The vision is to substantially revitalize Urban Career Development, Education and Small Business Development through a dynamic venture involving a student assisted social benefit enterprise offering Video conferencing workstations, copies, large format color printing, desktop publishing and eventually a national online printing service. As social entrepreneurs, we’ve recognized a lack of equal access to cost effective digital imaging solutions and a complete lack of control of the creation and dissemination of media information, which plays a central role in formulating the opinions, perceptions, and realities that exist about us.

Enterprises in the works:
US STIMULUS STATION
This Micro-Incubator offers workstations, software, color laser printers, copies, mail boxes, coffee, juice and training.

URBANSUCCESSVISION.NET

This website offers free video resumes, information on careers and financial planning and serves as an online portal to our national printing and design resources.

US Enterprises, comprises of several student run businesses designed to help keep students working during this miserable job market while providing services of benefit to the community.

US Enterprises’ interns and apprentice learn to lead on-the-job, literally participating in the development of new micro-enterprises and they go through the process of securing a loan through the National Fund for Enterprise Development and Wells Fargo Foundation, undertaking the project planning, feasibility assessment, marketing study and business operations.

US Enterprises uses a Hybrid Social benefit model that trains young people to create enterprises and to be employers rather than employees. Our unique curriculum is based on experiential learning in philanthropy and business. We focus on creating businesses as a Social Benefit Enterprise with a mission to provide homegrown job opportunities and the training needed for future financial growth and independence. US Enterprises are practical, easy to replicate and easy for all most any one to learn as an employee or owner.

In 1975 Richard Gibson began working in Urban Community Affairs. He became inspired after attending a workshop (Lifting the lid off Grant’sTomb) at Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco. Shortly after attending the workshop Richard founded the EDNA Foundation, named after his late Grandmother. EDNA Foundation was a non-profit organization in East Palo Alto California. It provided career motivation for youth through awareness. Youth were involved in activities and events that replaced-idle time.

Richard has worked in the field of Career motivation for disadvantaged youth and Adults for over thirty years. Since 2002 Richard has been working to counteract the negative images that Urban Youth have been bombarded with in their Communities via television, in the news and other forms of media. The 21st FLEET concept involves students building Social benefit enterprises capable of providing funding for innovative programs.

During the summer of 2002, a production team of nine students produced a documentary entitled “TOBACCATTACK”, which portrays the history of the tobacco trade. This documentary was created in partnership with the American Lung Association. In spite of the tremendous potential of this multi-media program it was difficult to impossible to get funding via conventional funding sources.

21st FLEET relocated to Oakland in 2006. Gibson has been operating out of a small space provided by Allen Temple Church. Gibson and 21st FLEET is in the process of developing URBAN SUCCESS (US) Stimulus Station and URBANSUCCESSVISION.NET

Alyson Baker is the Co-founder of 21st FLEET. She has a B.A. in Elementary Education, M.S. in Administration & Supervision and a M.A. in Rehabilitative Counseling. She has over twenty-five years of professional work experience. She taught school in Florida for thirteen years. She has extensive experience in Administration and Supervision, coordinating programs and developing curriculum. She has worked as an Addiction’s counselor in Santa Rita Correctional facility with minimum and maximum security inmates. She also taught GED classes and did job development for the work furlough program in Oakland.

Alyson worked for the City of San Jose for over ten years. During that time she coordinated the School Safety Initiative program for Campbell Union High School District (CUHSD). This involved creating a MOU between the City of San Jose, CUHSD, San Jose Police Department and Santa Clara County Probation Department. During her stint with the City of San Jose she also developed a gang intervention program, which is still functioning today. She has Expertise in the areas of Community and neighborhood Organizing, Youth Programs, Conflict Resolution, Gang Intervention and developing School and Community Safety Protocols. She has successfully written and administered grants to the tune of well over $500,000.00.

For more information call (510) 544-3915
or (510) 809-6236 or email US at:
starringgroup@gmail.com