Youth Programs

• Academic Outreach Initiatives

  M.I. Mother’s Keeper’s “Academic Outreach” Initiatives are designed and developed as M. I.’s intent to reach the youth and to teach them preventative measures of acknowledging and dealing with matters of mental health as well as to demonstrate mental wellness behaviors and practices. M.I’s focus is to help aid in keeping children protected and to always provide programming and environments where youth can express themselves and receive support for any obstacles impeding their quality of living and growth.

  Additionally, M.I. Mother’s Keeper recognizes the positive attributes in helping youths to receive a quality education as M.I. continues efforts at educating the youths about the importance of mental health preventative practices & behaviors. M.I.’s “Academic Outreach” initiatives are designed to help advance and introduce youths to various avenues of learning and development to help diminish the STIGMA that is associated with youth seeking help and self-identifying with matters of mental health.

  M.I. seeks to empower youth by keeping discussions about mental health at the forefront of their learning environments and curriculums in order that those youths that are dealing with matters of mental health aren’t singled out and made to feel isolated and without support. M.I.’s programming is designed to help families of mental health and otherwise come together to form the “village” that M.I. feels is needed to nourish, protect, and empower the spirits and energies the youth possess.

  M.I. knows that children matter! Mental health matters! We’re investing in the youth early to equip them with the necessary tools, resources, experiences, and support to not only aid in their quality of living but also their peace of mind and mental stabilities.

  Help M.I. to not only reach the youth, but to also eliminate the awful realities of suicide and trauma that are plaguing children daily in communities and families with mental health exposures and challenges. Join M.I. to continue the dialogue and outreach to assure the youth that they are not alone and most importantly, they are not trapped in their familial or community circumstances. Youths matter! Teen Lives Matter! Help M.I. to identify with the youth in order that they receive timely, quality, and necessary help.

  Join M.I. as we introduce programming, workshops, and initiatives to empower the youth, support their growth, and provide mental wellness education to help shape their futures.

  “M.I.” is Me! Mentally Intelligent yes that’s me! Youth need to know that it’s okay to ask for and to seek help, because that’s the ‘intelligent” thing to do! M.I. is on a mission to remove STIGMA and to keep communities educated and aware! M.I. has replaced the word “illness” with the word “intelligent”, because we feel that is where the discussion should begin.

  ● “AFTERSCHOOL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH” WORKSHOP

  Weekly (2) two-hour session where youth between the ages of 5-13 years of age convene to discuss their concerns, emotions, and to learn healthy, positive ways to deal with the pressures that they are facing while living, growing, and learning in challenging environments daily. Youth use these sessions to learn ways of expressing their true feelings and of being accountable for their behaviors and choices. Youth are given opportunities to release anxious energies through physically planned sporting activities, or exercises in “journal writing”, role playing, story-telling, and various other activities. Youth learn to identify with behaviors that are mentally associated and made to feel comfortable despite their personal struggles. Additionally, youth learn to support one another in their uniqueness. STIGMA removal and protecting children is at the forefront of why these after-school workshops were designed. Many communities need “friendly” & “protected” environments for children to exist daily and to discuss concerns, release their feelings, learn ways to emote and to become well-adjusted students and citizens.

  ● “BACK PACK” GIVE AWAY

  On an annual basis M.I. delivers to every youth age 3-17, in selected communities across the D.M.V., back packs filled with school supplies. M.I.’s knows that every pack of paper, pencils, crayons, notebooks, scissors, rulers, erasers, glue, pencil holders, sharpeners, staplers, ink pens, calculators, etc. helps to reduce the hardship for those families that struggle each year to provide the proper schooling resources for their children. M.I. also knows that many children are exposed to the harsh reality of not having the tools that they need to be successful at school, or otherwise. Knowledge is the power that M.I. seeks to equip each of the children who are provided these back packs, most importantly to be sure that their economic circumstances do not impede their abilities to feel adequate and prepared. M.I. knows that it takes a “village” to help save and educate the youth. Donate today and help M.I.’s “Academic Initiatives” reach youth across the D.M.V.

  ● “READING FOR RICHES” LITERACY PROGRAM

  M.I.’s “Reading for Riches” program is designed to get the youth excited about improving their literacy and overall social skills. In exchange for reading and completing the designated reports, according to a pre-determined set of guidelines, M.I. will reward various achievements in their successful reading, presentation of the stories and life lessons learned along the way. 

  M.I. feels that it is imperative that we help to improve the literacy rate in communities where resources and economic circumstances are challenged. Specifically in mental health and homeless communities, young citizens should be empowered to improve their quality of living to increase their opportunities to become employable and self-sufficient, while also increasing their social and intellectual abilities.

