Young Black Men with Promise| Meet our Mentors
Hearts, Hands, and Minds Together
Making a Difference in the Life of a Child
by Dr. Barbara Covington
The mission of the program is to develop and support a high quality and sustainable youth program that mentors young black boys.
Our vision is to provide, through mentoring, a program that will enable young black men to reach their potential.
Young Black Men with Promise Mentoring Program was organized eight years ago. Initially a group of African-American teachers devoted time to promoting and focusing on the bright promise for young black boys. Presently, the program is administered by Dr. Barbara Covington, media specialist and Mrs. Carla F. Williams, school counselor. We continually strive to empower young boys to strive for excellence.
A young boy is partnered with an adult male who is dedicated to providing experiences that help each boy to understand who he is, cherish his heritage and to internalize the importance of developing high self-esteem. Mentors, who come once each week before school, check homework, help the young boys to problem solve in school and at home when appropriate. The young men learn to express themselves orally before mentors and their peers. They read and learn about African-Americans who have contributed to the history of the United States, if not the world, and they share what they learn with the group.
While we believe homework is important, the mentoring program was not organized to help the young men complete homework assignments. When necessary, young men come in to work with Dr. Covington or Mrs. Williams to complete homework assignments. Parents and teachers of the young black men are strongly encouraged to become an active partner with mentors.
The mentoring program began with 21 mentors matched with twenty-one mentees. Young men are recommended to the program in several ways. Parents ask for their son to become a member, teachers recommend boys, administrators recommend boys and Mrs. Williams and I bring young men into the program who may exhibit the need to have a mentor. With the dedicated Hearts, Hands, and Minds of the mentors it is our greatest hope that the young black men who graduate from the program will become positive, active members of society and someday give back to another youngster who may need someone who is willing to give him dedicated time on a regular basis.