National Cares Mentoring Movement

The Rising: Elevating Education, Expectations and Self-EsteemIN VIRTUAL AND PLACE-BASED SETTINGS, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE LED THROUGH AN INTERACTIVE CURRICULUM BY FACILITATORS WHO ARE PSYCHOLOGISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS and Wellness Professionals. COMMUNITY MENTORS PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS. THE STUDENTS LEARN TO UNEARTH THEIR INNATE POWER TO MAKE POSITIVE LIFE-PROPELLING CHOICES. THE INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES BUILD SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS, SELF-CONFIDENCE, CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS AND SELF-EFFICACY. OUR MODEL BLENDS A CULTURALLY SPECIFIC APPROACH TO SELF-EFFICACY WITH TRAUMA-INFORMED HEALING PRACTICES THAT MEET YOUNG PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE WITHOUT JUDGMENT. IN WELLNESS MENTORING CIRCLES (WMC), CARES FACILITATORS LEAD STUDENTS THROUGH A CURRICULUM DESIGNED TO HELP MIDDLE- AND HIGH-SCHOOLERS IDENTIFY THEIR STRESSORS AND UNPACK THE HARMS THAT THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THAT THEY HAVE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED DUE TO INEQUITIES. THE STUDENTS LEARN COPING STRATEGIES, SELF-REGULATION, HOW TO SOOTHE ANXIETY AND UNEARTH SELF-AWARENESS AND CRITICAL THINKING. OUR CURRICULUM IS COMPRISED OF TEN PILLARS THAT INCLUDE HERITAGE, WELLNESS AND PROSPERITY. WMCS ARE COMPASSIONATE SPACES, THEY ARE SAFE AND INTIMATE GROUPS WHERE MUTUAL TRUST AND COMMUNITY ARE ESTABLISHED. OUR PROGRAM BRINGS A CULTURALLY RICH CURRICULUM AND HEALING PROFESSIONALS INTO THE LIVES OF CHILDREN, WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THEM IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND MENTORS WHO PROVIDE SUPPORT, GUIDANCE AND LOVE.THE RISING PROGRAM (OJJDP) OPERATES IN-PERSON AT SITES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. WELLNESS CIRCLES HAS SERVED OVER 1086 (OJJDP) AND 500 (NON-OJJDP) CHILDREN, RECRUITED APPROX. 219 NEW MENTORS ACROSS SEATTLE, NEW YORK (BROOKLYN), DETROIT, SOUTH FLORIDA, LOS ANGELES, CHICAGO AND NEW ORLEANS (NON-OJJDP). FACILITATORS AND PARENTS REPORTED TO NATIONAL CARES THE IMMEDIATE CHANGE IN CHILDREN'S PSYCHOLOGICAL ATTITUDES. EAGER TO JOIN WELLNESS MENTORING CIRCLES, STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH ANOTHER AND OVERRIDE THEIR FEELINGS OF ISOLATION. NCMM WAS ABLE TO EXPAND PROGRAMMING IN ADDITIONAL SITES BY CULTIVATING OLD AND SECURING NEW PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES OF SERVICE FOR THE RISING PROGRAM.THE RISING PROGRAM IS PROJECTED TO SERVE AND MENTOR MORE YOUTH, RECRUIT AND TRAIN MORE ADULT AND YOUNG ADULT MENTORS, AND EXPAND OUR FAMILY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS ACROSS ALL PROGRAMMING MARKETS.

Affiliate Development and Mentor Recruitment and Training: OUR TRANSFORMATIONAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORK IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF OUR STRONG ECOSYSTEM OF SUPPORT. DEDICATED LOCAL CARES MENTORING MOVEMENT AFFILIATE LEADERS, OUR VOLUNTEER CORP OF CARING AND COMMITTED ADULTS, RECRUIT, TRAIN AND DEPLOY LOVING MENTORS. AND OUR NATIONAL COMMUNITY IMPACT PARTNERS, FROM WHOM WE RECRUIT MENTORS, ALSO SUPPLY US WITH RESEACH AND HEALING-CENTERED PRACTICES TO IMPLEMENT INTO OUR PROGRAMING. WE SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN THE LEADERSHIP CAPACITY OF OUR AFFILIATE NETWORK THROUGH MONTHLY GROUP TELECONFERENCES, WEEKLY ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT CALLS, PROGRAM MARKET VISITS, DEDICATED STAFF SUPPORT AND AN ANNUAL ALL-AFFILIATE TRAINING CONFERENCE. UNITED BY OUR PRINCIPLES AND MISSION, OUR LEADERS ACROSS 58 U.S. CITIES EFFECTIVELY RECRUIT AND TRAING ADULTS TO SERVE AS MENTORS, AND THEN DEPLOY THEM TO SCHOOLS AND YOUTH-SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE IN NEED OF BLACK VOLUNTEERS INTERESTED IN ENGAGING IN A ONE-TO-ONE OR GROUP MENTORING PROGRAM STRUCTURE. CULTURAL COMPETENCY IS EMBEDDED IN ALL AFFILIATE ACTIVITIES. BECAUSE OF OUR LOCAL PRESENCE AND LEADERSHIP, NATIONAL CARES IS ABLE TO SUPPORT COMMUNITIES AND ADULTS THROUGH COMMUNITY WELLNESS AND WEALTH-BUILDING CIRCLES (COMMUNITY CIRCLES).COMMUNITY CIRCLES PROVIDE A COMPASSIONATE PLACE FOR REFLECTION AND CONNECTION, WHERE MENTORS AND OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS CAN LEARN TO RELIEVE THE DEBILITATING STRESS TOO MANY OF THEM SHROUD IN SILENCE. COMMUNITY CIRCLES HAVE ALSO BEEN USED AS A VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT AND MENTOR RETENTION TOOL, AND TO INTRODUCE AND IMPLEMENT CARES CULTURALLY ANCHORED AND HEALING-CENTERED PRACTICES WITHIN THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING, TRAUMA-ENGAGED, RACIAL AND HEALTH EQUITY FRAMEWORK OF OUR STRATEGIC PARTNERS.NEW CORPORATE, COMMUNITY, AND HIGHER ED PARTNERSHIPS SECURED IN 2023 ALLOWED US TO EXPAND OUR AFFILIATE DEVELOPMENT, MENTOR RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAMMING THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. LOCAL CARES AFFILIATE LEADERS ENGAGED, TRAINED AND DEPLOYED VOLUNTEER MENTORS TO SERVE CHILDREN AND PARENT LEARNERS, VIRTUALLY AND IN-PERSON, THROUGHOUT OUR NETWORK.

University for Parents:The University for Parents (U4P) is dedicated to empowering parents through training, wellness, and support, equipping them to overcome both systemic and self-imposed barriers to achieve self-sufficiency and sustainability. This curricula-based initiative emphasizes career readiness and healing, providing a safe space for parent-learners to process trauma, rekindle hope, and acquire essential coping and job-readiness skills that prepare them for fulfilling, livable-wage careers. U4P collaborates with community and corporate partners to offer wraparound services and a wide range of enrichment classes career readiness, financial literacy, parenting, entrepreneurship, anger management/conflict resolution, and civic engagement. These services enable parent-learners to enhance their career prospects and actively contribute to community transformation. In 2023, the virtual program saw over 700 parents enroll, expanding U4Ps reach and impact. U4P remains committed to building strong, self-sufficient families and communities through holistic support and practical skill-building.