  Please visit www.mimotherskeeper.com “file archive” at the bottom of the website’s home page to see current “Reading for Riches” program information and guidelines. M.I. Mother’s Keeper is more than happy to customize a “Reading for Riches” program in your community or school. Call today or send your request via our webpage.

  ● “M.I. & ME AROUND D.M.V.” SUMMER CAMP FIELD TRIP PROGRAM

  M.I.’s summer field trip program allows M.I. to spend the summer educating and empowering children across the D.M.V. area with trips to local museums, libraries, & historical landmarks, to learn about cultural, literary, economical, racial, and other uniqueness that should be recognized, in order that there is dialogue to help broaden the youth’s perspectives and exposures.

  M.I. Mother’s Keeper’s “M.I. & Me Around D.M.V.” is designed to expose the youth to environments that spark conversations in which they will learn how to adapt and conform in such manners as to demonstrate a self-sufficient means of behaving as well as also exercising discipline. The youth will also be given opportunities to ask questions and explore the various ways of living and learning to aid in their appreciation for who they are, and the opportunities afforded to them.

  M.I.’s summer camp field trip program is also designed to give the youth opportunities to learn about society, the nation, and the world through the scope of various community outings that will take place outside of their familiar environments which typically are plagued with matters involving trauma, mental health realities, and in many cases poverty related issues. These issues often time hinder their ability to otherwise experience opportunities that are rich in empowerment and educational rewards.

  M.I. believes that if we change the youth’s environment and perspective, we have a chance to change their lives for the better. Mental Health wellness and prevention starts with opening-up the dialogue and exposures that our youth have daily. M.I. is leading the charge to foster mentally healthy youth, families, and communities, one trip, one youth, and one discussion at a time.

  Please visit www.mimotherskeeper.com “file archive” section at the bottom of the website’s home page for more information.

• I.C.Y. (Inner City Youth) Golf Initiative

  M.I. Mother’s Keeper has partnered with the Jimmy Garvin Legacy Foundation, The Enantiosis Foundation, My Uncle Doc Golf Mentorship LLC, & The Marlton Golf Club to provide youths from across the D.M.V. with the opportunity to learn the discipline and rewarding nature of playing Golf for free on Saturday mornings.

  M.I. is using the game of Golf to help teach the youth how to persevere despite their life challenges. M.I. is also helping the youth to gain new perspectives on learning and positive ways to release their emotions all while navigating the meticulous rules and strategies that playing golf offers.

  The youth learn about the correlation of the S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math), components to the game of Golf. They enjoy lunch and transportation to and from the Saturday morning lessons. The youth also identify with such learned behaviors as patience, diligence, respect, and other pertinent every day behavioral traits that help to shape and mold the youth’s focus and performance.

  Youth are taught about the employment, scholarship, and business opportunities that Golf offers. Additionally, the youth are held accountable for their obedient and team player attitudes.

  M.I. appreciates the opportunity to raise the “consciousness” of not only our communities, but especially the youth. Please visit www.mimotherskeeper.com “File archive” in the Resources tab located in the main menu.

• “It’s Cool To Be Me" Teen Outreach Program

  Weekly 2-hour teen outreach program that provides a safe atmosphere for addressing positive & preventative solutions for feelings of suicide, gun violence & other crimes to include bullying; substance abuse, promiscuity, molestation, sex trafficking and other issues surrounding the teen community.

  M.I. will additionally help teens to focus on matters involving self-awareness, self-appreciation, self-esteem, good hygiene, skin care, proper eating & diet, puberty, abstinence, safe sex, and matters of empowerment involving the human body & mind.

  M.I. is challenging teens to release their emotions as a means of not harboring toxic occurrences and realities. M.I. is challenging the STIGMA that so many teens face when contemplating whether to speak up. M.I. knows the importance of helping teens to find their voice, know their worth, and accept who they are. M.I. knows that today’s teen needs a protected environment in which they can receive non-judgmental and unconditional support.

  M.I. wants every teen to know that “it is cool to be who they are”. M.I. is tearing down the barriers that are keeping teens from speaking out and receiving the necessary support that they need to overcome horrific and unbearable occurrences, trauma, and realities.

• "Music On My Mind" Youth Outreach Program

  Weekly 1-hour music lessons and jam sessions that are designed to support artistic expressions of healing and communication. Keeping the rhythm of the community alive takes a meeting of the minds. Research supports that exposing youth and individuals with mental health exposures to the “arts”, helps to advance their healing, growth, communication, and overall wellness.

