Talent is
ubiquitous
opportunity is not. 2021–22 IMPACT REPORT
MISSION
Fueled by the belief that talent is ubiquitous, The Academy Group unlocks opportunity for young people from the most resilient communities to realize their full potential.
© 2022 No parts of this may be reproduced without explicit permission from the The Academy Group. 200 W. Madison St, Chicago, IL 60606. Image credits: All photography provided courtesy of The Academy Group. Direct all inquires via email to: dhill@theacademy.group Graphic Design by JNJ Creative, LLC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS 04 MESSAGE FROM THE ACADEMY GROUP FOUNDER AND MANAGING PARTNER 05 OUR PATHWAY AND PROGRAM MODEL Strategic Pathways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 06 Holistic Support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 09 Our Unique Funding Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
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THE ACADEMY GROUP STATISTICS, STORIES, & SPOTLIGHTS Demographics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 GPA by Student Cohort. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 College Metrics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 ACADEMY SPOTLIGHTS
Pablo Garcia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Trinity Colon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Aurelio Huerta. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Dominique Taylor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Gloria Escobedo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Kress Stewart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Advanced Career Planning & Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
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AMPLIFY CHICAGO STATISTICS, STORIES, & SPOTLIGHTS Cohort, Employment and Expungement Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 AMPLIFY SPOTLIGHTS Devonta. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Jonte. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Antonice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 TRANSFORMATIVE INITIATIVES Amplify Mutual Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Amplify Property Solutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Amplify Chicago Women’s Cohort. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
THANK YOU!
MESSAGE FROM THE ACADEMY GROUP FOUNDER AND MANAGING PARTNER We founded The Academy Group in 2017 based upon the belief that talent is ubiquitous, though opportunity is not. Although the limits of the American meritocracy have impacted children of color and those growing up in disadvantaged communities for far too long, the events of the past 18 months have brought these challenges to the forefront of our collective conscience. It is painfully clear that new approaches are needed to address these injustices.
No other institution supports the full journey— from elementary school, through high school, college and into careers— for high potential young people from America’s most resilient communities.”
Thanks to investments by Mark and Kimbra Walter, The Academy Group owns stakes in a set of companies across multiple sectors and invests a portion of earned revenues to support diverse talent to sustain and grow those companies. The Academy Group is the only enterprise that does this. No other institution supports the full journey— from elementary school, through high school, college and into careers— for high potential young people from America’s most resilient communities. To exponentially expand our impact, we also plan to support our students to incubate new businesses and enterprises. Our ultimate hope is to create a pipeline of young people that will have the ability to lead themselves, their families, and their communities. During the past year, we’ve consistently found innovative ways to support our young people. 4th and 5th graders have collaborated with Hollister Brands to launch an online t-shirt business. We created an infrastructure for high school and college students to participate in virtual internships across the nation. From running one of the first inperson summer programs in the city during the pandemic to taking students to Ghana with internationally known artists and entrepreneurs, we consistently attempted to provide the holistic opportunities that our future leaders needed. Our young people responded by continuing to improve despite the obstacles created during the pandemic and the seemingly centuries long endemic of structural racism. Members of our Amplify project, a program serving young people negatively impacted by the criminal justice system, launched a real estate construction company and managed an investment portfolio that kept pace with the S&P 500. All of this while working and living in communities that have been the most negatively impacted by COVID-19. We are extremely thankful to be able to do this work with our portfolio companies, CFI Partners and Cleveland Avenue, various strategic partners across the corporate, civic, and education spaces, as well as individual school leaders, volunteers and parents. As a former teacher, principal, and superintendent, I’m familiar with what the combination of hard work, love, support, and belief can achieve. We greatly look forward to continuing to work with those committed to helping young people from across our city truly reach their full potential. In partnership,
Shayne E. Shayne Evans Founder and Managing Partner, The Academy Group 4
OUR PATHWAY & PROGRAM MODEL
Talent is ubiquitous...opportunity is not. WHAT DO WE MEAN? Fueled by the belief that talent is ubiquitous, The Academy Group and it’s subsidiary entity Amplify Chicago, unlock opportunities for young people from the most resilient communities to realize their full potential as economic, educational and social change agents. This is an enterprise that prepares these extraordinary young people— the talent— to engage with, own and operate successful companies nationwide. It exists as a human capital engine, built on a sustainable business model that mitigates economic disparities and unlocks potential. This is all made possible by a unique funding model.
