Lowcountry Youth Services

TO PROVIDE BERKELEY, CHARLESTON AND DORCHESTER COUNTY YOUTH WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN EVERY AREA OF THEIR LIVES.

THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMEN'S CLUB (DGC) IS A MENTORING PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO TEACH AND BUILD YOUNG MEN, GRADE 3RD THROUGH 12TH, INTO BECOMING PROMINENT INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT. DGC HAS BEEN PRESENT SINCE 2009 - PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL ENRICHMENT AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO YOUTH IN THE GREATER TRI-COUNTRY AREA. WE OFFER YOUTH AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE AND MOLD THEIR OWN UNIQUE EXPERIENCES THROUGH OUR WIDE RANGE OF EDUCATIONAL AND LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES VIA SMALL-GROUP MENTORSHIP AND PEER COHORTS. WE SEE THE TRUE POWER THAT OUR YOUTH HOLD, AND WE HAVE MADE IT OUR MISSION TO TRANSFORM THEM INTO NATURAL-BORN LEADERS, READY TO TAKE ON THE WORLD. OUR ORGANIZATION HAS A CURRICULUM THAT FOCUSES ON KEY AREAS THAT WE BELIEVE TO BE PROFOUNDLY IMPORTANT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR YOUTH AND THEIR PREPARATION FOR THE REAL WORLD. THOSE FOCUS AREAS INCLUDE: COLLEGE/CAREER READINESS LEADERSHIP HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS IN 2022, 144 YOUTH WERE ASSISTED IN THE DISTINGUISHED GENETLEMAN'S CLUB PROGRAM.

YOUNG MEN RISE IS A STRENGTHS-BASED IN-SCHOOL APPROACH TO MENTORSHIP WHICH IS INTENDED TO CULTIVATE A SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT THAT EFFECTIVELY COMPETES WITH RISK-TAKING NORMS OF YOUNG MEN AND BETTER MEETS THEIR MOST CRITICAL NEEDS FOR BELONGING, SELF-WORTH, COMPETENCY, ACCEPTANCE, PURPOSE, AND MEANINGFUL IDENTITIES. THIS PROGRAM USES THE EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULUM CREATED BY THE COUNCIL FOR BOYS AND YOUNG MEN RESEARCH IN ADDITION TO THE EXPERIENCE THAT LOWCOUNTRY YOUTH SERVICES HAS GAINED IN THE FIELD OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2010. YOUNG MEN RISE PROVIDES AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT HONORS CULTURAL, FAMILY, AND SPIRITUAL BELIEFS AND INCORPORATES ASPECTS OF CULTURAL PRACTICES IN THE PROGRAM. IN 2022, 149 YOUTH WERE ASSISTED IN THE YOUNG MEN RISE PROGRAM.

QUEENS BEING IS A MENTORING PROGRAM THAT LOWCOUNTRY YOUTH SERVICES ESTABLISHED TO TEACH AND BUILD YOUNG WOMEN, AGES 11-18, BY PROVIDING A POSITIVE COMMUNITY OF BELONGING FOR YOUNG WOMEN OF COLOR. WE WILL PROVIDE: > EXCEPTIONAL ENRICHMENT AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO YOUNG WOMEN OF COLOR IN THE GREATER TRICOUNTRY AREA WILL ALLOW THEM TO BECOME LEADERS WHO POSITIVELY CHANGE THEIR COMMUNITIES. > MENTORSHIP VIA SMALL GROUP COHORTS ALLOWS YOUNG WOMEN OF COLOR TO CREATE AND MOLD THEIR OWN PURPOSE/IDENTITY THROUGH UNIQUE EXPERIENCES. > INTENTIONAL ACTIVITIES AND CONVERSATIONS THAT ALLOW YOUNG WOMEN OF COLOR TO IDENTIFY RISK BEHAVIORS THAT COULD RESULT IN ISSUES INVOLVING SEXUAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND DATING VIOLENCE IN QUEENS BEING, YOUNG WOMEN WILL FIND THEIR VOICES, GAIN SKILLS, DEVELOP SELF CONFIDENCE, EXPAND CREATIVE EXPRESSION, EXPLORE EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER PATHWAYS, AND CONSTRUCT STRONG BONDS WITHIN A MULTIGENERATIONAL AND INTERCULTURAL COMMUNITY. THREE CORE FOCUS: > COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS > POSITIVE IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT > HEALTHY LIVING IN 2022, 21 YOUTH WERE ASSISTED IN THE QUEEN BEE'S PROGRAM.

GIRLS ON THE RISE IS A STRENGTHS-BASED IN-SCHOOL APPROACH TO MENTORSHIP WHICH IS INTENDED TO CULTIVATE A SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT THAT EFFECTIVELY COMPETES WITH RISK-TAKING NORMS OF YOUNG GIRLS. INSPIRING GIRLS TO BE POWERFUL, SHARP, AND COURAGEOUS RESTS HEAVILY ON GIRLS HAVING ACCESS TO POSITIVE PEER INTERACTIONS, CARING AND SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS, AN AFFIRMING SAFE ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN THRIVE AND PURSUE SELF-DISCOVERY. THIS SAFE ENVIRONMENT HELPS THEM TO BETTER MEET THEIR MOST CRITICAL NEEDS FOR BELONGING, SELF-WORTH, COMPETENCY, PERSEVERANCE, PURPOSE, AND MEANINGFUL IDENTITIES. THIS PROGRAM USES THE EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULUM CREATED BY GIRLS CIRCLE RESEARCH. THIS PROGRAM BRINGS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE FROM MENTAL HEALTH, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL, TRAUMA-RECOVERY, AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FACILITATORS. GIRLS ON THE RISE IS THE SISTER PROGRAM TO OUR YOUNG MEN RISE PROGRAM AND PROVIDES AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT HONORS CULTURAL, FAMILY, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL BELIEFS AND INCORPORATES ASPECTS OF CULTURAL PRACTICES IN THE PROGRAM.