Leadership Initiative

THE LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE (TLI) YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM (PROGRAM), SERVICES OVER 150 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO RESIDE IN THE WESTERN SUBURB COMMUNITIES OF ILLINOIS. THE PROGRAM GROUPS MENTEES WITH ACCOMPLISHED PROFESSIONALS WHO DELIVER CURRICULUM BASED SESSIONS ON A WEEKLY BASIS. THE PROGRAM PLACES EXTREME EMPHASIS ON THE VALUE OF OBTAINING A QUALITY EDUCATION AND ITS KEY TO DEVELOPING A SUCCESS MENTALITY, DEVELOPING ACTION PLANS TO ACHIEVE POSITIVE ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL OUTCOMES, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF VOLUNTEERISM AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROGRAM EXPOSES MENTEES TO COLLEGE RECRUITERS, HEALTH & WELLNESS SEMINARS, S.T.E.M., FINANCIAL LITERACY, PROFESSIONAL AND SOCIAL ETIQUETTE WORKSHOPS, AS WELL AS FIELD TRIPS TO TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL EVENTS. THE LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE'S MISSION & VISION: * "ENGAGE AND INSPIRE YOUNG PERSONS TO DEVELOP A SUCCESS MENTALITY, AND LIVE A LIFE THEY DID NOT KNOW WAS POSSIBLE." * "TO SERVE HUMANITY BY CREATING A RIPPLE EFFECT OF POSITIVE YOUTH LEADERSHIP." OUR ADAGE: "IF NOT US THEN WHO WILL BEST PREPARE OUR YOUNG PERSONS FOR TODAY'S AND TOMORROW'S OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES" ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE'S WESTERN SUBURB MENTORING PROGRAM: * SESSIONS ARE HELD SATURDAY MORNINGS FROM 10:00 A.M. UNTIL 12:00 NOON FROM SEPTEMBER THROUGH THE FOLLOWING MAY, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. * THE PROGRAM IS CURRICULUM BASED AND DESIGNED TO PROVIDE MENTEES THE NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE, STRATEGIES, AND SKILL SETS WHICH WILL EQUIP THEM WITH HEALTHY SELF-ESTEEM, A HIGH DEGREE OF CONFIDENCE AND A COMPETITIVE TEMPERAMENT, THUS ENABLING THEM TO SUCCEED ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND PROFESSIONALLY IN THEIR CURRENT AND POST-SECONDARY ENDEAVORS. * CURRICULUM TOPICS INCLUDE: PERSONAL BRANDING; THE ART OF LISTENING, PUBLIC SPEAKING, AND DEBATE; SELF-ESTEEM; HEALTH & WELLNESS; ANGER MANAGEMENT & CONFLICT RESOLUTION; S.T.E.M.; PROFESSIONAL, SOCIAL AND DINING ETIQUETTE; FINANCIAL LITERACY; AND SETTING S.M.A.R.T. GOALS. * FIELD TRIPS TO TECHNOLOGY, ACADEMIC, CULTURAL AND SPORTING EVENTS SERVE TO ROUND OUT A STUDENT'S MENTORING PROGRAM EXPERIENCE. * TOPICS DELIVERED ARE INTERACTIVE AND DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN ALL ASPECTS OF A MENTEE'S PROGRAM EXPERIENCE. * OUR TARGET DEMOGRAPHIC IS UNDERSERVED AFRICAN-AMERICAN YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN; AGES 11 - 18 OR GRADES 6 - 12. HOWEVER, YOUTH OF ALL ETHNICITIES ARE WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE, PROVIDED THEY MEET AGE AND/OR GRADE CRITERIA. STUDENTS WHO HAVE REMAINED CONSISTENTLY ENGAGED WITH OUR MENTORING PROGRAM HAVE DEVELOPED A HIGH DEGREE OF ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT AND SUCCESS DURING AND BEYOND THEIR HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE; HAVE EXPERIENCED A 100 PERCENT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AND GRADE SCHOOL PROMOTION RATE; UNDERSTAND AND DEMONSTRATE RESPECT FOR AUTHORITATIVE FIGURES, HAVE DEVELOPED HEALTHY SELF-ESTEEM, AND HAVE FORMULATED SOUND ACTIONS PLANS TO ACHIEVE DESIRED PERSONAL, ACADEMIC, AND PROFESSIONAL OUTCOMES. ADDITIONALLY, OUR MENTORING PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK WHICH ASSISTS PARENTS WITH THEIR CHILD'S TRANSITION FROM ADOLESCENCE TO ADULTHOOD.