Individuals from low income and inner city communities are often marginalized, overlooked and ignored. Metro believes in investing in our communities and the lives of people we work with, walking with them in their preparation for the future. Whether it is helping them to find a job, pairing them up with a role model, going on a trip to a museum, helping with school work, or providing with a safe place to hang out.
Our programs are based on the premise that perseverance, responsibility, hard work, and hope are timeless principles the next generation needs to overcome life’s challenges.
Urban Leaders Mentoring
In response to President Obama’s “My Brother’s Keeper Initiative,” Metro started “I Choose Me,” an innovative community-based mentoring program that provides individual and group based mentoring opportunities for young boys and girls of color. As a continuation of bringing the much needed mentorship fellowship with children of our San Diego community, we have continued through the Urban Leaders program.
Its mission is to promote the long-term wellbeing of youth through a comprehensive mentor-focused, family-centered, community-based approach that builds support systems in order to create self-sufficiency. Its mission also reflects the core tenets of the program:
- Youth will choose success though a strong system of support from mentors, peers, family, professionals and community.
- These “supporters” all work together, encouraging youth to avoid justice system involvement.
- Youth will develop and implement long-range plans for success based in attainable careers.
The “I Choose Me” program has been very effective at reducing juvenile justice contact, encouraging empowerment, improving academic achievement, reducing truancy and dropout rates, and promoting positive social behaviors.
In light of the virtual environment, activities are held via zoom.
Some of the outcomes of this project include reduced juvenile justice contact, enhanced community safety by decreased drug use, truancy, and other high-risk behaviors.
Training4Success
Metro believes that past transgressions do not determine the future, and that individuals deserve a second chance. Training4Success offers participants the opportunity to increase their employability, sustain credentialed training and industry recognized credentials to increase competitiveness in the workforce, divert justice involvement, and receive assistance in the criminal record expungement process.
Training4Success applies the principles of Transformational Leadership — a four-phase leadership development model – and provides mentoring, community service learning, case management, and employment training.
Pathways
Pathways works with individuals returning to their communities from incarceration, working to assure alignment with personal, familial and professional needs by connecting with community partners and services that meet individual needs.
A New Path
Supports incarcerated individuals during a period of pre-release, creating a seamless transition to post-release services that includes: career planning and training, employment preparation, and supportive employment retention. Post-release connections, utilizing a warm handoff strategy, will enhance stabilization and decrease recidivism.
CAREER- A Dislocated Workers Program
Helps reemploy dislocated workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Focused on serving those from historically marginalized communities, and/or those who have been unemployed for a prolonged period of time. Through CAREER, participants can get help to obtain training and credentials, and support in sustaining employment.
Warm Handoff-A Pathway to Success
A pre and post- release program that supports individuals previously incarcerated in CDCR (CA Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation) who are at least 18 years of age. The program provides access to housing, medical, and other supportive services that strengthen their reentry process and minimizes recidivism, along with community sustainability and support.
Healthy Communities, Healthy Minds
A community education program based in Atlanta, GA that works with Environmental Youth Advocates to design and create fun, cutting edge, and engaging presentations on healthy waterways, environmental health, and safety. Environmental Youth Advocates use these materials during their presentations to the community, educational groups, and community stakeholders. Presentations help increase awareness of pollutants that may poison natural waterways, and serve to improve safe drinking water.