  M.I. believes that “music” is the universal language that connects people when their differences many times work to divide them. M.I. has partnered with the wonderful musicians and professional band members of the O.P.I.U.M. band to bring music lessons and musically enriched performances to help encourage and empower our youth to see music as another positive form of communication, and relief.

  For more information about the O.P.I.U.M. band go to www.theopiumband.com

• Suicide Prevention/Intervention Workshop

  Suicide is the third leading cause of death among people between ages 15 and 24, with about 5,000 lives lost each year. Males comprise 84% of all suicides, according to recently reported web sourced statistical data. 

  M.I. wants to prevent suicide amongst teens and other populations, in doing so it’s important to understand the role that depression plays. Depression is often used to describe general feelings of helplessness, worthlessness, and hopelessness. When teens feel sad or low, they often say they are depressed. While most feel sad or low sometimes, feelings of depression are longer lasting and often more serious.

  “Since the rise in depression began in 2012, right around the time smartphones started becoming a universal accessory, they and similar devices have to be playing a large role. Research supports that they could be making it even harder for teens and young people to sleep—lack of sleep being a well-known driver of poorer mental health—or limiting the amount of face-to-face social interaction people get with their friends and family. And while these same effects might also be happening to millennial and older generations, mental health professionals believe that they’d be more influential for people in their formative years”.

  M.I. has developed its workshop around the current headlines, research, and opinions involving teen suicide and depression to encourage ongoing thought provoking and life saving discussions among the teen population. M.I. is seeking to raise the awareness among teens about suicidal behaviors as well as the danger of not speaking out and seeking help for themselves as well as for others.

  M.I. also knows the importance of Removing the STIGMA & keeping the discussions going among the teen population. M.I. is a part of the “village” that it believes is needed to help keep the teen community talking for the purposes of reducing suicide realities in the community, and the nation. Teen lives matter and M.I. is determined to keep them alive, one workshop, one teen, and one testimonial at a time.

• “Teen Lives Matter” Podcast

  “Teen Lives Matter” podcast is M.I.’s “CALL TO ACTION” for teen activism and awareness surrounding today’s youth mental health topics and concerns. The podcast is recorded weekly with an invited teen guest host from across the D.M.V. The weekly platform will be advertised across the Nation’s Capital and M.I.’s Social Media forums for the purposes of raising dialogue and awareness around youth concerns including suicide, peer pressure, generational differences, stress, etc.

  M.I. is asking teens to “keep the discussions going”, because they matter! The “Teen Lives Matter” podcast content will be presented from the perspectives of the many youths and teens who suffer with various forms of mental health exposures and realities daily, as well as their peers who find it challenging and concerning to have friends who are dealing with mental health matters.

  M.I’s “Teen Lives Matter” podcast, and youth outreach programming’s main goal is to get and to keep the children “talking” about “mental health”, to help remove the STIGMA involved with asking for and needing help for mental health matters amongst the youth, and to provide a consistent environment to receive unconditional support that is also without judgement.

• Dreams “r” Real Internship Program (D.R.I.P.)

  M.I.’s Dreams “r” Real Internship Program (D.R.I.P.) was created to help introduce and foster academic & sustainable opportunities to our at-risk youth. D.R.I.P. offers pathways to success through higher education, career-oriented job placement, workforce development, and apprenticeships made possible by M.I.’s strong community partnerships and business community relations.

  The philosophy of the program is to expose the youth to opportunities with D.R.I.P. to help render successful demonstrations of accountability, self-awareness, & sustainability, despite the communities and home environments that have proven to be heavily infested with gun violence and self-medicating family members. The program’s goal is to transition the youth to the type of outcomes that do not end with them in prison, dead, or involuntarily detained medically or otherwise.

  In the short-term results, youth have a measurably better self-concept, self-control, decision- making, prosocial attitudes, skills, honesty, and goal setting. In the longer term, youth have reduced anxiety and depression, fewer disruptive behaviors, violence, and substance use, more positive health behaviors, improved peer-relations, experience greater health, success (happiness) in school, and life. Additionally, the youth can also learn a “high class” skill set which in turn introduces alternative environments for them to seek out and explore.

  The D.R.I.P. program increases M.I.’s impact with helping to rescue, secure, and restore our children and youth from their crime and addiction infested communities to avenues that are overflowing with opportunities, stability, and sustainable futures.

  For more information or to discuss program curriculum, and partnership opportunities please contact Mrs. Hamilton, M.I.’s Executive Director via email, advocates4mi@gmail.com.