Southwest Key Overview
Southwest Key Programs is a national nonprofit organization providing transformative education, innovative safe shelters and alternatives to incarceration for over 6,000 youth each day, while creating opportunities for their families to become self-sufficient. The inspiring youth and parents we work with are seeking the American dream: equality, education, and a higher quality of life. At Southwest Key, we simply open the doors to opportunity so they can achieve these dreams.
Southwest Key Programs is the 4th largest Hispanic nonprofit in the country, employing a creative and diverse staff of over 1,000 employees. Because of Southwest Key's work, thousands of youth have been diverted from prisons, jails, and institutions, enabling them to stay at home with their families and out of trouble. Southwest Key has reunified thousands of immigrant children with their families and provided these unaccompanied minors with 24-hour care and education. Southwest Key is one of only three nonprofits in Austin to be accredited by the Council on Accreditation, the nation's leading human service accrediting body.
From the start, a cornerstone of all of our programs has been culturally-relevant education. Since 1999 we have refined our model by operating leading alternative schools throughout Texas, preventing hundreds of youth from dropping out of school by providing them with individualized education in a therapeutic setting. In 2009, East Austin College Prep opened at Southwest Key's El Centro de Familia campus.
Just as we help our families to become self-sufficient, Southwest Key is taking innovative steps toward greater self-sufficiency itself. We operate a number of small businesses, including: Cafe del Sol, The Blooming Florist, Southwest Key Green Energy & Construction, Southwest Key Maintenance, and Southwest Key Workforce Development. These social enterprises serve a double bottom line creating jobs for low income residents while bringing in funds to support the nonprofit mission. Our Social Enterprise Complex, creating over 100 jobs and housing these and other workforce development initiatives, will be first of its kind in the country when construction is completed at our East Austin Headquarters in 2011.
Southwest Key's national headquarters is located at the East Austin Community Development Center in Austin, Texas. Southwest Key completed construction on the $8 million facility in an economically disadvantaged neighborhood in 2007 to be a launching pad for increasing the educational attainment and employability of residents, leading to higher paid employees, increased tax revenues and civic and economic engagement of residents. The Center is home to a Boys & Girls Club, GED and ESL classes, the AMD Community Technology Center, an outdoor amphitheater and Latino arts program, and a variety of educational programs and recreational facilities.
Southwest Key founder and current CEO, Dr. Juan Sanchez, is proud to have built one of the most diverse nonprofits in the country, where over 90 percent of Southwest Key's employees, including most top managers and board members, represent the cultural diversity of the youth we serve.
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Mission: Opening doors to opportunity so young people can achieve their dreams
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Vision: Every child has an equal opportunity to thrive in a community that fosters success
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By the Numbers
* 22 years
* 55 programs in 6 states
* 1,000 employees
* 6,000 youth impacted each day
* 4th largest Hispanic nonprofit in America
* 10 shelters
* 5 schools
* 6 social enterprises
* 30 juvenile justice programs
* 10 community and workforce programs
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Thousands of youth:
...diverted from prisons, jails, and institutions
...immigrant children reunified with their families
...children provided with safe 24/7 shelter and therapeutic services
...youth prevented from dropping out of school
...adults empowered to provide for their families
Fast Facts about Southwest Key
Founded: 1987
Legal Status: Nonprofit, charitable 501(c)(3) Social Service, Education and Community Development Organization
Staff: Over 1,000 nationwide, ~940 in the field
Programs: Southwest Key operates 55 juvenile justice and family programs, safe shelters for immigrant children, schools, and community building initiatives
Number Served: Approximately 6000 youth daily
Headquarters: Austin, Texas
Locations: Texas, California, New York, Georgia, Arizona, Wisconsin
FY 2009-10 Budget: $64 million
Funding: Grants and contracts by U.S. federal, state, and local government, foundations, and corporations; special events; private contributions
Social Enterprises: Southwest Key Enterprises, Southwest Key Cafe del Sol, Southwest Key Maintenance, Southwest Key Properties, Southwest Key Workforce Solutions, Youth Transportation LLC
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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What is Southwest Key Programs?
Southwest Key is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1987 to improve the lives of children and their families.
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Why does Southwest Key exist?
Southwest Key is here to provide quality education, safe shelter and alternatives to incarceration for thousands of youth each day, while helping families become economically self-sufficient.
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What does Southwest Key do?
Southwest Key contracts with government agencies and private foundations to operate four types of programs throughout the country: juvenile justice programs, workforce and housing services, schools and shelters for immigrant youth.
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How did Southwest Key get started?
Southwest Key was founded by our current CEO Dr. Juan Sanchez who began by providing services for adolescents, mostly youth of color, who were involved in the juvenile justice system in Texas. Southwest Key eventually expanded throughout the country, pioneering innovative program models based on the belief that young people are best served in their communities, not institutions. Today, Southwest Key is a national leader in youth program development and replication.
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Where is Southwest Key located?
We operate 55 programs in 6 states, including Texas, Arizona, California, Georgia, New York, and Wisconsin. Our national headquarters is located at our new 30,000 square foot East Austin Community Development Center in Austin, Texas, home to Southwest Key's innovative charter middle school, the East Austin College Prep Academy. Southwest Key is the 4th largest nonprofit in Austin. 6002 Jain Lane, Austin, Texas, 78721
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Who does Southwest Key serve?
The inspiring youth and parents we work with are seeking the American dream: equality, education, and a higher quality of life. At Southwest Key, we simply open the doors to opportunity so they can achieve these dreams.
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How has Southwest Key made a difference?
Because of Southwest Key, thousands of youth have been diverted from prisons, jails, and institutions...immigrant children have been reunified with their families...children at risk of dropping out have stayed in school...and adults have been equipped to provide for their families.
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How does Southwest Key work with kids?
Staff are on-call 24/7 to meet the unique needs of clients where they are - at home, in school, or on the block. We individualize our approach to each client and develop flexible service plans in partnership with them. We use data to make decisions and improve our services, which are delivered by persons knowledgeable of cultural, language, and ethnic differences. We build on the strengths of each client to develop their capacity to succeed, keeping their family closely involved whenever possible.
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How is Southwest Key funded?
Our $58 million budget is drawn primarily from government contracts for youth programs, with additional support from foundations, corporations, special events and private contributions. We are taking innovative steps to become self sufficient by operating a growing portfolio of social enterprises - businesses which serve a double bottom line: to create good jobs for low income residents while bringing in funds to support our nonprofit mission. Southwest Key Maintenance LLC, is available to provide low cost janitorial, landscaping and repair services throughout Austin.
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What else makes Southwest Key unique?
Southwest Key is one of only three nonprofits in Austin to be accredited by the Council on Accreditation, the nation's leading human service accrediting body. We employ 1,000 creative staff members across the country who represent the cultures of the youth we serve. Southwest Key was recently ranked #4 among the Top 25 Hispanic Nonprofits in America by Hispanic Business Magazine