Indy Mentor Network Transcript
Indianapolis, my name is Kareem Hines. I am speaking to you on behalf of the New Boy, which is an acronym for a new breed of youth mentoring and youth development program. But I’m not here to talk to you today about New Boy. I wanted to talk to you guys about a great collective of providers, community partners, and individuals privileged to be a part of called the Indy Mentor Network. The Indy Mentor Network is a collective of men and women who come together and are currently working with youth in our city. We’ve decided that we want to stop talking about it; we want to be about it. So we came together, we meet on a weekly, monthly, and sometimes even daily basis to put events together that not only engage our youth but also engage the families that we work with. Our network consists of providers such as mentors, behavior specialists, therapists, teachers, principals, superintendents – it’s a collective of concerned people who want to make a difference in our city, not only a difference but a positive impact and provide solutions for our families to put them on a better path to success.
One of the main goals of the Indy Mentor Network is to collaborate on different events around the city that engage not only the youth but also their families. Our first event was called the 2018 Youth and Family Safe Summer Collaboration, sponsored by Arlington High School. We got together and focused on bringing teams of young men to play in a basketball tournament. But the event was about more than just basketball; it was about providing families with different resources for the community, resources for their kids, summer day camps, mentoring programs, life skills programs, and even employment agencies. It was a family picnic, a cookout, and it aimed to promote positivity and fellowship.
After the success of that event, we gained momentum and organized the Guns Down, Gloves Up Youth Boxing Showcase. Over a three-month period, young men from various mentoring agencies practiced boxing and learned not just physical defense but also conflict resolution, personal accountability, and the negative effects of drugs and guns in our community. We wanted to channel their aggression in a nurturing environment. The event was a success, and it aimed to reduce violence and promote peace.
Our motto is “Not Mine,” and the goal is personal accountability. If we all take responsibility for the youth in our city, we can create a better future. We’re not just part of the problem; we’re here to provide solutions. Our events will only get bigger, so please look out for us on social media and join us in making a positive impact in our community.
Hello, I’m Jack Thomas, the director of the Lazer Project. I’ve been fortunate to be a part of the Indy Mentor Network, a special group in Indianapolis. We came together in 2017, a group of providers from different agencies who saw the need to help youth and focus on family engagement. We’ve had successful events like the Safe Summer Program in 2018, where the goal was to bring children from all around the city together before summer, promoting safety and unity. Recently, we organized the Guns Down, Gloves Up Boxing Event, where young men learned boxing principles and more importantly, conflict resolution and personal accountability. We’re passionate about making a positive impact in our community, and we’re here to collaborate and engage with others.
Hi, I’m Crystal Hines, the president and CEO of the Inner Beauty Program. We serve young ladies aged 8 to 18, focusing on character development and life skills. We’ve been privileged to be a part of the Indy Mentor Network, participating in citywide events like the Safe Summer Celebration and the Guns Down, Gloves Up Boxing Event. Our young ladies bonded, participated in positive activities, and merged into a culture of positivity in the city. We’re excited about the opportunities the Indy Mentor Network brings to our youth and look forward to doing more.
We started with New Boy, and it’s evolved into the Indy Mentor Network. We’ve all come together with different backgrounds and perspectives to make a collective impact. Our work isn’t easy, but we’re dedicated to helping our youth. We need more people to join us, regardless of race or location. Mentoring is about making a difference, and we’re here to do just that.
The Indy Mentor Network is all about collaboration and reaching our youth in unconventional ways. We’re losing too many young lives, and it’s time to act. We have the passion and power to make a change, but we need more support. We’re here to uplift our youth, and we want to make the network bigger and stronger. Our goal is to have thousands of mentors making a difference in the lives of our youth, promoting positivity and unity.
In the end, mentoring is about making a positive impact, and we’re dedicated to that cause. We’re here to engage with our community, provide solutions, and create a better future for our youth. Join us in our mission to make a difference in Indianapolis and beyond.
