Renegades for life Inc. Mentoring Program

Renegades for life Inc is a nonprofit organization providing mentoring programs for middle and high school youth in the Greater Chicago area. The program will form partnerships with local school districts and the juvenile court system. Renegades for life Inc goal is to foster a commitment to young people that will promote pro-social friendships, strong interpersonal skills, and reassert a sense of hope in the future. Only through personal relationships can a sense of individual responsibility be reestablished that will give youth the commitment to follow through on path to adulthood with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Renegades for life Inc is a program that is in direct response to the growing number of young people that are either falling through the cracks at school or are already entangled with the juvenile court system. The goal of the program is to identify youths who are going to have a turbulent transition to adulthood and offer positive support system to avoid the pitfalls that can derail their lives. The focus is slightly different at each level but the goal remains the same; empower the young person to make positive changes in his/her life.

Renegades for life Inc will focus primarily on middle school youths. It is projected that within three years, 50% of the system’s students will be in middle school. This age group is particularly problematic and a perfect time for mentoring to be effective.

Renegades for life Inc mentoring programs will pair a youth with and a certified adult mentor for 12 months. During that time the two will participate in weekly planned activities to strengthen the relationship between the two and improve the young person’s confidence and hopefulness.  Mentors will receive continuous training throughout the year and will participate in monthly meeting to report the young person’s progress.

Over time, Renegades for life Inc will create a learning environment that will be an invaluable resource to young people, aspiring mentors and the community at large.

Renegades for life Inc will setup four distinct mentoring programs:
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• Trailblazers: Trailblazers is the central program of Renegades for life! At risk middle school students and their mentors participate in a structured program of support.
• Turnaround: Turnaround focuses on students who are chronically suspended from middle and high schools.
• Higher Ground: Higher ground engages youth involved in juvenile court system.
• The Dove: The Dove works with children from local elementary schools.

1.2 Mission
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The mission of Renegades for life Inc is the pursuit of the following principles:

• Commitment: Renegades for life Inc wants to inspire pro-social friendships, strong interpersonal skills, and instill a sense of hope in the future. I am you and you are me.
• Responsibility: The focus of Renegades for life Inc is to empower youth in establishing goals and following through on commitments. Our minds are for the same cause!
• Possibility: Renegades for life Inc wants to expand the perspective of young people to make them aware of life’s possibilities. Mind over matter!
• Support: An individual is dramatically influenced by their support system. Renegades for life Inc wants to surround young people in a caring, inclusive learning environment. A staff of support for each other in trying times and for a lifetime!

1.3 Keys to Success
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• Establish a strong network of support with the school systems and the juvenile court system.
• Launch a series of fundraising activities that will successfully fund the expanding program.
• Establish an effective training program for mentors that will increase their ability to be successful communicators.
• Establish an effective monitoring system to protect both the youth and the mentor.