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STRATEGIC PATHWAYS
This integrated business and social justice curriculum engages our members in hands-on, real world learning experiences with business partners and experts on customized projects.
College
A program for students (aka: members) starting in 4th grade, continuing to and through college into professional and entrepreneurial careers. This fourteen-year journey is a customized and rigorous program of study and enrichment experiences to support their development as future leaders and wealth creators.
High School
Elementary
THIS PROGRAM MODEL INCLUDES: • Small Business Design and Operations • Financial Investments and Wealth Management • Academic and Social-Emotional Advising • High Dosage Math and Literacy Tutoring
• Design Thinking and Business School Case Models • Domestic and Global Social Change Curriculum • Career and College Planning • Engagement with Business Leaders and Social Impact Leaders
• Graduate School Preparation • College Persistence Advising • Career Coaching and Preparation • Collaboration with Leaders from Portfolio Companies
Career
• Paid Internships
• Career Placement ideally within our Portfolio Companies and/or Strategic Partner Corporations • Career Mentorship and Leadership Development • Personalized Financial Advising • Graduate School Preparation
WITH THIS PROGRAM, THE TALENT WILL:
Founded under the umbrella of The Academy Group, Amplify Chicago supports 20-26 year olds affected by the justice system. It breaks the cycle of criminalization by providing young people with professional pathways that drive economic development and wealth creation in Chicago’s most resilient communities.
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• Lead lives of freedom, self-determination and justice. • Graduate with professional habits, career development skills, and wealth-building mindsets. • Transition to growth potential career pathways driven by their interests, skills and passions. • Act as change agents against injustices with their peers, families and in their communities.
20 – 26 year olds College
High School
Elementary
OUR PATHWAY & PROGRAM MODEL
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WE PROVIDE 360 º SUPPORT BUILDING SUSTAINABLE, GENERATIONAL WEALTH-BUILDING SKILLS
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OUR PATHWAY & PROGRAM MODEL
HOLISTIC SUPPORT Holistic support is provided throughout a young person’s entire education— facilitating structure, mentorship, educational attainment, training and employment at Academy-portfolio companies. The program seeks to level the academic playing field and cost of undergraduate school with both academic and financial support. Academically, members access a comprehensive enrichment catalog that includes high dosage tutoring, academic advising, test preparation, specialty programming, study abroad opportunities, pre-college summer programs, and college and career exposure opportunities. Financially, the program supports young people with opening various investment plans: 529 College Savings Plan, savings account, and a custodial brokerage account. Upon enrollment into undergraduate programs, students receive college stipend allocations. Finally, long-term investments ensure that students graduate from their institution with no debt. entrepreneurship college scholarships college advising
curricula tutoring
expungement traumainformed work
We provide 360º support building sustainable, generational
wealth-building skills.
careerreadiness
investing
(100 hrs of learning)
life coaching mentoring
internships employment
power skills building
The professional pathways that Amplify Chicago provides to it’s young people affiliated with the justice system— our talent— positions them to drive economic development and wealth creation in Chicago’s most resilient communities. Some of the transformative initiatives include the: Amplify Mutual Fund investing, wealth and management course
• • Amplify Property Solutions LLC enterprise start-up • Amplify Chicago Women’s Cohort
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WE MAKE FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS FOR SOCIAL RETURNS Launched from initial investments by Mark and Kimbra Walter, we created a unique funding model where we invest in a diverse portfolio of commercial companies that share our vision and values, then use the earned revenues to reinvest in young people.
1. W e established ownership stakes in our portfolio companies, CFI Partners and Cleveland Avenue. 2. T hey return a portion of net income to fund our programming model. 3. W hich nurtures, develops, and supports our pipeline of exceptional human capital.
