Project OneTen is seeking mentors
Project OneTen is looking for mentors for its upcoming cohort. PHOTO PROVIDED BY PROJECT ONETEN.
By Tia Carol Jones
Project OneTen is currently seeking mentors for its program that prepares young Black and Brown boys for their transition from eighth grade into high school. Dirrick Butler, Project Ten’s founder, said the organization is looking for young professionals interested in answering the call to what we see is happening in the city everyday.
“Oftentimes, people are complaining about the young people and violence. But, we’re looking for folks who are really about making a change, and supporting young people in one of the most critical transitions of their high school journey, transitioning to ninth grade, Butler said, adding those interested should be social justice oriented and recognize and understand the challenges young Black and Brown boys face in the city.
Butler also wants those interested in mentoring with Project OneTen to be optimistic and inspired by young people, with open minds and are adaptable and accountable. Project OneTen is looking for 40 mentors. It is scaling its program this year. Butler said it is really important for the mentors to be a part of the young boys’ lives.
“We think about 13-, 14- and 15-year-olds, as they’re making this transition to high school, that’s a big transitional year. Not just externally, with high school, but also internally. There’s so much our students are grappling with at that age,” he said.
Butler founded Project OneTen in 2018, based on his experiences as a teacher, discovering that there was a big gap between eighth grade and ninth grade when it came to his students. With Project OneTen, Butler created a framework for students, pairing them with a mentor and an academic coach the summer of their freshman year.
Butler said the mentors are like a third person, not a teacher, not a parent.
“They’re like that third person, that can really walk alongside students and help them think through making good decisions, supporting them with time management, talking them through their goals and expectations in life and how they can begin preparing for those now,” he said.
Since Project OneTen began in 2018, it has served more than 200 students. There is a 100% graduation rate. This year, Project OneTen had its first program cohort graduate from high school. Butler attended the graduation of one of the students who was the Valedictorian of his high school class. Butler said it is a great feeling to see the vision happen with the students graduating and going to college.
“We started this program because we saw that Black and Brown boys, unfortunately, were not given the same resources to take advantage of the choices available to them after high school. So, to see that our program was able to swoop in and support these young boys and help them realize their dreams, I think it’s a really really great feeling,” he said.
While the program is there to support the students involved in the program, Butler said the students already have the genius and brilliance within them. Project OneTen is just providing a space for the students to tap into that brilliance and genius. Also, to help them further develop it.
At Project OneTen’s recent 5th Annual Summer Soiree, the organization honored Adrienne Scherenzel-Curry, Vice President of Community Engagement, Chicago Bulls, and Executive Director of Chicago Bulls Charities and former State Senator Cristina Pacione-Zayas, First Deputy Chief of Staff for Mayor Brandon Johnson. The event was an opportunity to celebrate the work the organization does, as well as to fundraise.
Scherenzel-Curry has been a key figure in Project OneTen’s ability to receive grant funding. The Chicago Bulls organization was the first to provide Project OneTen with its very first grant. Pacione-Zayas has been an advocate and cheerleader for young people in Chicago. Butler said she served as a great inspiration to him as he founded the organization.
Project OneTen’s recruitment for students also is ongoing. The application will be open until July. It is available at www.projectoneten.org/apply. For more information about becoming a mentor, visit www.projectoneten.org/mentor.
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