |
This highlights the massive investment in education and grants, showing the potential funding opportunities available for initiatives like Straight and Forward
Straight and Forward: Shaping Stars, Building Futures, Empowering Voice
Straight and Forward: Shaping Stars, Building Futures, Empowering Voices
At Straight and Forward, we are creating more than just a radio station—we’re launching a movement, a platform where teens in Virginia can develop their talents in journalism, broadcasting, and media while stepping into leadership roles that shape the future.
This is where tomorrow’s stars are made.
From the teen who wants to volunteer and make an impact, to the young artist eager to showcase their creativity, we are building a teaching station for all ages that goes beyond traditional education. It’s a space designed to open minds, foster real conversations, and inspire learning, breaking the cycle of isolation that technology has created.
💡 We are creating a place where learning is cool.
Today, the ones who know the most, lead the most—and that’s exactly what we’re bringing to Virginia. Through Straight and Forward, we are turning education into an opportunity rather than an obligation. With SF plans for a station, a youth center, and a cutting-edge computer lab, teens will have the chance to build robots, develop electronic projects, and engage with AI innovations that shape the world.
We need partners to help make this vision a reality.
Businesses, organizations, and individuals—this is your chance to invest in the next generation. Your donations are tax-deductible, and your sponsorships directly impact the community. Together, we can build a safe after-school space where teens don’t just hang out, but create, innovate, and thrive.
This is not just a dream—it’s happening. Will you be part of it?
💡 Support the movement. Fund the future. Let’s build something bigger together.
Straight and Forward: Empowering Teens, Strengthening Communities, Creating a Future That Works
We are more than just a movement—we are building a foundation for youth empowerment and hands-on learning, ensuring that every teen has the opportunity to lead, create, and thrive.
Our Vision: What We Are Building Together
💡 A Teen Hotline – A safe space where young people can talk openly about challenges, get guidance, and find support when they need it most.
🌎 The Cleaning Project – Empowering youth to give back to their communities through environmental and neighborhood cleanup efforts that build responsibility and teamwork.
🎙️ Podcast for All Ages – A space for storytelling, discussions, and creativity, where teens and adults collaborate to share meaningful content and shape real conversations.
💰 Grant, Business, and Financial Programs – We are investing in education, teaching skills in business development, financial literacy, website creation, and writing, ensuring every participant gains knowledge that transforms ideas into opportunities.
🤖 Robotics Programs & Contests – A dynamic hub where teens and adults can engage in tech-driven innovation, working together to develop robotics projects that inspire creativity and problem-solving.
📰 Digital Magazine, Website, and Community News – A paper and online platform where youth report, write, and design, showcasing perspectives that represent their communities and voices.
📆 Calendar Projects & Hands-On Tech Initiatives – A space where building, engineering, and designing become real-world learning opportunities, shaping minds for future careers in innovation.
🚗 Driving & Life Coaching Programs – Teaching responsibility, independence, and mentorship, including a driving education program for young adults and a Buddy & Me coaching program, where teens and adults connect to navigate real-life challenges together.
🧠 Math Club & Smart Learning Initiatives – Revolutionizing education by showing teens that learning is a tool for success, much like their beloved smartphones—when they train their minds like a computer, they discover that solutions exist for every challenge.
Why This Matters
Straight and Forward is building a space where learning is not just encouraged—it’s celebrated. Teens need a place to grow, connect, and become the leaders they are meant to be, and right now, there is no center like this in our community.
That’s why we are calling on businesses, sponsors, and community members to invest in us—because by funding a teaching radio station and youth center, we are opening doors to creativity, leadership, and real-world skills that will impact generations to come.
🌟 This is more than just an idea—it’s the future. Join us, support our mission, and help build a space where young minds shine.
Straight and Forward: A Community Hub for Growth, Learning, and Change
We are building more than just a teaching radio station—we are creating a multi-purpose space designed to empower youth, support seniors, and strengthen our community.
Expanding Our Mission: A Space for Everyone
🥣 A Place Where the Homeless Can Eat – Providing warm meals to those in need, ensuring that no one in our community goes hungry.
👴 Senior Learning & Support Programs – Creating opportunities for seniors to learn new skills, engage in discussions, and connect with younger generations through storytelling, mentorship, and education.
🌱 Community Garden & Food Pantry – Growing fresh produce for distribution, giving families access to healthy food, and organizing a pantry system to support those in need.
🏫 A Boys & Girls Club-Style Center – A safe place for youth to explore their talents, express themselves, and find mentorship in a judgment-free environment.
💻 Adult Job Training in Tech & Innovation – Offering hands-on training in web design, robotics, digital media, and AI, helping individuals develop valuable career skills that can lead to new opportunities.
🏢 Business Hub & Rental Space – Providing businesses, entrepreneurs, and community leaders with meeting spaces, fostering local collaborations and supporting initiatives that bring positive change.
🚀 This space is about more than just media—it’s about transformation. By creating a hub for learning, growth, and community support, we can solve real problems in our area and provide opportunities for people of all ages.
Now is the Time to Invest in the Future
We are looking for donors, sponsors, and partners to help us bring this vision to life. This is not just a radio station—it’s a center for empowerment, a place where people come together, learn, and build something bigger than themselves.
🌟 Will you be part of the movement? Let’s make this happen together.
Straight and Forward
Our Talented Team Members
This section provides a brief overview of the talented professionals on our team.
Ann Letizia
Founder of straight and Forward
Building the Future: Why Straight and Forward Matters
Starting this journey has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. Straight and Forward is still in its early stages, but every step forward fuels my passion. When I see what we’re building—a space that gives teens the opportunities I wish I had growing up—I know we’re onto something powerful.
As a kid, having a Boys and Girls Club and being part of a marching band shaped who I am. Those experiences gave me structure, confidence, and a community that encouraged me to dream big. But not every teen has access to that kind of support—and that’s what drives me. Straight and Forward is about creating a space where young minds can learn, grow, and feel seen.
Team Member One
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