Summer 2022 we’re investing in keeping our Youth Leaders physically active and focusing on their overall health & wellness. With access to Overnight Camp in Monkton, Maryland, Jiu-jitsu at Guardian Baltimore, MENtality Athletics, Yoga and Mental Health Sessions, our youth will have amazing experiences, and they’ll be better equipped for success when they enter the 2022-23 school year.
Did you know? 96% of I AM MENtality Youth Leaders elevated to the next grade last year.
In June we hosted our first summer Gala “Better 4 Baltimore” to celebrate six years of I AM MENTality mentorship. That’s six years of enlightening the minds of male youth in our City through leadership development programs that include health & wellness. By investing in the health of our youth, we invest in the future health of Baltimore and beyond.
Thanks to our first-ever Community Investment Award recipient, Mr. Charlie Conklin, President of the Gunpowder Valley Conservancy, several I AM MENtality Youth Leaders will have memories of outdoor activities with old and new friends at Camp Puh’tok in the Pine’s Overnight Camp. It is because of him that we are no strangers to the 60-acre woodland bordered by Gunpowder Falls River and State Park.
Click here to see a video of our Youth Leaders at Camp Puh’Tok.
We’re inviting the entire community to join us at Save Our Young (SOY) Baltimore’s 3rd Annual Building Bridges Bike Ride/Walk/Run on July 30 at Woodlawn High School, 7 am-12 pm! SOY organizes positive events with youth and law enforcement and provides education in hopes to create better interactions within our communities.
Register for SOY Baltimore’s 5k!
Brazilian Jiu-jitsu continues at Guardian Baltimore where they focus on reaching youth during after school hours when they are most at-risk. We rally up our group of Youth Leaders every Thursday evening to participate in the martial arts which is a good exercise for discipline and developing their physical skills.
Above: Tristan, Youth Leader receiving his first stripe @ Guardian Baltimore.
Watch this June 2022 training session.
MENtality Athletics with Davine Thomas will consist of a series of plyometric workouts and body weight exercises at Revolve Studiowork.
“My goals are to influence more young men to be more engaged with their fitness mentally and Physically,” he said, “I am invested in health and wellness with I Am Mentality because personally fitness is apart of my life and keeps me going. I want to bridge the gap with these young men because this is what I love to do. I feel as though me introducing fitness can enlighten them to love it as well.”
The mental health of our youth is just as important as their physical health. Investing in their mental health means connecting our male youth with therapists and spending time talking about their emotions in a supportive environment.
This summer we have a Mental Health Session scheduled with Bobby Holmes, LMSW who relates to our Youth Leaders as a Baltimore City-born Black man who understands the challenges that accompany pain and trauma.
In 2022 we’ve obtained therapy services for 43 out of the 102 youth that we’ve reached.
Summertime is a prime opportunity for us to keep youth engaged in out-of-school learning activities that promote the healthy growth of their bodies and minds, enabling them to become impactful leaders in our community.
When it comes to our health & wellness programming schedule, “We just wanted to make sure that the boys were engaging in physical activities. Exercising their mind and body during the summer versus staying in the house on the game,” says I AM MENtality Program Director, Tiaira Robinson.
In addition to getting our youth moving, our year-long Leadership Academy focuses on improving financial literacy and workforce development. We need your ongoing support to continue empowering male youth in our community! Please click here to donate or become a Sustainer by contributing $5/month or more to our programs.
