My name is Al-Rahim Burke, and I am the CEO and founder of Innovative Impact (Ii), a 501(c)(3) nonprot organization based in New Jersey. I am reaching out to introduce you to our mission and vision as we work to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals within our communities, particularly focusing on empowering young adults.
At Innovative Impact, we believe in the power of creativity, engagement, and collaboration. Our team and I founded this organization to address the unique challenges faced by the young adults and to provide them with the resources, skills, and support they need to thrive. Through innovative, interactive methods and professional resources, we are committed to educating and servicing the community with a concentration on promoting social, emotional, and physical well-being.
Since our inception, we have been fortunate to collaborate with the Newark School System to offer after-school initiatives that provide valuable learning and development opportunities. Our programs have been designed to not only foster academic growth but to equip young individuals with the tools necessary to succeed in life beyond the classroom.
Looking ahead, we are excited to expand our offerings and deepen our impact. Our future initiatives will focus on areas such as entrepreneurship, social-emotional learning, and the physical well-being of our youth. These initiatives are tailored to equip young adults with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate the complexities of life and to build sustainable futures for themselves and their communities.
As we continue to grow, we are eager to build partnerships with like-minded organizations and individuals who share our commitment to creating positive change. Together, we can foster a supportive environment where young adults can discover their potential, grow with condence, and contribute to the ongoing revitalization of our communities.
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss our initiatives further and explore ways we can work together to serve our community. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Warm regards,
Al-Rahim Burke
CEO, Innovative Impact
973 876-9169
innovativeimpactnj@gmail.com
Programs
Innovative Impact’s Occupational Boxing Academy can offer so much to young people, not just in terms of boxing skills, but also as a pathway into various careers in the sport. Here are some points and suggestions you might want to consider to further solidify and expand on the concept:
1. Program Goals and Objectives:
● Physical Development: Through boxing, participants will improve their fitness, strength, and discipline.
● Career Exploration: Exposing youth to different professions in the sport will inspire them to consider various career paths, such as becoming trainers, managers, promoters, or even journalists or videographers.
● Mentorship: Creating opportunities for meaningful relationships with professionals in the sport can provide young people with role models and long-term support.
● Community Engagement: The program offers an opportunity for local professionals to engage directly with youth, which builds community relationships and provides pathways for future employment.
2. Program Structure:
● Twice-Weekly Sessions:
○ Boxing Fundamentals: One day a week is dedicated to the sport itself—skills training, fitness, and discipline.
○ Industry Exposure: The second day focuses on introducing the youth to different careers in the boxing world, with guest speakers, Q&A sessions, and potentially hands-on experiences.
● Quarterly Cohorts: The program can run every quarter, ensuring that there’s a steady pipeline of young participants, and giving the coaches and mentors a chance to work with a new group of students each term.
3. Outreach and Recruitment:
● Target Audience: Aged 12-16, potentially from underserved or at-risk communities, providing them with a positive outlet and a structured environment to learn and grow.
● Partnerships: Work with local schools, community centers, and youth organizations to recruit participants. This can also be a way to reach out to parents and guardians and involve them in the program.
4. Involvement of Pro Sé Boxing:
● Facility and Equipment: The access to Pro Sé Boxing’s facility and resources will be a major asset. They could provide the necessary equipment for training, ensuring participants have access to high-quality gear and facilities.
● Networking: Pro Sé Boxing’s contacts in the boxing world (e.g., managers, promoters, referees) will be crucial for offering mentorship and career guidance to the youth.
● Brand Building: Pro Sé Boxing’s established reputation can help attract more participants, sponsors, and support from other local businesses and organizations.
5. Career Paths in Boxing (Beyond the Ring):
It’s great that you’re thinking beyond just the athletic aspect of the sport. Here are a few
examples of careers that could be featured:
● Management & Representation: Explaining the business side of boxing and how talent management works.
● Promotion & Event Management: How boxing events are organized, marketed, and executed.
● Refereeing & Judging: The roles of officials in the sport and how to get involved.
● Broadcasting & Journalism: Highlighting opportunities for young writers or videographers to become involved in covering the sport.
● Fitness & Strength Coaching: The demand for trainers and nutritionists in the world of professional boxing.
● Sports Psychology & Therapy: Roles that focus on the mental and physical well-being of athletes.
6. Incentives for Participation:
● Scholarships/Apprenticeships: For those who show exceptional promise or interest in any given field, there could be scholarships or apprenticeship opportunities to get deeper training or education in that area.
