2HU Mentoring Initiative (Two Heads Up) Charlotte, North Carolina
Mecklenburg County
(2004 -2007)
A Beginning
A Mentor Program Success Story
UNITY of NC Inc had it's first day with youth in October 2004. "The mentoring program of UNITY of NC Inc originally began as an unnamed mentor program for all girls in October 2004 at First Ward Recreation Center, located in downtown Charlotte, NC. The Kids referred to our times together as Meeting with Ms. V. On the first day of orientation, I had an overwhelming response of young men, who were interested in having something to do after school once a week. So I accepted them all! I had a Recreation employee, one other adult and myself as volunteers. The parents of the participants were required to attend an orientation session and/or meet one on one with me to be given a brief overview of what was to take place during our meeting times.The youth participated in homework time known as (Refresh Tutorials), creative arts to include composing an original poem, presentation skills, open discussion on variuos issues,movie afternoons, field trips and were treated to a weekly snack(sometimes meals)during sessions.We later adopted the name 2HU(2 Heads Up Mentoring Program).The meeting days eventually grew to two and sometimes three times a week.
2HU(Two Heads Up) is a mentoring initiative designed for males and females ages 12-18. The program is based on the philosophy that it not only takes a village to raise a child, but it takes at least one caring person to bring others along side of them guiding them towards a progressive life of change and advancement. The program was partially funded by the North Carolina Substance Abuse Prevention Mentoring Initiative. As of January 2009, 95% of the participants who were involved in the Mentor program in Charlotte, NC, organized by UNITY of NC Inc are doing very well. Most of the students have graduated from High School. Some have now moved forward into the work force, attending college or scheduled to attend a college. I am very proud of the students who showed interest, remained in contact and have chosen to do positive things in their lives. This is a program update as of January 4, 2010!"
Wishing You all the Best,
Ms. 'V'
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A problem in our community and the solution is at hand...
We have gangs that bang and we have guns that shoot, we have thugs and bugs, and families with disputes. We have the elderly and the homeless, and babies born with aids, we have people in the hood without jobs that just wanna get paid, who are so desperate to work that it comes to lying on resumes. People gettin’ high and don’t know when they’re gonna die, and people with dreams & aspiration trying to reach to sky. We’re creating our own problems, so what’s the solution now. It’s U.N.I.T.Y. and with us chaos won’t fly. We must come together as one, stop fighting, stop the crimes, we are more than what they say, and labeling us is not okay. We must put our minds together so that we may soar, we are one great people and we’re about eliminating the poor. Instead of jumping into gangs, we’ve got to dive into books, we must educate ourselves and create a positive look. The streets are trying to take us, they are trying to choose their own kind, but we are one nation under God, and we are chosen in His mind. If you don’t succeed the first time, we must try again, we cannot stand alone we cannot make it without at least one friend. We never look back to the negative things in life, we reflect on the good, succeeding with a fight. We are the solution to the problems, it’s U-N-I-T-Y we are standing strong in this generation, and we shall live and not die. So try us if you must, we’ve prepared our minds for you, we’ve shown U-N-I-T-Y so now that we’ve presented you with the problem, what are you gonna do!