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OUR UNIQUE FUNDING MODEL
Portfolio Partner Company Quote
Levoyd Robinson Managing Partner & Co-Founder, CFI Partners
“The alternative investment management industry is among the most competitive, influential and lucrative in the world, yet less than 1% of its senior managers are people of color. The first step to correcting this imbalance is to provide young people with early exposure to the field, in a nurturing environment, that allows them to begin developing the skills, confidence, experiences, and networks necessary to compete effectively. Our Academy Group interns have been extremely smart, personable and eager to learn about our industry. They have fit seamlessly into our organization and represent an excellent pipeline of potential full time employees upon their college completion.”
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We are proud to work in partnership with The Academy Group to support our teen customers and help them feel comfortable and confident in the world in which they live. The Academy Group has done an incredible job unlocking opportunities for BIPOC youth and teens. We have been honored to help amplify student voices through product collections and Hollister’s Instagram Live series, Volume ON, as well as connect directly with students through our summer programming. We’re looking forward to continuing to support the organization as we aim to foster a more equitable future and drive change together. -FRAN HOROWITZ, CEO A&F CO.
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SY 2020-21 METRICS AT A GLANCE
STATISTICS, STORIES, & SPOTLIGHTS
DEMOGRAPHICS OUT OF 547 TOTAL STUDENTS:
49%
BLACK/ AFRICAN AMERICAN
40%
4%
7%
MIDDLE EAST/SOUTH ASIAN /SOUTH EAST ASIAN
100
80
20
0
14
OTHER/MULTI-RACIAL
2% NONBINARY
43% Female
60
40
LATINX
55% Male
SY 2020-21 METRICS AT A GLANCE
GPA BY STUDENT COHORT 3.1 ELEMENTARY
3.5 HIGH SCHOOL
3.2 COLLEGE
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COLLEGE METRICS 100% ENROLLMENT RATE
COLLEGE PERSISTENCE RATE
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92%
Chicago Public Schools
Academy Group
Persistence Rate (Semester 4)
63%
95%
Males
68%
100%
Females
76%
93%
Black/AA
62%
94%
Latinx
74%
98%
Asian
89%
100%
Chicago Public Schools
Academy Group
Graduation– 4 Year Degree
51%
68%
Males
50%
68%
Females
60%
67%
Black/AA
42%
58%
Latinx
57%
88%
Asian
83%
100%
SY 2020-21 METRICS AT A GLANCE
STIPEND DISTRIBUTION TO STUDENTS
$561,097 Total from 2021–2022 Program Year
Total Stipend Disbursement
2018-2019
$55,993
2019-2020
$379,308
2020-2021
$371,250
2021 - 2022
$561,097
Fall 2022
$276,656
Total Stipend Disbursements to Date
$1,644,304
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ACADEMY SPOTLIGHT PABLO GARCIA, DESIGNER AND INNOVATOR
Beginning in the Summer of 2021 our elementary and middle school students laid the foundation for their newly launched t-shirt business -“AGTees”. From designing to printing, our students were involved in every aspect of development. Including their logo, designed by AG student Pablo, who says that the logo “illustrates a blended community”. We are not only proud of our students’ creative thinking, but also their budding business acumen, as AGTees has already generated sales that resulted in profit. Building wealth is a journey, it’s never too soon to start!
Pablo attends The Academy for Global Citizenship located on the Southwest side of Chicago. Not only an entrepreneur, Pablo consistently maintains good standing on the Honor Roll.
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ACADEMY SPOTLIGHTS
ACADEMY SPOTLIGHT TRINITY COLON - TEEN VOGUE PUBLICATION
COLLEGE STIPEND DISTRIBUTION TO STUDENTS
$371,250
Coming from the Southeast side of Chicago, Trinity Colon graduated this June from George Washington High School. Balancing her schoolwork and passion for change, she’s earned a full ride scholarship to Northwestern this fall.
2020 - 2021
$1,117,229
A celebrated leader in her community, Teen Vogue published an op-ed piece co-authored by Trinity entitled, “Environmental Racism in Chicago Will be Made Worse by General Iron Facility.” Through her activism and journalistic endeavors, Trinity has proudly given voice to the many members of her community and stood firm in her commitment to ensure clean air and freedom from the respiratory illnesses that have plagued many areas of Chicago for generations.
