Mentorship
The M.U.S.T. Mentoring Model is a unique system which creates an environment for liberation and growth. Coaches for mentors help them navigate life, school, relationships, etc. Mentors for the mentees, assist all four years of high school, helping navigate life, school and relationships. Mentors get the skills they need to finish their higher education or further their career and mentees get an emerging adult Black male role model who grew up in a similar environment to themselves.
Mentees begin to think… “He comes from the same place I do. If he can do it… so can I!”
M.U.S.T. has found a solution that is helping the most underserved black males graduate high school and lead passionate lives.
Mentors
Emerging adult Black males are paid for four years to mentor high school students who are underserved in the community.
We know underserved can be subjective, however we are allowing our mentors, mentees and their families to determine if they deem themselves underserved whether it be academically, mentally, emotionally, socially and/or physically.
Mentors get the support they need to persist in college or a career and mentees get an emerging Black adult male to look up to.
High School Mentees
Underserved Black male high school Mentees are matched with a Mentor who assists with passion and drive over their highschool period to help them succeed.
Because M.U.S.T. serves underserved mentees, it needs to be a four-year mentoring program. Sometimes, it can take a year just to earn a mentee’s trust. It's been proven, by years three and four M.U.S.T. has a strong voice in the life of the mentee. The mentees watch their mentors for four years and begin to think… “He comes from the same place I do. If he can do it… so can I!”
Coaches
Our coaches are passionate professionals in the community who volunteer to coach the Mentors. Coaches and Mentors meet together twice a month during the school year and work together to assist the Mentor with relationships, education, work or any life issues. These professionals are matched to Mentors based on their interests and career goals.
Why mentoring?
A Gates Foundation study, "The Role of Risk", reported that quality mentoring reduces depression, increases acceptance by peers, and improves grades. Long term mentoring helps with attendance, reduces substance abuse, and deviant behavior in school.**
There are also financial benefits to mentorship. Another study, "The Economic Value of Opportunity Youth", shows that there are more than 6 million high school dropouts and underemployed youth (age 16-24) in America and each one costs society more than $600,000 over the course of their lifetime. And they pass the same patterns on to their children, continuing the cycle.