National Urban League Project Ready: Mentor Project (PRM)

This program supports the enhancement or expansion of initiatives that will help communities develop or improve mentoring programs for at-risk or high-risk populations that are underserved due to location, shortage of mentors, special physical or mental challenges of the targeted population, or other analogous situations that the community identifies. This program is authorized by the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2012; Pub. L. 112-55, 125 Stat. 552, 617.

The National Urban League (NUL), with a network of 97 affiliates in 36 states and the District of Columbia, believes that educational opportunity is the most significant means for empowerment in communities of color and underserved communities. Youth readiness to succeed after high school is paramount in the program design. NUL will implement Project Ready: Mentor (the Project) in six of the following states- New Jersey, Delaware, Texas, New York, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio and Minnesota. The Project will help support urban youth by expanding the supply of well-trained mentors, creating and sustaining supportive relationships, and directing those relationships toward reducing risky behaviors in pursuit of educational and employment success.
The Project model include a strong emphasis on Counselor Advocates, individualized development plans, meaningful parent engagement, development of relationships with caring adults, and meaningful behavioral, career and education outcomes tracked via online data management, program observation and surveys- including the number of youth and mentors retained in program; number of trained mentors demonstrating an increase in knowledge of mentoring and youth development; percentage of youth who complete all program requirements; number of youth who do not offend or re-offend; and the number of youth who avoid high-risk behaviors and activities.

CA/NCF