M.U.S.T.’s founder, Rick Newell, spent seven years working at an inner-city Boys & Girls Club. In the course of those years spent working with kids in difficult circumstances, Newell came to strongly believe the big underlying problem in the urban core is the lack of positive male role models.
Newell also met responsible men in their early to mid-20s who grew up in vulnerable environments but never pursued higher education. Newell observed that it takes a few years for some young men to realize the benefits of college.
Newell believed in an idea to address the two problems: train and pay the responsible men in their early to mid-20s to mentor vulnerable youth while they pursue their own higher education.
The Mentor begins college for four years. The youth enters high school for four years. For four years, a relationship is built and the younger one watches the older one and begins to think, “He comes from the same place I do. If he can do it… so can I.”
Newell started M.U.S.T. in 2012 as a pilot program. In 2015, Newell presented at the Social Venture Partners Fast Pitch Competition in Seattle and won first place in Audience Choice, Impact Donor, and Start-Up Non-Profit. M.U.S.T. was the first organization to receive three different awards in one year at SVP’s Fast Pitch Competition.
M.U.S.T. started with 1 Mentor and 5 students in 2012-2015 and now in 2020 they have 14 Mentors and 33 students.
After serving the most vulnerable youth in Seattle Public Schools since 2012, M.U.S.T. has an excellent success rate.
HS Graduation Rates for Black Male Students: Seattle Public Schools 73% M.U.S.T. 83%
Estimated Social Return on Investment (SROI) for M.U.S.T. = 8.84
Estimated lifetime value of M.U.S.T. so far = $15 Million Dollars
For more information:
For Teens and Guardians - Answers to questions about which teens qualify and how to apply for the program.
Why Mentoring is a M.U.S.T. - How M.U.S.T. started, studies and statistics on mentoring benefits and the societal and financial impacts of at-risk youth
For Mentors - Answers to questions about the qualifications and requirements for mentoring. Apply to be a Mentor here.
Our Mentoring Model - The M.U.S.T. Model for Mentoring - Coaches, Mentors, and Youth
For Coaches - Answers to questions about the qualifications and requirements for Coaches. Find the application for Coaches here.
In the Media - M.U.S.T. videos and presentations. Don't miss the TEDTalk!