● Job Placement: Working with local businesses or boxing organizations to create job opportunities for graduates of the program, especially for those interested in fields like event management or fitness training.
7. Support for Mentors and Coaches:
● Felon-Friendly Policy: The coaching staff being felon-friendly is crucial. It provides an opportunity for individuals who might have a criminal record to reintegrate into society
and give back by helping shape the lives of young people.
● Compensation: Paying local professionals for their time not only makes the program sustainable but also shows the value of community service and respect for people’s expertise.
8. Measuring Success:
● Participant Outcomes: Keep track of how many youth complete the program and go on to pursue careers in boxing or related fields.
● Community Impact: Measure how much engagement and support the program generates from the local community, businesses, and other partners.
● Personal Growth: Track the personal and social growth of the participants, such as improvements in discipline, confidence, and physical fitness.
9. Potential for Expansion:
● Additional Locations: If successful, you might want to expand the program to other areas, creating a network of Occupational Boxing Academies with similar structures and goals.
● Online Learning: Especially for the career exploration side of things, there could be an opportunity for virtual workshops with mentors and experts in the boxing world.
This program has the potential to make a lasting impact on youth, not just by teaching boxing, but by providing them with skills, mentorship, and career opportunities that can set them up for success in the long term.
Business Plan for Innovative Impact: K.I.W.I. (Keeping In-Touch With Inmates) by Innovative Impact
Mission Statement:
The K.I.W.I. program seeks to reconnect and maintain family relationships with men and women who are currently incarcerated, with a special emphasis on women’s correctional facilities. The initiative will address the barriers of affordability and transportation that prevent families from visiting their loved ones, helping foster stronger, healthier relationships during and after incarceration.
Vision:
To reduce the emotional and psychological toll of incarceration on families by providing free, reliable transportation to correctional facilities, offering visitation opportunities, and promoting family unity.
I. Executive Summary:
The K.I.W.I. (Keeping In-Touch With Inmates) initiative will offer free transportation services for selected Essex County residents to and from New Jersey state and federal correctional institutions, targeting those who have family members in prison. The service aims to address the significant issue of visitation decline, particularly in women’s prisons, where visitation and incoming mail are substantially lower compared to male prisons.
This program will be particularly beneficial for families who face economic challenges or logistical barriers to traveling to correctional facilities, such as transportation and high costs.
Primary Objective:
● Short-Term Goal: Provide free transportation to families of incarcerated individuals, with a focus on women’s correctional facilities.
● Long-Term Goal: Expand services to include male facilities and additional community outreach programs, such as family education and emotional support groups.
II. Market Analysis:
● Target Demographic:
- Families of incarcerated men and women, particularly those with children or elderly relatives who are unable to afford or physically travel to correctional facilities.
- Special focus on women’s prisons, where visitation rates are typically much lower than those in male prisons.
- Individuals who are currently incarcerated and who have good behavior or “privileged” inmate status, which allows for visitation programs.
● Need for the Program:
- Studies show that incarcerated individuals with strong family ties have lower recidivism rates, improving outcomes for inmates and their families.
- Visitation is critical to maintaining healthy relationships, and offering transportation helps bridge the gap created by financial and logistical challenges.
- Incarcerated women, especially those who are mothers, often face a unique set of challenges when it comes to staying connected with their children. The K.I.W.I. program seeks to alleviate some of these burdens by creating regular, safe, and affordable visitation opportunities.
III. Program Structure:
1. Transportation Services:
- Van Fleet: The program will acquire 2-3 vans to serve different correctional institutions.
- Frequency of Service: Initially, transportation will be offered one day per week (e.g., Wednesday evening) to a selected group of well-behaved, privileged inmates.
- Family Night Visits: On a designated weekday evening (e.g., Wednesday from 6:00 PM – 7:45 PM), families will be transported to the facility for a visitation session.
- Routes: A network of pick-up points throughout the state will be established, ensuring broad access to families.
2. Eligibility for Service:
- Inmates must have “privileged” or good standing status, ensuring safety and compliance with facility rules.
- Priority will be given to families of incarcerated women, with a potential future extension to male inmates.
3. Partnerships:
- State and Federal Prisons in New Jersey: Work with local correctional institutions to facilitate the logistics of regular visitation and ensure alignment with institutional rules and schedules.
- Community Groups: Collaborate with local nonprofits, advocacy organizations, and religious groups to help with outreach and referrals.
