Young Warriors

Through a unique and inspirational multi-year process we equip boys with the needed tools and provide challenging opportunities to prepare them to become great men. Through activity participation and group mentoring we focus on the following seven goals as listed below:

1. Improved Attendance and Grades
2. Lowered negative risk-taking behavior (Gangs, Drugs, Pregnancy)
3. Improved Interpersonal Relationships (School and Home)
4. Learn and develop advanced life skills (Team-work, Communication and Problem solving)
5. Increased self-esteem and increased self-efficacy (I can and I'm able!)
6. Strength finding (Each boy will identify and develop his own unique strengths throughout the program)
7. Think, eat and move healthy through nutrition and wellness (by Nestle Healthy Kids)

1. Participants are recruited as the program establishes strong relationships with schools, youth organizations, social workers, coaches and other referral sources.
2. A thorough interview process with both the children and mothers will ensure a commitment from both.
3. The Young Warriors parenting program (specifically designed for caretakers raising children in absent-father homes) will be mandatory for each participant's mother or caretaker.
4. Volunteer mentors are recruited from within the community; they are thoroughly screened and trained using mentoring “best practices" and proven successful methods.
5. Boys (mentees) are assigned to the same group or “tribe" within each school site.
6. Mentees are matched to a tribe based on their ages and development level (Elementary 4th thru 6th grade, Middle School 6th thru 8th grade, and High School 9th thru 12th grade) with YW staff at each school site.
7. Each tribe is divided evenly into four smaller tribes; small group membership is essential so that trusting relationships can be established.
8. Each tribe meets weekly after school on the their respective school site for 3 hours.
9. Sessions take place at the their school where they will participate in a curriculum that promotes leadership, strength finding, trust and team building, and reflection.
10. Some sessions consist of “Work-Hard, Play-Hard" field trips (requires passing a bi-monthly YW accountability report) where mentees will practice what they've learned out in the real world
11. Additionally, Young Warriors groups from neighboring districts will meet quarterly to participate in an inspiring regional session. During this time, mentors and mentees will engage in games together, watch movies, and participate in additional activities that lead to both character-building fun and community development.
12. To end each year, all tribes will meet together and focus on giving back through the completion of a community service project pre-planned by the high school participants.
13. The main focus for the high school participants will be on giving back through planning and completing community service projects throughout the year and by conducting regular visits to the younger participants.
14. The end of the year celebration ceremony acknowledges each mentee's growth, and it is also acknowledged that they are at the end of a cycle and ready to move onto the “next level"— Those approaching 18 will be acknowledged as becoming men in our society; this is a separate special reception.

The mentors and staff at Young Warriors are dedicated to helping the positive growth and development of youth who, even at this early stage in their lives, have experienced more than their share of disappointments. These young men will reap great benefits from the connections they make through trusting relationships, from the lessons learned during group meetings, and from the fun and educational field trips. Our staff and mentors help to identify individual strengths of each mentee and then consistently acknowledge them. This reassurance and acceptance from adult males and their peers goes a long way in helping participants build their confidence and sense of self-worth. These acknowledgements also send the message that each boy is on track to becoming a good man. Young Warriors helps young boys go into the world with hope, confidence, and the ability to become stable and balanced young men with something significant to offer their communities

We are currently facilitating a successful and very valuable program with great momentum and with the unique opportunity at vast growth. We recently held our 3rd Annual Golf Tournament in collaboration with Eric Dickerson with great success; we now have the backing of several major NFL hall-of-fame greats and have been invited to participate in next year's NFL Hall-of-Fame Tournament in addition to holding a 4th annual Tournament with Eric Dickerson. We are continuing to build our current program, and combined with the current opportunities we have been presented with, we have the potential to make significant strides towards major organizational growth and expansion within the next year or two.