Wise Guys School Based Mentoring Program

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Wise Guys school mentoring program is a community based mentoring model serving middle school boys age 11-14, and high school boys age 15-17 identified by school administration to be at-risk of educational failure, dropping out of school, juvenile delinquency or gang-related offenses.
By partnering with the schools, and working closely with school administrators, we are able to identify, and serve the boys most at risk for educational failure. Program elements can include weekly in-school and after-school meetings of mentors and boys, monthly community service project participation, and ongoing mentoring and support for group participants.
The number of boys growing up without fathers in their lives has reached epidemic proportions. High rates of divorce and out-of-wedlock births have created a generation of fatherless boys.
We offer boys a community where they can hear other boys, and men, share their stories and understand they are NOT ALONE in their struggles.
Boys will make better choices resulting in the ability to improve the academic performance, attendance and attitude, and reduce discipline issues, expulsion and dropout rates, of their most at-risk boys.
Teenage years are the critical window of opportunity to empower boys to follow their dreams. Join us and invest in our boys today, and the payback will last a lifetime.

How It Works

Every week Wise Guys Facilitator(s) show up at middle or high schools to offer boys:
  • A community of mentors and role models who listen, encourage and believe in them.
  • A community of men who model integrity, accountability, compassion and respect.
  • A community where boys are empowered to speak their truth, and encouraged to take responsibility for their choices
  • A community where boys feel supported, listened to and valued.
  • A community where boys see their peers are facing similar challenges, and they are NOT ALONE in their struggles.
The weekly meetings combine learning, fun, leadership opportunities, peer mentoring and self-esteem building exercises. All meetings are facilitated by one or more Wise Guys staff members, and supported by volunteer mentors. The group meetings range in size from 4 to 20 boys with an average ratio of 5 boys to 1 mentor.