Mission
Through the use of social and restorative justice principles, Five Keys provides traditionally underserved communities the opportunity to improve their lives through a focus on the Five Keys: EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, RECOVERY, FAMILY, COMMUNITY.
“As we come to know, accept, and explore our feelings, they will become sanctuaries and fortresses and spawning grounds for the most radical and daring of ideas — the house of difference so necessary to change and the conceptualization of any meaningful action. ”
History
Five Keys was founded in 2003 by the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department as the first accredited charter high school in the nation to provide diploma programs for adults in county jails. Today, we are proud to offer high school education, vocational skills, life skills classes and access to college and workforce programs.
We have expanded far beyond the walls of county jails. Beginning in 2008, Five Keys began providing innovative access to a high school education and vocational skills in underserved neighborhoods throughout California. Our 100+ community learning centers serve students of any age and regardless of background or circumstance.
Today, we have more than over 900 dedicated employees serving 25,000 individuals each year in 14 counties, including San Francisco, Alameda, Marin, Riverside, San Diego, Solano, Sonoma, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, San Joaquin, San Bernardino, Stanislaus, and Los Angeles counties.
We have experienced 20-30% growth for the past 3 years. Some of this growth is due to serving students in more county jails and community learning centers. However, the majority of the growth is due to diversification of services we offer. We now operate career centers inside county jails and create linkages to community-based workforce networks. We manage a transitional housing shelter in San Francisco. We also hire people directly into our transitional employment positions for formerly incarcerated individuals and people currently or formerly experiencing homelessness.
“We pledge ourselves to liberate all our people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination.”