2018 - 2021
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SY 2020-21 METRICS AT A GLANCE
Getting involved in community organizing has taught us that we can take a stand on what happens to our neighborhood. We don’t believe the status quo should continue to be the norm— we want the city we call home to value our well-being.” – TRINITY AMARI COLON AND GREGORY MILLER
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Ambetter of Illinois, a Health Insurance Marketplace plan, is proud to further our partnership with The Academy Group, a Chicagobased non-profit organization dedicated to supporting opportunities for youth from the most resilient communities to thrive. This partnership supports our collective missions and commitment to removing barriers within the business and healthcare space and closing the opportunity gaps for our youth and their communities. We were honored to host an AG student as a Growth & Strategy intern in the summer of 2021. We look forward to deepening our partnership in furtherance of our collective goals. KEVIN COUNIHAN, AMBETTER PLAN PRESIDENT
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DOING THE HARD WORK TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK Aurelio Huerta (Cohort AG ‘22) recently graduated from The University of Illinois Urbana Champaign in May 2022. Aurelio is in the inaugural AG college cohort and accepted a role at CFI Partners, one of our portfolio companies. Aurelio is a member of a business fraternity and started early on to display a strong sense of agency and confidence. His resilience and relentless determination have shown incredibly over the past four years.
Dominique Taylor, a member of the inaugural AG college cohort, has dreams of becoming a business owner, with a desire to launch a portfolio of early education facilities that create equitable access to high powered academic supports. Dominique has accepted an Operations role at CFI Partners, one of our portfolio companies. Her experience over the last four years has shown that despite a pandemic and other challenges along her journey, she has the grit and determination to find her way.
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ACADEMY SPOTLIGHTS
Gloria Escobedo (Cohort AG23) is a fourth-year student at Middlebury College and is pursuing a degree in International Politics and Economics with a minor in Global Health. She is currently Co-Deputy Director of the Finance Committee within the Student Government Association and a lead consultant for Middlebury Consulting Group, where she is responsible for overseeing and managing client relations and the consulting process. As a first-generation Latina college student from a low-income household, Gloria has become invested at a young age to address economic inequalities with a socially-conscious perspective to create real, sustainable solutions. Upon completing her undergraduate studies, she intends to apply for graduate school to further her knowledge in public policy and progress towards a career in government.
Kress Stewart (Cohort AG ’22) graduated from Vanderbilt University in May 2022. He pursued a double-major in Human & Organizational Development and African-American & Diaspora Studies. His internship experiences with Google, Civic Consulting Alliance and AT&T have further strengthened his vision of his career path. In the summer of 2020, Kress worked with Facebook in Sunnyvale, California as an intellectual property operations inter. He credits his experience in the Academy Group Radical Professionalism course with equipping him with the confidence to secure internship opportunities. Kress has been accepted in Harvard Law for Graduate School Class of 2026 and has received several lucrative and competitive job offers. Following his undergraduate degree, he has accepted an offer with a company and will spend a few months traveling.
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ADVANCED CAREER PLANNING & PREPARATION Since 2018, The Academy Group has worked in partnership with companies and organizations in Chicagoland and across the nation to provide nearly 200+ summer internships for students.
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SY 2020-21 METRICS AT A GLANCE
STATISTICS, STORIES, & SPOTLIGHTS
THE INVESTMENT AND THE RETURN Amplify Chicago breaks the cycle of criminalization by providing young people with professional pathways that drive economic development and wealth creation in Chicago’s most resilient communities.
with professional habits, career development • Graduate skills, and wealth-building mindsets. to growth potential career pathways driven • Transition by their interests, skills and passions. • Lead lives of freedom, self-determination and justice. as change agents against injustices with their peers, • Act families and in their communities.
55% Male
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SY 2020-21 METRICS AT A GLANCE
EMPLOYMENT RATE
EMPLOYMENT RATE
In 2020 employment rate among African American men was
Immediately following BASE 101/102 programming was
54%
96%
COHORT
INVESTMENT
Amplify Employment Rate Cohort 1 and 2
Accounts opened
100%
81% EXPUNGEMENT RATE
STACKABLE INDUSTRY
Eligible Cohort members on track for expungement
Credentials earned
97%
100% GRADE LEVEL Improvement in math was
2.03
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AMPLIFY SPOTLIGHTS DEVONTA, CLOTHIER & CHANGEMAKER
Devonta is the founder and CEO of the TGi Movement (TGi)— a nonprofit working in education, youth development and the arts. TGi is partially funded by Devonta’s own social enterprise clothing line.
