about mentor2youth
Mentor2Youth is a non-profit organization serving Ypsilanti youth through mentorship, academic support, and chess.
Our Raising Royalty curriculum bridges the opportunity gap by introducing students from historically underserved backgrounds to the game of chess as a strategic framework to generate healthy lives, rewarding careers, and a strong sense of community.
Raising Royalty helps students build disciplined habits of purpose in areas of finance, civics, academics, and emotional intelligence.
Using a holistic approach that includes guided conversations, activities, guest speakers, and chess play, the Kings and Queens in our programs learn how to play the game of life – and thrive.
Who We Serve
Currently, Mentor2Youth serves youth and families through three primary offerings:
Young Men of Purpose //
This program supports male middle school students (our “Kings”) at Ypsilanti Middle School. The program takes place three afternoons each week during the school day advisory period.
Pre-register for Young Men of Purpose.Young Kings + Queens //
This is a mentorship program for K-12 students of all genders. In Young Kings + Queens, each student receives the personalized attention and care they require to dream, discover, and create their vibrant futures. This program also supports student’s families through wraparound services that are customized to ensure that families can dream, build, and thrive together.
Pre-register for the Young Kings + Queens program.Parents 2 Village //
Parenting takes a village. Through community Zoom conversations and in-person gatherings, our Parent2Village connects parents with one another, with community experts, and with helpful resources to support families in our community.
Pre-register for the Parents2Village program.
Our Approach
The M2K leadership and board values trust, transparency, consistency, and partnership with families to foster access, opportunity, and growth.
Our work is informed and guided by seven key African principals: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity), and Imani (faith).
Each day we ask ourselves: Kasserian Ingera? (Swahili - English translation: Are the children well?)
With your support, we hope to soon answer: Sepati Ingera! (The children are well!)
Grow with us
We are in the process of growing our staff, volunteer corp, and budget to expand services to elementary school, middle school, and high school students of all genders through in-school, after-school, and summer programs.