Urban Male Initiative (UMI) is a program designed to help increase the rates of retention and graduation of urban male students.  Many of the young men in our program live in tough urban areas where relentless circumstances prevent academic achievement.  There are two specific factors that impede on the success of the male student population:

 

1. More than any other population, urban male students struggle with the transition from high school into college.  This is due to the lack of role models and support networks.

2. The lack of meaningful academic experiences and interactions with role models decreases the opportunity for academic success.

 

The goal of UMI is to eliminate the aforementioned barriers preventing academic success and to introduce positive male and female role models who have achieved professional and academic success

 

The Transformation Experience is a 5-Saturday initiative that takes place during the summer.  The program is focused on exposing young men from underprivileged backgrounds to different professional fields through planned activities, social bonding, and interaction with professionals in their work environment.

 

Examples of activities include cooking classes, art lessons, and visiting different cultural neighborhoods around the city of Chicago.

 

The Saturday Leadership Academy (SLA) is a pilot program focussed on providing young men of color with opportunities to develop critical thinking skills, empower themselves, experience positive social interaction with other men, and gather tools to become well-rounded and successful leaders.

 

In a group of 10-15 young men from the ages of 14-18 years old, the program provides opportunities to participate in cultural enrichment activities centered on three pillars of Mentorship, Education/Career Development, and Fun/Fitness. 

 

SLA is set to take place over a period of one to two hours on a Saturday.  Workshops and mentorship circles will be facilitated by young men from different professional backgrounds.  The overall goal of SLA is to provide young men with positive role models close in age and from similar backgrounds.