Akron Youth Mentorship

AKRON YOUTH MENTORSHIP EXISTS TO MENTOR YOUTH WITH BIBLICAL TEACHING TO MAKE LIFE'S ETERNAL, EMOTIONAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND OCCUPATIONAL DECISIONS. AKRON YOUTH MENTORSHIP IS FOUNDED ON THE PILLARS OF MENTORSHIP, EDUCATION, WORK-READINESS, AND EXPERIENCE. THESE PILLARS HELP US HOLISTICALLY CARE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST BETWEEN OUR MENTORS AND MENTEES.

MENTORSHIP INITIATIVES: AKRON YOUTH MENTORSHIP'S MENTORSHIP INITIATIVE PUTS POSITIVE ADULT INFLUENCES IN THE LIVES OF OUR 100+ STUDENTS AND PROVIDES A SAFE ATMOSPHERE FOR STUDENTS TO GROW AND DEVELOP INTO SUCCESSFUL YOUNG ADULTS. THROUGH THE TIME THAT OUR MENTORS SPEND WITH OUR MENTEES, TRUST IS BUILT TO GIVE A PLATFORM FOR OUR MENTORS TO HELP GUIDE OUR MENTEES TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT WILL PUT THEM IN A POSITION OF SUCCESS AS THEY GROW OLDER. ULTIMATELY, OUR GOAL IS TO HELP YOUTH MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS, EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY.

EDUCATION INITIATIVES: AKRON YOUTH MENTORSHIP BELIEVES EDUCATION IS A KEY FACTOR IN LEARNING POSITIVE WORK-ETHICS AND DECISION-MAKING SKILLS. THEY SUPPORT STUDENTS WHEREVER THEY ATTEND SCHOOL (MOST IN AKRON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, A FEW IN SURROUNDING CHARTER SCHOOLS LIKE AKRON AND CASE PREP) WITH ADVOCATING BETWEEN TEACHERS AND PARENTS, PROVIDING TUTORING, AND A 3RD GRADE READING PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS THE 3RD GRADE READING GUARANTEE. AKRON YOUTH MENTORSHIP ALSO HAS ESTABLISHED ENDOWMENT FUNDS THROUGH AKRON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION & IN HIS STEPS FOUNDATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING QUALIFIED AKRON YOUTH MENTORSHIP MENTEES WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN THEIR HIGHER EDUCATION. AN EXTRINSIC MOTIVATOR FOR OUR STUDENTS IS OUR ACADEMIC INCENTIVES FOR MENTEES (AIM). MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS CAN TURN IN THEIR REPORT CARDS EACH QUARTER AND EARN MONEY DEPENDING ON THEIR GRADES IN EACH CLASS ON A PAY SCALE.

WORK READINESS INITIATIVES: AKRON YOUTH MENTORSHIP'S WORK READINESS INITIATIVE PROVIDES TANGIBLE SOFT-SKILLS TRAINING, FINANCIAL LITERACY EDUCATION, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN HEALTHY WORK HABITS AND SKILLS THAT OUR STUDENTS CAN CARRY INTO ANY WORKPLACE. WORK-READINESS IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT TO BECOMING A SUCCESSFUL ADULT, AND OUR GOAL IS TO EQUIP OUR STUDENTS (BOTH WORKING AGE AND NOT) TO HAVE THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO WORK WELL WITH OTHERS, MANAGE CONFLICT IN A HEALTHY WAY, AND HELP THEM LEARN GOOD WORK ETHIC SKILLS. WE START THESE OPPORTUNITIES AT A YOUNG AGE TO HELP DEVELOP STRONG WORKERS THAT KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE THE WORKFORCE ONCE THEY ARE READY, AND HOPEFULLY HELP GUIDE THEM TO A FIELD THEY WOULD LIKE TO STAY IN DOWN THE LINE. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS THAT DRIVE THIS INITIATIVE LIKE OUR YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, FINANCIAL LITERACY EDUCATION, AND WORK READINESS TRAINING THAT INCLUDES HELPING STUDENTS LOCATE RESOURCES TO FIND JOBS, AND RESUME AND INTERVIEW PREPARATION.