Youth & Young Adult Mentorship Program

Youth economic advancement

South LA Central LA East LA West LA San Fernando Valley South Bay

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

African American males are disproportionately harmed by systemic racism, resulting in educational gaps, employment gaps, and incarceration. Per the LA County Probation Department, African American boys under 18 are significantly overrepresented in the juvenile justice system with an incarceration rate 4 times higher than white boys of the same age. Similarly, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2024, only 36% of high school graduates in the US were African American. According to youth.gov, mentorship programs like TEM have proven to address these priorities, resulting in improved academic performance and school attendance, and improved outcomes for youth such as decreased high school dropout rates, increased college matriculation rates, reduced incarceration rates, and stronger relationships with their families and peers. At TEM, 100% of our Champions ages 18 or younger are actively enrolled in school and 100% of our eligible Champions matriculated to college in Fall 2024.

TEM’s Youth & Young Adult Mentorship Program is a long-term mentorship program that deeply invests in each of our Champions. We are committed to supporting them from the time we enroll them in our program through their college graduation or career placement, no matter how many years it requires. TEM’s 25 experienced mentors currently serve 80 Champions, representing our largest cohort to date. Each Champion participates in three core programs:
Mentorship
TEM’s signature mentorship program empowers African American teenage boys and young men (Champions) by pairing them with an experienced male mentor to improve their academic and life skills. One-on-one sessions help build relationships with caring adults, while group mentorship sessions allow Champions and mentors to connect with one another towards building a sense of community and brotherhood.
Academic Support & College Preparation
TEM's College Prep Program takes place every spring through fall to help Champions prepare for the SAT and ACT, build their college lists, prepare admissions essays, obtain financial aid, and earn acceptances to the colleges and universities of their choice. Our participating Champions submit competitive college applications by the required submission deadlines.
Life Skills Development Workshops
TEM’s life skills workshops such as Mental Health Awareness and Financial Literacy help our Champions develop a wide range of skills and positive mindsets to matriculate into adulthood and the workforce.

We envision our Champions will better navigate the world as adults with the knowledge and confidence to build strong communities, responsible family relationships, and bright futures for themselves. TEM recognizes that young African American men are often impacted by negative influences in adolescence. Our mentorship program aims to offset a and reshape these realities into strength and positivity. Champions will learn to identify their ambitions in every area of life, and craft their roadmap to achieve them through active mentorship. As a result, they become resilient young men who are intentional and accountable to their academic, personal, and professional goals. TEM’s work to help Champions build critical life skills is contributing to the economic advancement and upward mobility of the youth we serve, positively impacting their families and communities in Los Angeles in which they live.