Causes

Cultural Identity & Heritage Workshops

Storytelling Sessions:

Invite community members to share stories about African heritage, resilience, and overcoming challenges.

Heritage Days:

Host events celebrating African cultures, with traditional music, food, dance, and crafts to build cultural pride.

Bicultural Navigation:

Workshops on navigating dual identities and embracing heritage, while also feeling comfortable in American society.

Peer Support & Mentorship Programs

Peer Circles:

Small group sessions where youth discuss challenges like peer pressure, confidence, and self-identity in a supportive setting.

Heritage Days:

Pair youth with mentors who share their cultural background or experiences in overcoming similar obstacles, such as adapting to a new culture or achieving educational goals.

Mental Health & Wellness Activities

Self-Care:

Monthly sessions offering yoga, meditation, journaling, and relaxation practices.

Art and Expression Therapy:

Creative outlets like painting, poetry, or music where youth can express feelings and process emotions.

Confidence-Building Workshops:

Role-playing exercises to build self-advocacy, assertiveness, and decision-making skills.

Crime Prevention & Peer Pressure Resistance

Real Talk Sessions:

Engage local community leaders, police, and role models to discuss the effects of crime and offer strategies to resist peer pressure.

Scenario-Based Workshops:

Interactive sessions with role-play scenarios to practice handling real-life situations related to peer pressure and staying true to personal values.

Street Smarts & Safety Skills:

Teach youth about situational awareness, self-defense basics, and ways to stay safe in their communities.

Substance Use Awareness and Prevention

Guest Speakers:

Bring in professionals or those with lived experience to speak about the dangers of substance abuse and the importance of making healthy choices.

Interactive Learning Games:

Use educational games to discuss the effects of substances on mental and physical health in an engaging way.

Life Choices Workshops:

Help youth explore goals and values to support decision-making that keeps them focused on positive futures.

College and Career Preparation

Application & Essay Clinics:

Provide one-on-one support for college and scholarship applications, including essay writing tips.

Career Exploration Days:

Arrange visits to workplaces, host virtual job shadowing, and bring in professionals from various fields to talk about their careers.

Financial Aid Workshops:

Educate on FAFSA, scholarships, and budgeting for college to ease the financial burden.

Life Skills and Independence Training

Budgeting & Financial Literacy:

Hands-on sessions teaching budgeting, savings, and basics like opening a bank account and credit management.

Cooking & Nutrition:

Basic cooking classes that also teach nutritional values, meal planning, and self-care.

Public Speaking & Communication Skills:

Practice speaking confidently in public and developing good interpersonal skills through group activities and presentations.

Community Engagement & Volunteer Projects

Community Service Days:

Organize volunteer projects that give back, such as helping at local food banks, cleaning parks, or working with younger children in after-school programs.

Youth Leadership Opportunities:

Allow participants to plan and lead their own community initiatives or projects, building skills in organization, teamwork, and leadership.

"Voice Our Vision" Advocacy Program:

Encourage youth to participate in civic events, speak at community meetings, or share their views on social issues impacting their lives.

Confidence & Resilience Building

"Own Your Strength" Challenges:

Encourage youth to set personal goals, like presenting on a topic they’re passionate about or leading a small group activity.

Self-Affirmation Journals:

Journaling with prompts that encourage positive self-reflection and building self-worth.

Confidence through Fitness:

Fun group fitness activities like dance classes, team sports, or hiking to build physical resilience and mental strength.

Confidence in Cultural Expression

Hair and Fashion Workshops:

Work with local salons to provide hair care tutorials that build confidence in natural hair, along with workshops on self-image and pride in appearance.

Express Your Style Day:

A fun event where youth can express their cultural identity through fashion, music, and art, fostering pride in their heritage.