Academic Achievement
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WAY places a great deal of emphasis on educational continuity and helping youth succeed in school. The importance of education as a key to long-term success in the workplace is a consistent theme of the program. Many youth in Visitacion Valley often fall behind in school and require intensive support to attain grade level proficiency. Many youth experience loss of time from school due to chronic health conditions, violence, multiple suspensions, expulsion or detention in juvenile hall. WAY Mentors serve as a bridge during these times ensuring that youth do not fall behind while out of school, for whatever reason.
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Our afterschool program is supervised by a credentialed teacher who can assess their academic needs and working with the youth and Mentor, develop a plan to improve academic performance. Tutoring is available daily during the school year
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Work Experiences and Work Ethics Training
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Mentors assist youth to see themselves as future “employees,” helping them to develop work ethics and gain a sense of purpose in life. Mentors help youth to devise a plan to look for work, stay with the process and deal with setbacks. Mentors will visit job sites, help youth solve job-related problems and encourage youth to develop appropriate work habits and positive attitudes towards supervisors and peers.
Mentoring
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WAY provides what these youth often need most – the unwavering support of a caring adult to help them with school, work and personal problems. Our mentoring is individualized and addresses the developmental needs of each participant. WAY participants work toward meeting their own short and long-term goals. Mentors assist participants to meet challenges and solve problems.
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Mentoring serves as the connection between youth and all other services. Once enrolled in the WAY program, each youth is assigned a WAY mentor with whom he/she develops a relationship that is the core of the WAY experience. Mentors ensure that their students have access to services to succeed in school, the community or on the job.
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Mentors become closely involved in the youths’ lives and serve as role models, advocates, and advisors. They see young people regularly in their offices, at their schools, in their homes and if employed, on the job. Mentors provide personal and intensive emotional support and practical guidance at every step of the way as they approach adulthood. Mentors are coaches, cheerleaders, advocates, teachers and friends.
Events and Workshop
WAY is dedicated to reducing violence in Visitacion Valley and we encourage our young people to change the game in Visitacion Valley by volunteering to work on community events such as our annual Health Fair, Family Day Parade, delivering meals to the homeless and needy in our community, and projects to improve the neighborhood. WAY will sponsor violence prevention workshops to promote a positive peer culture.
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WAY creates a sense of belonging and helps youth learn about making commitment. Entry into WAY Program and continued participation will regularly be celebrated through an annual dinner, award ceremonies, special events and visits from WAY’s earlier participants.
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These activities help youth feel good about belonging to a positive peer culture and are designed to offset the pressure of living in a neighborhood filled with crime and violence. Many youth in Visitacion Valley are victims of violence, either as witnesses, or through family or friends who are actual victims of violence. WAY mentors regularly convene workshops on life skills, which address topics such as social responsibility, financial literacy, citizens’ rights, healthy lifestyles, housing, parenting and violence prevention workshops, health education topics, teach advocacy skills to parents and guardians and encourage positive community involvement.
Programs
