BACKGROUND

In early 2014, Delta Nu Boule developed a strategy to conduct a group mentoring program as a way to expand its social action impact in addition to the college scholarship program. The Education Demonstration Project was initiated in collaboration with the Stamford Family YMCA. The name of the mentoring program is in sync with its name, to demonstrate that education is critical to success, economic self-sufficiency, and long term productive living. The concept is to provide input to the boys through evening sessions that are lessons, examples, and information that influence them to pursuit excellence. Further, the EDP encourages parents to attend the sessions as well as bring other siblings so that baby sitting is not an issue.

In August 2016, the collaboration was expanded to include UCONN Stamford as a participant in the program to increase focus on acquiring a college education as a near term goal. In September 2017, the program is expanded to include more sessions, twice a month in some cases, as well as inviting more guest presenters such as small business owners, the Stamford Police Dept. and judicial officials (judges) to communicate valuable information and to add to the positive influence of the program.

 

Purpose
To demonstrate the benefits of education, academic excellence, positive behavior, and pursuit of meaningful goals specifically a college degree, a career, economic self - sufficiency, self - fulfillment, family focus, maximizing one’s life potential.

Model Design
A series of group and individual mentoring sessions and presentations targeted to young black males and others from modest income and less than optimal family situations 13 -17 years old attending an existing youth development program.

Existing Youth Development Program
The L.E.A.D (Leadership Development Enrichment Development) Academy After School at the Stamford Family YMCA located at 10 Bell Street in downtown Stamford, CT 06901 (203) 357 -7000.

1. Sessions to be held at 6:00 – 8:00PM on the 1st or 2nd Thursdays of each month during the school year at Stamford Family YMCA (unless otherwise identified).

2. EDP was initiated on February 26, 2015 with the introductory session consisting of 10 members presenting their personal stories.

3. The session formats developed and tailored to EDP concept are:

a. Personal Story Technique

b. Individual Presentation

c. Group Roundtable Discussions

d. Gentlemen and Etiquette Training

e. Personal Success Planning

f. Leadership/Peer Pressure Orientation

g. Pizza Night with Delta Nu for Open Dialogue

h. Positive Interaction with Law Enforcement

Key features of Education Demonstration Project

• Display of college sweatshirts of participating members at each session.
• Ratio of mentees to archons at each session is 5 to 1 (except Individual Presentations).
• Invitation of parents and siblings to attend the session.
• Other opportunities such as gifts/incentives will be sought to reward the youth for full participation in the program.