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The Mentor Program and Junior Mentor Program

Mentors Effectiveness is Key...

To be an effective Mentor requires total commitment, hard work, devotion and dedication to both the program and the youths. A background check must be conducted on all potential mentor candidates. And Mentors must be law-abiding citizens in good standing with the community.  Listed below are some of the expectations and responsibilities of mentors in our programs:

1. Be a positive role model.

2. Support and encourage a youths to accomplish his/her goals.

3. Assist youths in his/her self-esteem.

4. Assist youths to explore his/her career.

5. Help youth to develop his/her community responsibilities.

6.   Be an effective listener and an honest friend to your youths.

7. Mentors should be willing to participate in cultural and educational activities with
   youths.

8. Encourage and support youths to stay in school.

9. Encourage and support youths to stay away from drugs, alcohol and gangs.

10. Encourage and support youths to stay away from negative and hostile
    environment.

THE MENTOR PROGRAM

The Next Step Education 21^st Century Mentors Foundation program will focus on at-risk youths and students nationwide. The foundation will portray as positive role models in the schools and the communities as well. The foundation will encourage and support these youths and students on a long-term goal and will recommend and advise them to remain in school to obtain high school diplomas, in order for them to progressively transcend to higher learning. The foundation's commitment will be to explore educational opportunities and assist youths and students to obtain scholarships, so that these young adults can obtain a college education. The foundation will also support and encourage the youths and students to develop leadership ability in order for these individuals to reach maturity and maximum growth as young adults. THEREFORE, these at-risk youths and students will transcend in becoming positive and productive role models in our community and society.  Also, the foundation's primary objective is to network with Local, County, State and Federal Government agencies in acquiring any productive assistance that would benefit the at-risk youths and students in the program. The organization is committed to "Building A Dream" for these at-risk youths and students in our mentoring foundation program.
 

THE JUNIOR MENTOR PROGRAM

In an effort to ensure the continued growth of our targeted youth, we have established guidelines for a special Junior Mentor program. The youth of our program, who successfully meet the guidelines of this program, will be appointed to assist with the mentorship efforts of other incoming youths. These guidelines must be successfully attained in order to engage in mentorship efforts:

1. The youth mentor candidate must successfully participate as a mentee for
   a period of 1 year.

2. The youth mentor candidate must demonstrate a willingness to support his
   fellow youth

3. The youth candidate must regularly demonstrate a willingness to achieve
   high scholastic standards

4. The youth mentor candidate must successfully pass an oral board
   interview (weighted 100%).

5.  The youth candidate must complete a written application to include an
   essay piece, which will be entitled, "What mentorship means to me."

6. The mentor candidate must maintain a minimum of a 3.0 or higher GPA,
   while enrolled in school.

7. Each candidate must submit a minimum of one letter of recommendation
   from a teacher, mentor, coach, or community member.

8. Upon successfully completing each phase of the recruitment process,
   each candidate will be scored and placed on an eligibility list.

9. The 21^st Mentors board of directors will review the applicant's recruitment
   process and determine the applicant's eligibility for this appointment.

10. When appointments are made to this position, the candidates will be issued a certificate of appointment, a letter of acceptance and public recognition when permitted.