PROMISE COACHES
Becoming a StreetLeader “Promise Coach” at UrbanPromise offers you an opportunity to experience the unexplainable joy of caring for a young person’s well-being and future. This mentoring relationship is a meaningful and long-term relationship between caring adults and youth — a relationship that gives youth the stability and unconditional love that they may lack at home or in their community.
Through our Promise Coaching program, coaches will be paired with one of our high school StreetLeaders who has similar career and life ambitions. UrbanPromise provides coaches with the structure and guidance necessary to establish and carry out a caring relationship with a student through monthly Promise Coach trainings and ongoing communication with program staff. Coaches are encouraged to be part of the UrbanPromise family and participate with their StreetLeaders in UrbanPromise activities, as well as outside activities.
“Throughout our community conversations, almost every person who talked about his or her trajectory from poverty to middle class or above could trace that ascent back to one person — or at most a handful of people — who helped him or her develop goals and aspirations, but also provided a tangible pathway towards achieving them. Many times it was a parent or caregiver, but more often it was someone from a very different background who provided knowledge about and access to other networks: coach, teacher, employer, youth director, etc. Invariably, this new relationship brought about the revelation that children and youth who grow up in low-opportunity neighborhoods are often playing on an uneven playing field when compared to those in higher-opportunity areas.”
THE PROMISE COACHING COMMITMENT
We understand that successful mentor-mentee relationships require commitment from Promise Coaches, StreetLeaders, and UrbanPromise staff. These are the commitments we require from each member of the triad.
PROMISE COACH COMMITMENT:
Coaches commit to meeting one-on-one with the StreetLeader with whom they’re matched at least once per month during the year (hopefully more!).
Coaches attend bi-monthly Coaching Nights at UrbanPromise, where they receive additional support from our staff, get to know other mentors, and participate in "leadership workshops" with the larger StreetLeader and coach group.
Coaches to commit to mentoring their StreetLeaders for at least one full school year. However, we hope that coaches and StreetLeaders intend to commit to their relationship through at least the end of StreetLeaders’ freshman year in college!
STREETLEADER COMMITMENT:
Like the mentors, StreetLeaders commit to meeting and communicating regularly with their coaches. StreetLeaders also commit to attending the bi-monthly Promise Coaching Nights at UrbanPromise.
URBANPROMISE STAFF COMMITMENT:
UrbanPromise staff (specifically our StreetLeader Directors) commit to providing ongoing support to coaches and StreetLeaders throughout their mentoring relationship. In addition to leading the bi-monthly Promise Coaching Nights, StreetLeader Directors will also check-in with coaches throughout the year and they are available when coaches have questions about the relationship with their StreetLeaders.
WHAT ARE PROMISE COACHES SAYING ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE?
“The most valuable thing about this is having a connection with a young person who has hopes and dreams... and helping them a an adult with real-life experience! ”
“I just enjoyed getting to know Daikwon! The Promise Coaching Nights gave me a better understanding of the challenges going on in our community in general and in the lives of the StreetLeaders specifically. ”
“Seeing Zeke grow up throughout the past couple years has been encouraging! I think his time in UrbanPromise and the Promise Coaching Program have really shaped him into the young man that he is.”
“The most valuable aspect was being able to learn more about the Hispanic culture and learning about life from the perspective of a high school student!”
“I think there is a good balance of structure and empowerment in this model. It’s nice to have the facilitated evenings every couple of months, but not over-programming it puts the onus on us to develop the relationship as well!”
“Given how much social capital is in the spotlight in Charlotte right now, the Promise Coaching Program is a great opportunity to plug in and empower youth! ”
“The most valuable part was just learning personal stories of the StreetLeaders!”
“It was really valuable that I was able to do this with
flexibility to meet when it worked for my schedule!”
“I loved getting to know my StreetLeader and learning about other students who have similar situations during the shared Promise Coaching Nights. I really loved learning about their resilience!”
“The best part of the Promise Coaching Program was getting the opportunity to learn from someone and share with someone who is very different than myself.”
“This is a long term friendship !”