“WE CHANGE LIVES, ONE FAMILY AT A TIME”
PROJECT STARFISH AMERICA
We initially started out in 2012 by creating contemporary employment for the blind and visually impaired. We built the worlds 1st experiential platform that transformed over 300 blind individuals in 8 countries with hardly any resources and without a single donation. A World Record!
Now we solve the biggest challenge of underserved communities – their lack of financial knowledge and the lack of opportunities.
We harness the power of Financial Education and the Future of Work to transform generations. The post COVID times necessitate more of what we do.
What we do NOW?
(OUR Post COVID MISSION)
We solve problems! The lack of professional opportunities, the skills gap from an antiquated education system, and finally the total lack of financial knowledge in the masses is consequently creating a massive divide for the middle class of America, not just for people with disabilities. Our MISSION is WAY, WAY BIGGER now.
We solve these challenges creatively, and without the need for a huge amount of money or donations. We do so by harnessing the power of people, their knowledge, and their efforts. Everyone contributes a little bit, but the impact multiplies.
Financial Education
We spread financial literacy among groups who are marginalized. We specifically focus our attention on long-term planning for children with disabilities and their parents so that the children can be financially free and be independent. Strengthening them strengthens the world!
Future of Work
There is a massive “skills gap.” The barriers to getting employment are rising after COVID with millions filed for joblessness, and the jobs are not coming back. Making people aware of the newer technologies and jobs of the future is very important for all families.
Live Knowledge Share
We bring “top notch” executives from Harvard Business School and Ivy Leagues to share “Life Experience”, “Technology of the Future”, “Jobs of the Future” to inspire students in High Schools. This transfers life experience to build dreams. It also creates coaches and mentors and professional connections early.
Creative Planning
We build unconventional solutions. It can range from financial, to career building, to professional networking and coaching. We serve under served communities. The outcome is to make the people and families create a better generation and have a better life.
Remote Skill Development
Building skills is key. We help build entrepreneurship models for underserved communities. We help the marginalized youth adopt them to be at par with others to level the opportunity gap. Some of the skills we develop are focused on short 3 to 6 months high end contemporary skill development based on the needs of the industry.
Activism through Films
Activism is key. Sometimes one needs to voice their opinion creatively and elegantly. We help with building films and videos and build marketing strategies to propagate the information to ensure it creates the desited impact.
HOW WE SOLVE PROBLEMS
To respond to the “skills gap” we use multiple models that use the power of gamification and simulation. These are advanced models that create models. We don’t just talk, we do. We solve these problems with creativity.
The following video on the right explains why there is so much unemployment today among marginalized groups and what we are doing to build an “ecosystem model” between small businesses and marginalized groups.
Since projects are hands-on, short-term, lower-risk, it provides a gradual step-by-step confidence-building and skill-building process for those who are unemployed.
One needs to understand that working with marginalized groups takes patience. They usually give up easily. Thus our simulation makes it exciting. They learn to win, one step at a time.
Project Starfish in the last 8 years has created serial employment for professionals who never had a chance to be integrated with business society and have been out of the workforce for over 2 decades.
This video below talks about the Industry and Business Opportunities of today and the Future and how we can leverage that. The course structure is presented at a high level.
To acquaint yourself with the broader program, please checkout the link here : https://www.pstarfish.org/forjobseekers/
WE DO THE IMPOSSIBLE
Project Starfish helped Harvard Innovation Lab startup Experfy launch off the ground. Experfy needed resources to scale and do 24X7 research work. Project Starfish members who were blind and in 8 countries used screen readers and google commands to generate business research at one-fourth the cost and four times the speed by working along with the timezones around the world. This collaboration was highlighted in collaboration with the Harvard Innovation lab and Experfy. A feat never achieved before.
WE EARN ACCOLADE
Project Starfish: IN THE NEWS
Project Starfish and the work of the Founder: Subhashish Acharya (Subs) was highlighted in the topmost English newspaper in UAE/Dubai – the Khaleej Times. Project Starfish’s impact was also highlighted by the Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, and several other news media around the world. Below image from Khaleej Times.
How did an organization in the USA create an impact in another country? Simply because Project Starfish is a Digital model. For the first time, a digital and remote model worked for people with disabilities and marginalized groups. A world without borders. That’s called true equality.
WE BUILD CREDIBILITY
Project Starfish: CREDIBILITY
Project Starfish, the entire team and the Founder: Subhashish (Subs) Acharya’s work was recognized by former Massachusetts Governor: Deval Patrick through the nomination to the Rehabilitation Council. The council was created a hundred years back by none other than Helen Keller. This is an honor, a real honor!
WE HAVE A HEART. WE WORK WITH PASSION
Project Starfish: ALSO HELPS VETERANS RETURNING FROM DUTY TO CONTEMPORARY JOBS
Project Starfish, and the entire team of blind people also help running the skills program, which is based on gamification and simulation that builds confidence, skills and a step-by-step introduction to the civilian world. Project Starfish helps Bill Dawson to land a career.
WE ALSO WORK WITH BIG CORPORATIONS
We worked with Booz Allen Hamilton to showcase diversity in hiring and spreading the possibility of disability employment. The below video is a live webinar recording.
Generating New Ideas. Solving Big Problems
We keep our mission going. We build leaders of today and tomorrow. Problems can be solved using a different thought process.
JOBS CREATED
BUSINESSES HELPED
Ongoing Projects
Cups Of Coffee (YES we love coffee)
FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR STUDENTS & CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
( OUR NEXT BIG MISSION )
The BIGGEST calamity to hit America and the world is Inter-Generational Poverty! The problem can be solved if parents and students take appropriate action.
HUMANITY IS HEADING FOR A GENERATIONAL CRISIS: FINANCIAL
If parents do not know how to build wealth for their children, the next generation of children will be lost!