Devonta wrote his business plan for TGi while in Amplify and recently accomplished one of his life goals— to open a community center, exhibit and retail space on 63rd Street in the Gage Park neighborhood where he grew up.
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SY 2020-21 METRICS AT A GLANCE
JONTE, MANAGER & BUILDER Jonte serves as a Project Manager with our first enterprise— Amplify Property Solutions (APS), including working on the design and building crew for the Renaissance Society art gallery at the University of Chicago. Jonte recently represented APS at the CREW Tank Chicago business pitch competition where APS won first place!
, AGENT IN CHARGE Antonice serves as an apprentice at Naturally Urban Environmental LLC. She is gaining hands-on experience in sustainable construction, project management and inspection services. She has dreams to open her own home inspection business in the fall of 2022.
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Amplify and it’s staff has totally impacted me. They helped me realize how important my life is by not giving up on me even when I gave up on myself. They continue to encourage me and coach me through life. I have to get up early [for work] because early is on time. The Amplify staff instilled that in me and that’s how I live my life. They helped give me a focus and a drive and most importantly an opportunity.” – JONTE DURR, COHORT 2
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TRANSFORMATIVE INITIATIVES The professional pathways that Amplify Chicago provides to it’s young people affiliated with the justice system— our talent—positions them to drive economic development and wealth creation in Chicago’s most resilient communities. Some of these transformative initiatives include the: Amplify Mutual Fund investing, wealth and management course
• • Amplify Property Solutions company • Amplify Chicago Women’s Cohort
AMPLIFY MUTUAL FUND
Amplify Chicago Talent attended 100 hours of our Investing and Wealth Management course. Amplify Talent in Cohort 1 and Cohort 2 selected stocks to create the Amplify Mutual Fund.
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AMPLIFY PROPERTY SOLUTIONS
Amplify Property Solutions LLC (APS) is Amplify’s first social enterprise. APS is a full-service clean out, interior demolition, deconstruction and repair company. As a social enterprise, APS Project Managers and employees have the opportunity to earn a leadership & ownership stake in the company.
APS Project Managers are certified with the following nationally recognized credentials: Hazardous Materials (Hazmat)
WEST WALNUT PROJECT
SOUTH FORRESTVILLE PROJECT
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• • OSHA-10 • Restoration, Repair & Painting (RRP) • Hazard Communication • COVID-19 Safety • CPR/First Aid • Bloodborne pathogens/AED • Blueprint Reading
AMPLIFY CHICAGO FIRST WOMEN’S COHORT On November 1, 2021, Amplify Solutions launched its first all women’s cohort of 10 young women. This cohort is comprised of women between the ages of 20 and 30 years old. At the kick off event our young ladies were surrounded by leaders from the real estate, finance, and nonprofit sectors.
These young women will strengthen their existing levels of pertinacity, launch formidable careers in real estate, and start building wealth for themselves, their families and their communities.
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2
As a business owner and a product of workforce development , it is an honor to work with these young women who are eager to learn about real estate and construction. Supporting them on their career paths in these industries is rewarding and exciting to say the least! I remember being in their shoes 3 years ago and I am looking forward to seeing how their lives will be transformed from their exposure to real estate and construction career opportunities.” – VICTORIA WILSON, PRESIDENT & CEO, NATURALLY URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL
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OUR WHY
The Academy Group is committed to closing the opportunity gap. Based on the premise that with equal access to resources, students from the most resilient communities can and will eventually outperform those from the most privileged communities.
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THANK YOU! We remain ever thankful for the value felt and contributions made by our Portfolio Partner Companies. To Cleveland Avenue and CFI Partners we extend our gratitude and a continued fervent commitment to our mission. We are all ethnicities, all schools, all demographics. We are all of the children and families seeking to live the lives they deserve. We are the journey from the exception to the exceptional. With your continued support, WE ARE THE ACADEMY GROUP.