Straight Talk Male Mentoring

The  Straight Talk Male Mentoring program is designed to increase academic performance, self- esteem and emotional development. The program is designed to provide participants with literacy skills, but also the intangible skills necessary to obtain success regardless of where life leads them.  Through the use of weekly meetings, hands on activities, mentor relationships, peer tutoring, and self evaluation the program guides its participants toward achieving the highest levels of academic and personal development. The program encompasses:

Core Values

• Accountability
• Honesty  
• Education   
• Integrity
• Respect for Others   
• Family Values
• Self-Respect  

Classes Resume September 2010 Ages | 12 - 17

Classes held Thursdays | 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Straight Talk is a place where teen boys gain a Right to Passage into manhood. Our young men are provided the “back to basics” support needed to aid them in their journey towards respect for self, family and others, self-control, community service, self-motivation and accountability.

“Boys will be boys, but our goal at AFCAAM is to turn them into men.”

-Calvin Smith, Male Mentoring Director

The number of at-risk youth in America is steadily increasing, yet there is a gap in services for this population. This gap is most noticeable for at-risk male youth. Mentoring programs are an excellent option to reach youth and improve their chances for life success. However, more male volunteers need to be recruited for mentoring programs.

At-risk youth are defined as adolescents who have a potential for becoming excessively disobedient, or who are already exhibiting signs of disobedience by running away from home or not attending school (Gur & Miller, 2004). These youth face problems such as low self-esteem, low school performance, and difficulties interacting with law enforcement or other authority figures (Sipe, 1996). Furthermore, Sipe has determined that at-risk youth often live with parents who are unavailable to provide guidance due to personal and financial problems (1996).However, one way to help troubled youth is through mentoring.

Prior research demonstrates the positive effects of mentoring youth. In a randomized study by Holland (1996), students who participated in a mentoring relationship had significantly higher GPAs and test scores than students who did not have a mentor. Further details of the Holland study revealed that 85% of adolescent male subjects who were assigned a mentor were at or above grade level in almost every subject area, compared to only 15% of the boys not assigned a mentor (Holland, 1996). Hence, research indicates a strong connection between the presence of a mentor and school performance.

from Why a Mentor? A Qualitative Study of Men’s and Women’s Reasons for Becoming Mentors (www.luc.edu)

AFCAAM is a program of Catholic Charities - Diocese of Venice, Inc.