4. Program Expansion:
- Long-Term Vision: Once the program becomes operational, it will be expanded to cover more correctional institutions and increase visitation days. Eventually, male facilities will be included, further strengthening community outreach.
V. Funding Sources
1. Grants: Apply for community-focused grants from both public and private foundations that focus on criminal justice reform, family reunification, and supporting families of incarcerated individuals.
2. Donations: Individual and corporate donations, leveraging partnerships with local businesses to support transportation services.
3. Fundraising Events: Host annual or semi-annual fundraising events, including charity dinners, auctions, or community walks to raise funds for the progra 4. Government Partnerships: Explore partnerships with New Jersey’s Department of Corrections and relevant state and federal bodies for additional funding or logistical support.
VI. Marketing & Promotion:
1. Outreach:
- Engage with local community centers, churches, and nonprofit organizations to spread awareness about the program.
- Advertise through local media outlets, including social media platforms, community radio, and newsletters.
- Partner with correctional facilities to inform inmates and their families about the services offered.
2. Collaboration with Social Services:
- Work with caseworkers, social workers, and parole officers to refer families in need of transportation services.
- Offer educational workshops or emotional support sessions before or after visits to families who need additional support.
3. Website & Social Media Presence:
- Develop a user-friendly website with information on how to access transportation, the types of services offered, and family resources.
- Regularly update social media platforms with success stories, testimonials, and information about upcoming family visit days.
VII. Program Sustainability:
- Income Streams: Besides donations, the program can seek out sponsorships or corporate partnerships. Over time, the program could expand into additional service offerings (e.g., educational programs for families or children, online communication options).
- Cost Management: Focus on minimizing operating expenses (e.g., through volunteer drivers or community support for van upkeep).
VIII. Conclusion:
The K.I.W.I. program has the potential to significantly impact families affected by incarceration by providing crucial transportation services to correctional facilities, creating more opportunities for visitation, and promoting healthier family dynamics. By fostering stronger connections, we can help reduce the emotional and psychological toll of incarceration, support inmates in their rehabilitation, and provide children with more stable and supportive family relationships. Through thoughtful planning, partnerships, and community support, Innovative Impact’s K.I.W.I. project can make a profound difference in the lives of those it serves.
Corporate Partners
AL-RAHIM BURKE PRO SÉ CEO
PRO SÉ BOXING & ATHLETICS
Community Fitness & Wellness Through Boxing
AL-RAHIM BURKE
ABOUT AL-RAHIM BURKE, CEO
- Clothing & Apparel Designer
- Established Pro Sé in 2021
- Gained Traction In Boxing
- Established International Relationships In The Sport
- Clothing & Apparel Designer
- Passionate About Using Boxing In Our Communitirs For Its Physical & Mental Benefits
- Creator Of The Mobile Boxing Unit
AL-RAHIM BURKE
BENEFITS OF BOXING TRAINING
- Improved Physical Health
- Improved Endurance
- Improved Balance & Coordination
- Reduces Stress & Aniexty
- Boosts Confidence
- Males & Females Can Benefit
- Training Brings People Together
AL-RAHIM BURKE
TARGET GROUPS & THEMES
- Student/Youth
- Adults
- Our Forgotten Seniors
- People With Disabilities
- All Ages Groups; Both Genders
- Corporate Team Building
- Violence Prevention
- Community Events/Festivals
AL-RAHIM BURKE
BOXING GYM ON WHEELS…
- Pro Sé Mobile Boxing Unit
- Box Truck Coverted In To A Boxing Gym
- Fully Customized With Wall Mounted Punching Bags
- Boxing Gloves for Participants
- Interior Lighting for Night Sessions
- Created With The Intent to Service The Community
- Only One Like It (Per Our Research)
- Future Goal Is To Franchise This Concept and Offer The Benefits Of Boxing To People Worldwide
AL-RAHIM BURKE
FUTURE PLANS: INNOVATIVE IMPACT ( NON-PROFIT) “ THE OCCUPATIONAL BOXING ACADEMY”
- Partner With City, State & Federal Organizations
- Secure Funding
- Find Facilities & Staffing
- Run A Program That Introduces Participants To The Fundamentals of Boxing & Career Pathways Inside The Sport
- Guest Speakers will Serve as Future Mentors and Will Include Managers, Promoters, Judges, Referees, Commentators, Bloggers, Apparel Designers etc…
- Program Will be Ran Quarterly
- Tentative Age Group 13-18
- Staffing will be Subject Backround Check
