We remove barriers and provide opportunities for success through educational activities, civic engagement, and character development. Mentors receive specialized training in engagement strategies proven to help young men build confidence, resilience, and a clear path toward reaching their full potential.
Historical trends continue to reflect a need for intentional, intensive support for young men. Research consistently shows that when at risk youth are not given adequate support, the long term costs to communities are significant.
Studies on mentoring and crime prevention have found that mentoring programs supporting at risk youth deliver strong returns on investment. Communities realize up to $30 in societal gains for every $1 invested, largely through reductions in crime alone.
Research from the American Institutes for Research shows that many young men become disconnected from mainstream opportunities during their teenage years. Those who do not finish high school are more likely to struggle to find or keep employment and are more likely to have contact with the justice system. Research from Mentoring USA indicates that mentoring helps young people succeed by establishing supportive, beneficial relationships. Mentoring promotes positive development, improves self esteem, strengthens social skills, improves academic outcomes, reduces school infractions, increases academic competence, reduces time out of class, and increases persistence toward graduation along with awareness of career opportunities.
Our data shows this approach works. We track the ABCs, Attendance, Behavior, and Curriculum, alongside qualitative feedback from our community and stakeholders about our mission, creed, and yearlong programming, all of which has been positive. In one program year, our students participated in five educational field trips and five community service events, and each student declared personal ambitions, demonstrating growing self awareness through weekly journaling.
A one year snapshot of results:
Attendance grew from 94.94% to 95.07%, an increase of 0.13%
Behavior referrals dropped from 4,813 to 3,948, a decrease of 865
Reading scores rose from a 38.5% average to a 48.1% average, an increase of 9.6%
Math scores rose from a 29.4% average to a 31.4% average, an increase of 2%
By learning the qualities and characteristics of a leader mentees increase
Short Term Impact:
Long Term Impact:
Our focus is on empowering and inspiring young men to develop leadership skills through educational activities, community service, and character development.
How do we get the mentee to buy in?
We use these male engagement strategies...
Our mentors learn how to advocate, advise, remove barriers, to empower and inspire young males to develop leadership skills and achieve success.
Three essential questions guide our work:
We serve underserved and marginalized middle and high school young men. 81% come from economically disadvantaged households, 18% have special education accommodations, and 2% are experiencing homelessness. Most live in nontraditional homes, including single parent, grandparent, or foster households, and many attend schools within systems that have historically underserved them.
Our mission is to become leaders, promote excellence, and provide community service to our community with class and dignity.
Our Creed: We are a society of developing young men required to learn, practice, and implement the general qualities and characteristics of a leader.
Career exploration through...
Engagement with professionals in...
Journaling about...
Professional...
Our students learn presentations that incorporate...
Community service projects chosen by our mentees such as...
In 2012, Christian Adair started a program specifically to give seven disengaged male students structure, because of the success. In 2013, it became an elective leadership class serving 25 males students that needed positive behavior interventions. Since then, Christian has mentored over 100 young men, many of whom have grown into mentors themselves, now assisting him in guiding the next generation.
Your support helps us grow and expand our impact, giving more young men access to consistent mentorship, resources, and the leadership skills that shape lasting success.
Donate today to fund mentors, and leadership development programming.
Become a mentor and help guide the next generation of leaders.
Partner with us as a school, business, or community organization.
Together, we can build stronger schools, stronger families, and stronger communities.