UPI/Omega Mentoring Program

The UPI/Omega Mentoring Program is an extensive male mentoring and manhood program that was developed and created by the Uplift Project, Inc. The Program will focus on preventative measures and intervention methods to increase positive behaviors, to result in a decrease in youth gang membership, rampant teen violence, and reinforce a strong scholastic foundation to combat the increasing number of school dropouts. The barriers that UPI must overcome in intervening into these destructive behaviors are:

Lack of attractive peer-approved alternatives for males other than gang membership and other peer group anti-social behaviors Too few avenues for creating self-esteem in pre-teen youth

UPI's priorities for removing or eliminating the barriers to prevention of youth gang membership and pervasive teen violence in schools and the community are:

Purpose and Goal
The goal of the UPI/Omega Mentoring Program is to provide young black males in the Durham area with mentoring and guidance from professional black male role models. The program will accomplish this with the establishment of a value-centered agenda aimed at producing stable young men.

Overview
The mentors and club members will meet monthly throughout the city of Durham. The meetings and activities will take place on the 3rd Saturday morning of each month, beginning in March of 2004. The program will serve as an arena where young black males can express themselves while learning what it takes to become men. These experiences will take place in a fun, disciplined, and positive environment. The Program's mentors, all of whom are professional men making a positive difference in the Durham community, will share their experiences and knowledge with the club members. Experts will speak to participants on important topics relevant in their lives, including avoiding gang violence and negative peer pressure. Open discussion sessions will allow club members to discuss problems and concerns faced in their lives, and allow mentors to provide direction and guidance through any difficult day-to-day situations that they may be facing.

Club members are defined as those young men who are officially registered participants in the UPI/Omega Mentoring Program. To become a member, a child must fill out the UPI/Omega Mentoring Program registration form, including signed permission from a parent to participate, and adhere to the guidelines of the Program. Guidelines to participate include: